The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-13

d
"t'uW ''''''''''''''' VS. ~"
iron '.''' s'.......'.... SN,b"o
sulphur .....s..'... '......... .,-"O
| 1t Is evident, then. that most soils are
abundantly supplied with potash ~ ma
ture without further additions. No ono
| thinks Of supplying iron. sulphur or
magn' stun to the soil. nor was potash
used until agricutursts were educated
I up To II by people who were DESTROYS OF
making "A market for their potash.
Average crops take from one acre Of
soil in a season are about as follows:
Corn Wheat Potato
Crop. Crop. crop.
! Nitrogen ...........liN 20 ~
PHOSPHORUS ......... y ~ IL
| fotdSn ............. Il ~ ~
We have been led to believe, and the
| reason Is obvious that potash, German
| kali. Is an essential addition To- all fer
! filters This mus, he questioned when
/ considering the large amount of potash
present in most soils in comparison with
! the amounts Of the other necessary elc-
ments, nitrogen and phosphorus, OF
which there is so much less. Further
more. tho average crop takes up n
more potash than It does nitrogen. and
little more than II does phosphorus.
! AFtln, spluD4" nitrogen ~ nulNklF
| lost In the soil water by teaching. while
| phosphorus and potash as contained In
ordinary chemical fertilizers become
! fixed in tn, soil. and little is lost in
| this way.
! The question now lie, have We not been
using too much potash or using II when
| Il was not required because there was
plenty already present?
= g,,fr f,n - .asa gh 10,
goodly supply In the soil one may
reason that II Is insoluble and not
available At least | per cent. OF the
total potash Is available in most soils
'annualiy, and this would bc more than
enough for the average crop.
The fact is that most soils contain
plenty Of potash. and what should he
studied In the interest Of economy and
good agricultural practice is to make
what Is In the Soil workable and thus
draw on that supply. II Is well known
that hYdrated oxide of lime (burned
lime. water siacked) acts on the In
soluble siicates of the soil. forming
hydrates and rendering the potash
more soluble. The presence OF decay
ing organic matter, humus, also pro,
duces carbonc and other organic sol
acids which. further aid IN this solvent
process all Of which is fastened by
acratng the soil with ploughing ant
cultivation. Thus. II We Will lime oui
sois-sandy soils 500 pounds Of hydratc,
lime to the acre and clay soils LOOT
pounds TO the acre; sow clover, COW
peas. velvet beans. soy beans or othel
legumes, buckwhcat or rye as a catci
crop or soiiing crop and plough thi'
under while 1t Is green and sucCulent
or even plough under sod or goo'
stubhlo or add manure or prepat'a'
humus the decay action ~ any OF thes
organic materials in conjunction will
limo should give us all tho potash re
quired in proper form to feed the sue
ceedlng crop OF vegetation, assumn'
limo and manure. humus or vegetable
matter has been ploughed under q
mixed in tho soil.
For grain crops in general, in cas
chemical plant food IL needed. the f1l
, lowing mixture nj the rate OF 2"J
|, 400 pounds TO the acre will give goo
results:
Tdnkage, ..,.,..., '.'..'''''-.,.. ~
Sulphate OF ammonia or nitrate
soda .................-.. 20
Acid phosphate. ......... .......1 LEO
which is approximately Ale mixture
When wood ashes can be obtatne
they can be substituted for lime o
, muck soils nj tho rate of 500 TO loo
pounds to the acre when potash Is reall
4 deficient. as wood ashes supply potasl
Z Unleached hard wood ashes contain
I per cent. to 10 per cent. potash and 4
!, per cent to 90 per cent. lime.
= on truck crops:
!, | ldifhPe' '.''.'''' v"
:, Sulphate OF ammonia or nitrate
!, soda ......,..,''.''... "
|. Acid phosphate. ..........,. ~
ON muck soils 500 10 1000 pounds Z
wood ashes and
| Iankase. ..,,....' '''''''''''' ~
Sulpha.e OF ammonia or nitrate
Acid phosphate. ...,............ l'o'
). az the rate OF 1000 pounds to ftftee
b hundred pounds 10 the acre.
d These mixtures can he varied 10 81
= particular conditions and arc gencr
= averages.
II The conclusion Of the matter Is tn
o the use OF potash Is not necessary
u shc majority OF cases because there
e plenty already in the soil;
o That lime and the decay OF organ
Il matter will render tho potash avallat
II and that the controlling factors to pro
10 ,er plant growth are usually nitrog
q. land phosphorus. which should be add
\whsrs chemical fertilizer II required.