Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-01-25
ANALYSIS OF THE SOIL.
The Following Article Will Interest
Our Readers.

Our modern agricultural scientists
have laid much emphasis on the neces-
sitv for Analysing the soils i'll order
TO secure firm and practical working
basis for cultural development They
have contended that we must know
the exact percentages of nitrogen, and
potash, and phosphate which the soil
of our farms contains, and the rela-
tive amounts of these three important
clements which certain crops remove
from the soil.
Then by comparison of figures we
should be able to tell just what is
needed to make crops successful. This
is agricultural theory, and there is
much Of value in it; but in actual prac-
tice among people " no have but little
time to devote to the study and APP
plication of the theoretical. it has
Slight real worth as compared with the
results OF actual practice
How does soil analysis become
theoretically applicable? First it
shows us the actual resources from
which we have TO draw, and by com
PAIRING the amounts withdrawn by av-
crage crops OF the various kinds. we
are able to work out a system OF cul-
ture which is definitely certain not to
exhaust the soil. We are able to fig
ure out just what should be done to
provide the necessary food supply
Tor maximum Yields. and TO regulate
the p.rmanencey of the soil and, a
far as conditions OF climate will per
nit. the annual yield This is the
theoretical view. and has much oil
worth in its application. but ii will
not prove an infallible guide In chem
zeal analysis and practical fertilization.
theory and practice sometimes diverge
widely
If chemical analysis does furnish a
complete inventory of the resources
of the soil. why should ii sometimes
fail TO insure returns? Many farm
crs whose soils have been pronounced
deficient in one or more of the three
leading essential elements, have sup
piled the deficiency with some fertil-
ling agent and found that the returns
verified the analytic indications. But
other farmers who have had soil sam
pies analysed, and found the presence
of sufficient quantities OF plant food TO
mature decades OF crops. have decid
eddy improved yields from the add
ton OF one or OF all three OF the most
important elements. The question nat
urally arises, why should added Gle
meuts bring greater returns, when
more than enough already exist in the
soil2
The statements as to potential soil
fertility made by the chemist are &C
curate TO a fraction of one per cent;
but ii is the misfortune of agricultural
science that the chemist is unable 10
determine what part of the whole l.
readily available for promoting plant
growth Here theory is absolutely
unable to help practice The addi-
ton of fertilizers furnishes an abund
ance OF available plant food. while that
which the soil contains. naturally, may
be IN such form as to- be incapable OF
immediate utilization. This accounts
for the increased yields following the
I utilization OF even well stored soils
We hear much said at the present
time about the infcrtilitv of many
farm lands; ard the number OF aband-
oncd farms l. quite easily traccable IN
most instances to unproductiVenesS
But these are not necessarily infertile,
probably are not. il we cons der close
"; There are two aspects to fertility
There is what may call Serviceable
fertility and a potential fertility. In
the one case the soil is productive and
responds amply to present culture; i'll
the other. the soil actually contains
the necessary materials. but not in
form which can be readily used, And
II is the potential fertility which the
modern worker seeks To make use OF
Our agricultural stations, our agri
cultural colleges. and not few pri
vate individuals. have become interest
ed in the problem OF making potential
fertility serviceable. They have stud
led and experimental along both
theoretical and practical lines and
have been able to give to the public
much valuable information. The re
suits of their practical work are of
general interest TO all those who are
concerned with the production of the
worlds food supplies, and a short dis
cussion of few of the methods will
serve to show why they are practic
able.
There are two chief causes for the
non production of potentially fertile
soils, and these are so closely related
that consideration of either one
alone is practically impossible. These
causes are found in the form i'll which !
the requisite plant building materials
are held. and their degree of solubility
and IN the texture of the soil. 1t is |
necessary really TO examine only the
subject of texture and its improve
ment, because the Improvement of
texture necessarily liberates much of
the nitrogen, and potash. and phos
phate which the soil contains.
Sandy soils rarely become product
I'VE except through real sterility, and
their treatment must be such as to
replace rather than to attempt to set
free the mineral and organic clemens
required for vegetation This prima-
rily because their texture is such as
to make every bit of food material most
easily available. and secondly, because
OF their superior natural drainage and
ease of cultivation. The soil particles
are so much larger and looser than