Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-12-06
Aliseellaaeous 8eadins.
FERTILIZER FROM THE AIR.
II Successful New Plant Will Do Great
Things.

Probably one of the most interest
ing facts in regard to the general in
| crease of southern farming facilities
and the increased yields, which have
been attained during the past few
years, Is the enormous increase In
the quantity of fertilizer consumed in
| the south during the past five years.
Farmers everywhere are beginning to
use more fertilizer, and are gradually
acquiring practically scientific
knowledge of it's proper application.
Along with the increase in the con-
sumption of fertilizers, there has
been noted a recent increase in the
number Of plants for the manufacture
of certain kinds of fertilizers. Those
who have watched the manufacturing
journals Of the past few months, have
noted with interest the great number
of new corporations chartered for the
manufacture of fertilizers. Many of
these have been in South Carolina
The large majority Of them, how
ever, manufacture only the phospho-
ric acid, and phoSphates, which Is on
ly one of the essentials Of soil food
Fertilizers may be divided, for
this purpose, into two classes. Those
which may be manufactured from
mineral deposits, which are to be
found in almost ineXhaustible supply,
are among one class, which includes
the phosphates, and the mineral ele-
ments which are required by the
II, hn nl
put those elements, such as nitrogen,
and its compounds, the nitrates and
ammonia, which are formed in ma
ture through long ages, and which
are to be mined ready for use, ex-
cept for some slight publications, but
which all attempts to manufacture
from mineral products have met so
far with little success.
In South Carolina, the figures COM
piled by careful statisticians show
great increases in fertilizers of all
kinds.
In 1905, the number of tons con-
sumed by farmers in this state was
4O4,557. In 1910, this number was
doubled, the total number Of tons
used was 100000. This rate of in
crease is about general throughout
the southern states.
Nitrate Of soda is one of the most
satisfactory Of the commercial fertil-
izers for a supply Of fixed nitrogen
to the growing plant. 1t is obtained
from deposits, mostly in Chill, in
South America, where it has been
forming through the slow processes
of nature for the past ages. The beds
have been discovered only compare
lively recently, since which time they
have been extensively mined, and the
In
creased, slightly each year. Experts
have already been calculating how
much longer these beds, which are
among chief sources of supply will
last the world, and scientific heads
| have begun experiments to manufac-
| ture the substance artificially.
Nitrogen, in the form Of combina-
ton with other substances. known as
| fixed nitrogen" is one Of the essen
tials of plant life. Some quantities of
it are produced by the elements ev-
cry day. and the roots of certain
plants also combine the nitrogen with
other elements through the instru-
mentality Of what are known as nj
however, the farmer often needs to
replenish his soil with this necessary
food. There are several methods OF
| doing this. Certain plants, which
develop these bacteria, such as peas,
vetch, clover, ETC., may be cultivated,
which leaves the soil richer in nitro
gen. Other substances, such as cot
ton seed meal, are used as source
of nitrogen, to good effect. Ammon-
ium sulphate, which Is an easily man.
ufactured product of the gas works,
has also been used to advantage as
source of supply of nitrogen, or
ammonia" as it is advertised. 1t is
thought, however, that these sources
would be far from sufficient without
the nitrate of soda, which is very
largely used as a source of nitrogen,
as fertilizer and which appears to be
one of the best Of commercial fertili-
zers, for this purpose.
To manufacture this nitrate in
some compound, by a combination OF
| the atmospheric nitrogen and oxy-
gen, Is the object of a number of
factories which have been erected
mostly in Europe. The process, in
theory, is comparatively simple,
though it is attended by numerous
difficulties which have at times proved
almost unsurmountable. The an
nouncement was made that the South
ern Power company. would In the
near future, erect such plant on one
| this be successful, it will probably
mean a cheaper source of nitrogen
| fertilizers for farmers in this section
OF the country.
| The plan is to manufacture nitric
acid, and neutraliZe this with cheap
base, such as lime. forming calcium
nitrate, which is easily soluble, and
| which breaks up into nitrogen COM
pounds to be assimilated by the plant.
In the November number of the
American Fertilizer, is description
| of one of these plants, located near
| Innsbruck Austria. The air is forced,
at a pressure slightly above normal,
| through a triangular electric arc.
A single unit furnace, containing a
double set of electrodes, is supplied
with about five hundred kilowatts, at
| five thousand volts pressure. Air is
| blown in at the rate Of about seven
| hundred cubic yards per hour. 1t
| is stated that the exit gases contain
about one per cent Of nitric acid OK
ide, on leaving the furnace at about
eight hundred degrees, centigrade.
At the high heat of the electric arc,
the nitrogen is burned, combining
with the oxygen. This compound,
however, would decompOse at once,
into its original elements if left at
that temperature, OF even SOltle"ild
below it. but by the pressure and
great diffusion, the gas is mingled
with a large body of cooler gases, and
remains unbroken.
Leaving the furnace, it is passed,
theoretically. into water. Before
coming to the water, however, 1t is
cooled below 500 degrees centigrade,
to allow it to combine with oxygen,
forming nitrogen peroxide. This
compound is readily soluble in water
uniting with it to form nitric and
nitrous acids. the latter of which is
easily oxidZed to nitric acid. 1t Is
stated that by this means there can
be obtained an exceptionally pure
nitric acid. AS a consequence of this,
the product of the factory has been
nearly all consumed hitherto in sup
plying the nitric acid market Nitric
acid is a most useful agent in chemi-
cal industries. and is chief source in
the nitrate of soda, and other nitrates
found in deposits.
Should the factory be enlarged. it
is stated that a portion of the nitric
acid so produced could be neutraliZed
with lime, to form calcium nitrate
which is very valuable as a fertilizer.
probably more so than the soda.
i