The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-08-08
THE SOIL QUESTION IN SOUTH
DAKOTA

UAkO1A
Mr.. F. H. r.. of Minnehaha County,
writes under date OF April 2, 1913:
Agricultural College,
Brookings, S. Oak.
Gentlemen:
Kindly advise me as to whether
or not you analyze soil and can adj
wise as to what is necessary to make
it produce better crops. What kind
Of fertilizer should be used? How
large a sample of dirt is needed?
What is the cost of such All eNamina.
ton and report2 A reply at your
convenience Will oblige.
Yours truly.
(Signed) F. H. r.
Rec'y ny Prof. J. G. Hutton, Assistant
Agronomist.
Brookings, S. d.
April 5, 1913.
Mr.. i. II. r..
Dear Sir: Your letter of April End
has been referred to me for reply.
Owing to the fact that the State Of
South Dakota has made no appropria-
ton for the kind of soil analysis
which YOU desire, the Experiment Sta
ton is not in a position to do the
kind Of work which you wish to have
done.
The last legislature was asked to
r@a1. M aaN,p ~ n y>rryr;,f;a inv
carrying out a general investigation
of the principal soil types OF this state
and to determine how they might best
b. improved. While the Legislature
DID not make it possible for South
Dakota to give her farmers reliable
and definite information concerning
the great soil types Of the state, 1t
seems to me that the state must soon
dc this not only for the benefit OF
the farmers who reside in South Da-
kota at the present time but for the
benefit of those who will come to US
from other states seeking to establish
permanent homes.
Normal soils usually contain all OF
the elements OF plant food, although
some Of these clements may be pres
ent in too small quantities to produce
the maximum yield. The three which
are most commonly present in small
quantities are nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium.
As far as | have been able to as
certain. most Of our prairie SOILS OF
eastern South Dakota are fairly vel
supplied with potassium. Nitrogen
cannot be bought on the market and
supplied to soils in ordinary farming
at a profit. The only profitable way
for us to secure a sufficient nitrogen
supply is through the growth o
legumes. such as clover. a~lfalsa, swee'
clover, peas, etc. No farmer IN TINS
country can hone to continue lndef
initclv in business who is not raising
some legume crop in his rotation. |
he does raise a sufficient amount o
legumes and returns the straw ant
stalks from other crops, along Will
the manure. to the soil, he will have
q sufficient nitrogen supply. II n
grows a legume and then sells 1t or
tie land without feeding it TO stocl
or blowing it under as green manure
lis nitrogen supply will eventauil.
run short. If the farmers OF Soutl
Dakota Will give the proper attention
ia the lceume crop they will neve
need OF buy nitrogen in Commercial
fertilizers.
The only element that the farmer
Of South Dakota will ever have U
huv IS phosphorus. Eventually the,
NAV have TO buy this for many Q
their soils. The cheapest form Il
which to buy it is III the form Q
finely ground rock phosphate guara
teed To contain a certain percentage 0
the element. phosphorus. A goo
grade Of this material Will contain
from 1a* to IA per cent phosphorus
Where it is applied to the land. !
should be put on in connection WIT
manure or green manure. The eHec
of phosphorus in the form OF roc
phosphate is not as marked the mrs
year as it is during the second an
third years. Phosphorus is some
times applied in other forms, but
more expensive.
The application OF %phosphoru
will not give returns unless that eli
ment is lacking in the soil. Here ]
whore the chemical analyses OF IN
soil serves as a guide in soil improve
ment. Much Of the soil of South DE
kota is in need of a sensible rotatioI
OF crops. Corn. wheat, oats or bal
Low and clover. or some other legum
6 q good rotation for the southeas'
ern part Of the state, and II the le
ellne crop is plowed under or fed on
and returned to the soil in the forI
of manure and the phosphorus SUI
ply is kept up. the soils OF South d.
kota will remain fertile for centurle.
Respectfully yours,