Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-24

II has long been admitted that pot
ASH is an essential element in crop
production. That this statement is well
rounded is borne out by an examina-
ton OF the various amounts OF this
element removed by some OF our prin-
cipal crops. For instance. is tons OF
apples will take from each acre OF
orchard land so pounds Of potash a
year. 80 bushels OF barley with the
straw would remove 81 pounds of pot
ash: so tons OF cabbage, go pounds
OF potash. two tons OF clover hay. IS
pounds: 20 bushels OF corn with the
slower. IS pounds; rs tons Of mixed
hay, u pounds: 200 bushels OF Irish
potatoes with the tops. "a pounds; Is
tons Of sugar beets with the tops. 143
pounds: 1900 pounds OF tobacco with
the stems. 200 pounds; zoo bushels OF
turnips with the tops. $50 pounds. For
the sake OF brevity the list ends here,
but an examination OF the plant food
requirements OF other farm crops when
making q yield OF sufficient magnitude
to prove remunerative to the farmer
would indicate the same relative need
OF an abundant supply OF available
potash.
Notice that the yields mentioned
above. while above the average, are not
at all excessive. II is noteworthy that
fruit, truck. field crops such as corn
and other cereals. roots and specialized
crops like tobacco all require abundant
amounts OF potash for their develop
ment. Il is interesting TO note that
the amount OF commercial fertilizer
required to supply these needs would
vary from 102 pounds OF muriate of
potash with barley to $40 pounds with
tobacco. Remember in this connection
that muriate Of potash is one OF the
most concentrated forms in which this
element can be supplied TO the soil,
and that IL would take much larger
quantities Of lower grade materials to
reimburse the land with the loss of
this element through the growth and
sale, for instance, OF a crop OF cab
bage yielding 80 tons per acre.
1t is contended by some that GER
tain OF our soils do not require potash
fertilizers because they are naturally
so rich in this particular food element.
IL should be remembered. however. that
the utility OF a fertilizing element de-
pends altogether on its availability,
and II appears from experimental re-
suits that many OF our soils do not
contain this element in an available
form in sufficient quantity 70 meet the
requirements OF a growing crop. even
though the analysis may show rela-
lively large amounts present in the
first IL inches Of soil Moreover. IL is
quite clear that the continued growth
OF crops which take from the land an
essential element Of plant food in any
thing like the proportions mentioned
above will soon reduce the. available
supply materially. The effect OF the
continued cultivation OF one crop on
the soil without following an adequate
system OF rotation or a tudicious re-
turn OF commercial plant food in
proper amounts has been witnessed
over and over again in all parts OF the
United States. Take, for instance. the
notable reduction in yields Of wheat in
the prairie sections Of the middle west
and the northwest. Note the effect OF
a failure TO organize farm practice on
a systematic basis in the cotton areas
OF the south and southwest. In sec
lions where fruit or truck growing has
been followed more or less successfully
on virgin soils for many years. the
0rchardist now realizes that he has
been living on what nature stored in
the surface area through thousands or
possibly millions OF years. and he now
faces a crisis Of decreased yield and
an unsatisfactory grade Of fruit