Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-20

Much interest is being evidenced in
the use of cotton seed meal as source
of nitrogen for fall sown crops. There
seems TO be some doubt in the minds or
many farmers as TO whether the meal
viii be as satisfactory for this purpose
as some other forms OF nitrogen. and
there is a keen desire 20 ascertain the
relative merits Of the meal and the seed
as a carrier OF nitrogen for the purposes
indicated above In the first place, all
the crops suitable for fall seeding in
the south have a relatively long period
OF growth, and. therefore considerable
time IN which TO assimilate the nitrogen
and other forms Of plant food which
may be applied at the time OF seeding.
II Is now pretty well established that
the nitrogen deficiency in our soils Is one
OF the chief drawbacks to large crop
Yields and that a mistake has been made
in not using this element more liberaliy
than has been the common practice in
recent years. Il 10 clearly recognized
that nitrogen is more likely TO be trans
formed into a volatile condition whence
II may escape directly from the soil
into the air. OF be washed or leached
away BY excessive rains. than any other
element OF plant food AS the rainfall
is generally heaviest in the fail and win
49,
those forms Of nitrogen be used under
winter growing crops which become rela-
lively slowly available, and hence not so
likely to be so readily washed or leached
from the soil until the crops have time
10 assimilate them AS the crops make
a relatively slow growth in the fall and
winter, they do not take the nitrogen
I'D as rapidly as in warm weather when
growth is most rapid This Is an addi-
tional reason why the kind OF nitrogen
carrier used should be selected with
care II Will be seen at once that cot
ton seed meal fulfills all the conditions
suggested above and that IL may be safe
" added to the SOIL for fall sown crops
IN sufficient quantity TO meet all the re-
ouirements- As a rule, comparatively
little fertilizer has been used on fail
sown cereals. but those who have had
the most experience in the growth OF
these crops and who have naturally been
successful recommend the use OF 800
pounds OF what might be regarded a
high grade fertilizer. For example, on
red clay land an $50 should be well
adapted for use under oats and wheat.
II should be applied at the rate Of not
less than 500 pounds per acre. On sander
son more phosphorus and potash would
be required. From 500 to 1000 pounds Of
cotton seed meal may be used in pre-
pairing such a mixture. since the high
grade product contains not only SIS per
cent Of nitrogen. but about IS per cent
OF phosphorus and ? per cent OF potash
A mixture as indicated above may be
applied underneath the drill row at the
time Of sowing oats, wheat or other ce-
reals without fear OF its. being lost be-
fore the crop can utilize it. since the
nitrogen In cotton seed meal must under
go fermentation before It is brought into
condition assimilable by growing plants.
There is Just one matter which should
be borne in mind by all who use the
meal as a source OF nitrogen. namely.
that II should be put into the soil some
what below and away from the seed.
as II may otherwise injure the germinat-
ing qualities The meal has the great
advantage Of mixing thoroughly and
completely with phosphorus and potash.
and makes dry fertilizer which is easy