Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-15
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT
FERTILIZERS FOR COTTON IN
THE COSTAL PLAINS SECTION

|, the first Of July. Two hundred pounds
NJ nitrate is about the largest applica-
tion that is likely TO give a profitable
return on corn or cotton. The advant-
age of using nitrate is due TO the fact
that IL becomes almost Immediately
available to the plant, and it's appli-
cation may be withheld until il ap-
pears that the crop needs further slim
ulation. In a favorable season it may
not he necessary to apply nitrate;
whereas. in an unfavorabIc season, 200
pounds can often be used with advant-
age. In top dressings, the fertilizer
should be put on top Of the soil, and
not in contact with the plants If the
season is very, dry. IL may BE scattered
ahead of the cultivator and lightly COW
cred with soil. Nitrate should not he
put on just before heavy, rain IL it
can be avoided.
THE BEST SOURCES OF PLANT
FOOD.
As to the sources of material to be
used for fertilizers on Sea Island cot
ton, il is best to use muriate of pot
ash as the source of This element, be-
cause il will furnish it i'm the cheap
est form. Kainit or sulphate may of
course be used if circumstances war
rant it, Basic Stag may be used as the
acid phosphate of commerce will, as
a rule. furnish PHOSPHORUS in as
cheap and efficient form as it can be
purchased. Nitrogen may be obtained
from nitrate of soda. sulphate of am
monia, blood. tankage or cotton seed
meal. Not more than 100 to 200 pounds
of nitrate should be used in any mix
ture, however. which is to be applied
under the drill row. The ideal way in
which to combine heterogeneous ma
terials is 100 pounds of nitrate of soda
or sulphate of ammonia with 100 to
200 pounds of Blood or tankage, and the
balance cotton seed meal. This in
sures a supply of nitrogen, obtained
from both mineral and organic sources.
In other words, some of the nitrogen
is in a very quickly availauIe form, and
some in a form which becomes, rela-
lively speaking, slowly available, and
insures the plant being fed more uni
fOrmly through the growing season.
ICOMPOUNDING DESIRABLE FORMU-
LAS.
In conclusion. one or two examples
Of how fertilizers may be compounded
to secure the formulas mentioned above
are given. Pilot formula may be
secured by mixing together 500 pounds
of cotton seed meal containing Z per
cent of nitrogen, 25 per cent of phos-
pnoric acid and 1.5 per cent of potash:
1,15O pounds OF 16 per cent acid phos-
phate. $50 pounds of muriate of pot
ash, and 100 pounds OF rich earth.
A 3-1O-4 formula may be prepared
by mixing together 100 pounds of MI
trate of soda containing 1871 per cent
of nitrogen: $50 pounds of dried blood
containing Is per cent of nitrogen; l.
200 pounds of high-grade acid phos-
phate. and 100 pounds of muriate of
potash. To this would have to be
added 1870 pounds Of rich earth to bring
the total up to 1000 pounds. If il was
desired to make the nitrogen per cent
in this mixture, it could easily be done
by adding 100 pounds of sulphate OF
ammonia to the mixture. while the pot
ash may be raised to nearly per cent
by replacing 80 pounds Of the earth
with muriate. A very little figuring
will make ii possible to increase or de-
crease. the amount of the essential con-
stituents to secure the percentages
suggested i'm this paper as best suited
for applying under a given set of con-
ditiOnS,