The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1913-08-08


ETl0N IN SOUTH
AK0TA
-
r., OF Minnehaha County,
Ier date of April 2, 1913:
Tal College,
okings, S. Oak.
men:
idly advise me as to whether
Aot you analyze soil and can adj
sc as to what is necessary to make
I. produce better crops. What kind
of fertilizer should be used? How
large a sample Of dirt is needed?
What is the cost of such an examina-
ton and report? A reply at your
convenience will oblige.
Yours truly,
(Signed) f. II. r.
Reply by Prof. }. 6 Hutton, Assistant
Agronomist.
Bookings, S. ID.
April 5, 1913.
MIR. f. II. r.
Dear Sir. Your letter of April End
mas 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
make the necessary appropriation for
carrying out a general investigation
of the principal soil types of this state
and to determine how they might best
be 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, ii
seems to me that the state must soon
do 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 elements 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 we'll
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 of
legumes, such as clover, alfalsa, sweet
clover, peas, etc. No farmer in this
country can hope to continue indef-
initely iii business who is not raising
some legume crop in his rotation. If
he does raise a sufficient amount OF
'egumes and returns the straw and
stalks from other crops, along with
the manure, to the soil, he will have
a sufficient nitrogen supply. II he
grows a legurne and then sells 1t OF
the land without feeding it to stock
or blowing it under as green manure,
his nitrogen supply will eventually
run short. If the farmers OF South
Dakota will give the proper attention
to the legume crop they will never
need OF buy nitrogen in commercial
fertilizers.
The only element that the farmers
of South Dakota will ever have to
buy is phosphorus. Eventually they
may have to buy this for many OF
their soils. The cheapest form In
which TO buy it is in the form or
finely ground rock phosphate guaran-
teed to contain a certain percentage OF
the element, phosphorus, A good
grade of this material will contain
from 12* to IA per cent phosphorus.
Where it is applied to the land, it
should be put on in connection with
manure or green manure. The effect
of phosphorus in the form of rock
phosphate is not as marked the first
wear as 1t is during the second and
third years. Phosphorus is some
times applied in other forms, but is
more expensive.
The application Of phosphorus
will not give returns unless that ele-
ment is lacking in the soil. Here is
where the chemical analyses of the
soil serves as a guide III soil improve
ment. Much Of the soil of South Da-
kota is in need of a sensible rotation
of crops. Corn, wheat, oats or bar
lev and clover, or some other legume
is a good rotation for the southeast
ern part of the state, II If the le-
gume crop is plowed under or fed out
and returned to the soil in the form
If manure and the phosphorus sup
,ly is kept up, the soils of South Da-
ota will remain fertile for centuries.
Respectfully yours.
]. G.. HUTTON,
Assistant Chief in AgrOnomy.