Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-04

In the fertilization Of the majority
81 our farm crops the opinion seems TO
prevail that second supplemental or
side applications should be made. There
Is much variation in practice regard
ing this matter. some contending that
one. and others that as many as three
will be found profitable. The use OF
supplemental applications Of fertilizers
viii depend a great deal on seasonal
conditions and also much on the meth
Cd OF preparation followed with. the
soil other agencies affecting this
practice win be the type OF soil under
cultivation the crop TO be grown. the
amount OF vegetable matter contained
In the land. and the percentage compo-
sition and amount OF fertilizer used at
the time OF planting.
on very sandy lands there Is nat
arally a deficiency in vegetable mat
ter. in fact this is one OF the main
defects in our Georgia soils no matter
where they are located There are pos
sibly some exceptions 10 this statement
in the river or creek bottoms and coves
OF the mountains. Unless the soil has
some retentive power which vegetable
matter helps 10 give. they are likely TO
prove leachy, and the chances are in a
climate where rainfslls are as heavy
and continued as ours that a consider
able part OF the plant food applied viii
be lost before crops can take II up.
This is especially true II large amounts
OF plant food be used under the drill
row. on most OF our soils. however.
II is probably safe to use as much as
500 pounds OF plant food per acre. es-
pecialIy II the nitrogen be derived from
such organic source as cotton seed meal
provides. In this form IL must undergo
certain transformations before the
plant can utilize IL. and before il under
goes these transformations IL viii not
be lost from the soil. AS IL takes some
time for these changes to occur, the
chances are that the growing crop will
be in position 10 utilize IL, provided
an excessive amount has not been used
under the drill row. Since, cotton seed
meal Is not a well balanced plant food
In that IL contains an unusually large
percentage OF nitrogen as compared
with potash and phosphorus, Ii viii not
IN ordinary practice be applied under
the drill row in excessive amounts.
Where there is no vegetable matter,
organic nitrogen therefore viii be the
form to use. In the presence Of vege-
table matter IL will still be one OF the
most desirable forms 10 use
When vegetable matter is used under
the drill row. say in the form Of yard
manure at the rate OF five tons per
acre through the blowing under Of cow
peas or other legumes the previous sea
son. larger amounts OF plant food may
be put under the drill row with safety
on all types OF soil. but this is espe-
cially true OF sandy lands. Judging
from our experience. we would be in
clined to advise the use OF 500 to zoo
pounds OF fertilizer under the drill row.
but this OF course. only holds when the
soil Is put in proper condition to trans
form the plant food and bring IL into
condition to meet the needs Of the
growing crop as rapidly as necessary.
OF course. on our richest and most re-
tentive soils 900 pounds under the driIl
row will often be found advisable.
This will leave from 200 to 500 pounds
to be applied as side applications. IN
the northern part Of the state IL IS
probable that one side application win
be all that is necessary in the great
majority OF cases; in the southern part
Of the state probably two applications
viii often be found desirable. This
statement naturally refers to the grow
ing OF field crops, for under trucking
conditions IL sometimes becomes de-
sirable to use light applications as Of
ten as ten lays apart and from three
10 five may be made in a single sea-
son. The reason for suggesting two
applications in the southern part OF
the state Is due to the more leachy
character OF the land than that pre-
vaiIing In the northern part
The amount and character OF the side
application depends considerably on the
crop grown and on the character OF the