Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-11-19
PROPER FEEDS FOR THE SOIL
Some Plain and Interesting Figures
Relating to the Removal Of
Plant and Effects.
(By Prof. Cyril C. Hopkins, University
Of Illinois.)

Wy Frot Cyril G. Hopkins, University
Of Illinois)
In three-year rotation Of corn,
oats and clover, let US assume yields
OF 100 bushels per acre Of corn and
OATS four tons of clover and four
bushels Of clover seed.
We may SOW cowpeas in the corn
the last cultivation and possibly pro-
duce a catch crop Of one-half ton to
the acre.
We will plan to husk the ear corn
and leave the stalks on the land to
be disked down for seeding oats and
clover.
The oats should be cut as high as
possible and the threshed oats straw
should be spread over the land eth
er before or after rotting, as may be
found best.
The third year the clover may be
clipped perhaps two weeks before
haying and left lying on the land, the
second crop being harvested later for
SEED, using a buncher attached to
the mower so as to avoid raking.
The threshed clover straw should
be spread over the land, and II rock
phosphate is used 1t may be applied
and plowed under with all Of the &C
cumulated organic matter In prepare
ton for the following corn crop which
would begin the second rotation.
These three crops removed about
l7S pounds Of nitrogen, while the clo-
yer and cowpeas returned about 1872
pounds OF nitrogen and, together with
the cornstalks and oats straw, fur.
nished a large supply Of humus.
This Is q system Of grain farming
planned to maintain the supply Of hui
mus and nitrogen.
II the yields are cut in two the
basis Of the system remains the same.
Many other rotations for grain
farming might be followed, but In all
cases liberal use must be made Of le'
gume crops, catch crops, other green
manure crops and crop residues In or
der to supply humus and nitrogen.
In live stock farming take FIVE
year rotation, including corn two
years, oats with clover and timothy
seeding the third year, and two year!
OF clover and timothy, using one veal
for hay and the other for pasture, as
suming the same yields as before.
Shock one-half Of the corn or put 4
In the silo; husk the other half anC
use the oats straw for feeding aDl
bedding.
The four crops will remove from
the soil about 1863 pounds Of nitro
gen and the clover hay will contain
about 120 pounds, which we assum,
was secured from the air, making 4S!
pounds Of nitrogen in the total feet
and bedding.
II one-half Of this is recovered II
the manure and returned to the LIANT
there would be deficiency Of IL
pounds.
But two-thirds Of the nitrogen cal
be recovered by feeding upon cemen
floors and a liberal use of straw an,
! shredded fodder for bedding, thus re
ducing the deficiency to 40 pounds.
The pasturing may gain IL pound
OF nitrogen. BY feeding more or les
upon the fields and by leaving consiC
cradle clover in the pasture to serv
J as green manure this small defcienc
can be replaced, but to maintain Q
increase the supply Of humus and n
trogen In the soil Is by no means a
easy problem, even with live stoc
farming.
Keep In mind these two words
phosphorus and humus.
II these are increased Ia the so
the farm will be growing richer an
more productive, but whoever T,
t moves the phosphorus or destroys th
humus more rapidly than they are r,
placed will have poorer land year
+ year with poverty as the only futur
/ for the children who continue th
same ruinous system.
e A 10O-bushel crop Of corn require
% pounds Of phosphorus; a 5O-bush,
{ crop Of wheat, Is pounds; a Ate
crop Of clover, 20 pounds.