Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-06-25
POTASH IN ITS RELATION TO SOIL
FERTILITY

When Is a soil deficient in potash?
rhis is a very important question and
one OF universal concern TO every one
engaged in the cultivation OF the soil
Hngard has probably made the most
comprehensive survey OF soils yet I'M
dertaken In the United States, and his
statements may be considered as among
the most authoritative available at the
present time. In his judgment SOIL
containing less than rs OF one per cent
OF potash was deficient in this particu-
lar element. and would need 20 be fer
Utilized at an early date with potash In
some commercial form When SOIL
contained as per cent of potash, how
ever, IL did not respond freely. as a
rule, 10 applications OF potash salts.
and therefore did not seem TO require
fertilization with this particular ele-
ment Consider for a moment what
these figures indicate. In the first place,
the soil covering an acre OF land 10 the
depth OF one foot weighs roughly
speaking. something like four million
pounds. The weight naturally varies
with the type Of soil, the content or
vegetable matter and water, and the
conditions to which IL has been sub
1ected under cultivation soil weigh
ing as much as has been indicated per
acre foot and containing quarter OF
per cent OF potash would carry some
thing like 10000 pounds OF total potash
per acre foot A soil containing As Of
q per cent. OF potash would under the
same conditions carry about $4,000
pounds OF potash per acre foot. IL Is
matter OF record that many soil areas
in the United States do not carry as
much as 10000 pounds OF potash per
acre foot. II is also true that some
types which cover very considerable
areas run higher than $4,000 pounds
per acre foot. and may therefore not
need potash fertilization. though TO con-
elude this under all circumstances
would not be wise or justified BY the
present status OF our knowledge
The fact OF the matter is that soil
studies have not progressed far enough
10 make II possible 10 speak with def
nfteness concerning a matter OF so much
fundamental Importance. II is certain.
however. from the data presented that
there are great sections OF the soils
now cultivated in the United States
which will be benefited BY applications
OF potash IL the deductions OF Hilgard
are justified BY the facts AS his in
vestiEations seem 10 be in accord with
those OF so many distinguished Euro
lpean scientists. and as these conclu-
sions were reached by workers who had
no relationship 10 each other. IL seems
that they are fairly well founded. and
may be taken as the basis for the guild
ance OF the farmer with safety under
existing conditions.
While IL would be impossible 10 consid-
er all the soil types in the United States
because OF their variety and multiplicity,
some suggestions may be made relative
10 the use Of potash fertilizers on some
OF the more common types OF soil which
occur over large areas and upon which
many OF the most important commercial
crops are grown Truck crops are prin-
cipally raised on sandy or sandy loan
lands These soils. as a rule, are shown
by analysis 10 be quite deficient in pot
ash. and since all truck crops make
an especially heavy draft on the plant
food supply of the soil. IL is impor-
tant for two reasons that liberal potash
fertilization be practiced where truck
crops are grown. BY this IS meant 10
make applications OF from 100 TO 90
pounds OF kainit- In many sections fruit
a. produced on gravelly or clay soils
containing only a fair amount OF pot
ash. since fruit crops make a heavy
draft on this element OF plant food.
liberal applications Of potash should be
made on most Of these soils Much OF
the land devoted TO wheat and other ce-
real crops in the United States IS not
over-abundantly supplied with potash
In fact Il could not be regarded as un-
usually rich IN any OF the elements OF
plant food. As a matter or TACT. the
methods OF cultivation followed have
greatly reduced the store Of plant food
and that which the soil now contains Is
.freduently not so readily available as
when these soils were In their virgin
ar serni-arid condition. On this account
r,otash viii be found helpful on land
OF this type Any relatively thin soil
devoted 10 the cultivation Of corn win
also be benefited by applications OF pot
ash While some OF the prairie soils
are probably still so rich as not TO need
large applications Of commercial plant
food in any form. many OF those which
are OF swampy origin contain super
abundance OF vegetable matter. but are
quite deficient in phosphorus. and nota-
hlv potash There are soils, for IN
stance. which have been examined and
devoted 10 plant tests by various expert
,rnent stations in the middle west IN
which il has been shown that the limit
fng factor is potash. Because these SOILS
show a black appearance ana grea'
depth and a considerable degree OF fri
ability. the owners have concluded, ano
nav sometimes have been advised, that
they did not need potash, and therefore
hnwa failed 70 use IL with disastrous
results. for IN some instances land Of this
character devoted 70 the cultivation OF
corn win normally only produce from
20 3 bushels per acre. but when rather
lfberaIIy fortified with potash will make
Yields OF from 100 20 80 bushels per
acre. Since the applications OF potash
surxested would not be regarded as large
nd the increased yield has been so
marked. the profit OF applying this eie-
rent OF plant food 20 this type OF soil
has been clearly demonstrated. No more
inportant subject can engage the atten-
tfon OF the farmer than determining
vrhether hts soil needs potash OF not. and
aunlving II IN adequate amounts TO over
come any existing deficiencies
VALUE or A HAY FORK
e A. b, GRAY. Ca. writes; When
Visited the College OF Agriculture In
Ianuary noticed hay grab connected
urith the big barn. Have you found
A. 10 work ali right and what Is the
cost OF it, I am going 70 build barn
a. August sOxe0 feet. and I think
want a grab. How does shredded corr
..tover feed VIII horses and mules
eat it, I have just bought 100 acres
81 red level land and want 20 deal
largely in live stock and build up the
80 Auv information will be appre-