The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1913-02-28
SOIL ANALYSIS
AND FERTILIZERS


amongst the farmers that chemical
ANALYSIS OF tae soil would Indicate
the Kind and quality Of fertilizer that
should be ap, lied ~ that particular
soil. Ia thi, respect they are very
mistaken. A chemical analysis Of
soil certainly not furnish the farmer
an answer to the question, what
fertilizer does my soil need"
The chemist simply determines the
/ amount OF nitrogen, phosphorlc acid
and potash present in the sample Of
SOIL, but has no maaus OF ascertainug
what percentages OF those elements
present 10 available for plant use;
consequently, a soil analysis can be
OF little or no value as guide to sup.
/ plying purchased piant food.
chemist have put fotlh much effort
to discover some means Of determln-
| lug what portion Of the plant food
present in a soil Is ble for plant
! use; tut so far there Is no known
sar sfactofy or acceptable method lol
ascertalning the fertilizer require
uents Of any sell. Let Us hope that
some day the analsst will be able To
! tell Us oy anaiyzing the soil the ex
acJ fertilizer required for any given
crop, then one q tic biggest problems
confronting the farmer VIII baye been
solved.
The only guide for determining the
fertilizer best suited for given crop
! 90 specific soils is afforded by actual
experiments field This may lie ac-
complshed by dividing a pice OF land
uniform in characteristics Of humus
and moisture, into plots aud applying
the different fertiizlng element.
combination OF any two elements or a
complete fertilizer leaving check
plots to show the results. care must
be taken to keep correct record of
each plot, else the experiment would
be Of no value.
Field experiments Of this kind are
not easily conducted by one unaccu>
toned to suei. work. La case one de-
sires to make fertilsZer experiment,
II wyuld be well to have the assis
tance of an experienced person who
has made a atudy Of soils and fertili-
zers.
Again tleld experiments conducted
for only one year was furnish most
unusual results, often times mslea-
ding; therefore, cannot be relied up
on. All experiments Of this nature
should be run at least five years be
fore the results may be safely accer-
ted
The farmer himself should be a
tetter position to decide the amount
Of fertilizer that may he used advan
tageously lie should make a com par
ative study OF the cost OF fertilizei 5
TO the value Of the increased yield,
which depends largely on an ever
varyicg market In growing truck
crops uf high market garden crops
where earluess and quality are i'm
perative, liberal use OF fertilizer
should always brove profitable, Tni-
does not mean that common fed
crops Of lower, commercial value are
to he neglected for they too must
have sulllc lent plant food when need
ed.
Many Of our soils have reached
such low degree OF prOductireness
that they cannot be cultivated profit
ably This impoverised condition OF
the soil has been brought about by
constantly selling our fertility In
the form OF crops and not returning
plant food to the soil. Our system Of
farm management is about the mos.
extravsgent imaginable The meager
amount Of plant food returned to the
soil in the form Of fertilizer and ma
nure has not been sufficient to meet
the yearly losses from the sale OF
crops, much less to provide for incfea
sei yields we must use more bard
yard aud green manures Ia addition
to more liberal application Of con-
mercial fertilizer. Tse fertilizer fur
nishes those needed elements which
are nnt.supplied in sufficient quantity
by the manure. Ga the other hand
the manure furnishes the humls
which the fertilizer does not contain
IL sufflcienr quantity.
Remember the profitable use q, com
mercial Fertilizers depend directly
nuon the farmer hiuself. Plant food
IS not the only essential necessary 10
produce large crops. The natural
agencies must he assisted In every
way ny the farmer. care must be ia-
ken to make the physical and chen j.
cal condition OF tbe soil a. near y
perfect ss possible. !. Poor .p'naius.
careless seeding, excessive moisture.
ii acidity aud improper culuvaipn
tend 10 lessen the effect Of appiis 9
fertilizer. It. does not necessary f,i-
NV that fertilizer connot be used
praftably under unfavorable c0DG.-
t,on put snrely the best return can