Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-12-24
THE USE OF LIMESTONE
SOILS OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY
NEED FERTILIZER.
Au Authority Writes Interestingly on
Subject Which Is Worthy of
Consideration.
(By w. W. Watson.)


A prime requisite to success in dl-
versifed farming, is well-balanced
content of plant food in the soil. In
MANY places in this valley some at
tention will be required to the use OF
commercial fertilizers. Since an emi-
nent American chemist has said that
Cline carbonates may be said to be
the basis Of civilization, let us see
how lime may be used to maintain
this reputation. The value Of this
material has been proved by thous-
ands of years of use in our civiliza-
ton Soil fertility in Europe and
China has been maintained for long
periods without the ordinary CONNER
cial fertilizers by the use of the right
forms of lime in the right manner
American agriculture is far behind
in this respect, with depleted fertili-
ty after brief period of cultivation
Where an abundance of humus exists
in non-acid soil conditions, ordinary
fertilizers gave excellent results fol-
a time; but the soil, even under these
conditions, eventually becomes impov-
erished. Elements of fertility may be
there, but they need stimulation. They
do not combine and are, therefore, not
available as plant food. Carbonate
of lime is absolutely needed, as shown
by the fact that, if it is not supplied,
the growth of the plant ceases as soon
as it has used the lime contained in
the seed. Products raised in soil de-
fcient in lime are poor in quality,
and, on account of the lesser quantity
of lime in the plants, they are less
nourishing as a food. On soils rich
in lime, the plants are compact, short
jointed, stouter in stem and far more
luXuriant.
Peas, beans, vetch, clovers Of all
kinds and alfalfa require an abund-
ance of lime. 1t produces a cheni-
cal change in the soil which renders
plant food more available; and it pro-
duces a mechanical change which
brings the soil into more favorable
relation with water and the air. Soil
poor in lime and rich in clay is very
fmpervious to water, and after a
heavy rainfall it remains wet too
long. The air cannot penetrate a
soil of this kind; hence, there is no
soil aeriation. Lime renders the pot
ash of the soil more available. A
large part of the potash of our soils
is present in comparatively insoluble
silicates Lime decomposes the sill
Gates, setting the potash free and thus
greatly increasing its availability. The
presence of lime in the soil prevents
the soluble phosphoric acid, applied
in fertilizers, from satisfying its hun
ger for a base by combining with
iron and alumina. Phospheric acid
takes the lime in preference, and the
reverting phosphate thus formed is
much more available.
Lime promotes the decomposition of
substances such as humus, sod, stub
BILE and weeds, and thus hastens the
time when the valuable constituents
of these materials are ready for use
by the next crop. 1t is particularly
valuable in soils in which organic
matter naturally decays slowly. 1t
favOrs the changes of ammonia into
nitric acid-that is, it makes ammonia
nitrogen more quickly available. Soils
needing lime often contain acid not
combined with base. Such soils are
sour. Lime is the most effective agent
used to sweeten soils. Lime makes the
soil more mellow. The soil which con-
tains little lime is pulverized only
with great difficulty. 1t adheres to
the implements. A loan rich in lime
crumbles easily. A hard crust will
form on most of the loan soils that
are poor in lime if not disturbed for
some weeks. 1t turns up in tenacious
clods 1t is practically impossible,
under these conditions, to keep the
soil in perfect tilth. Lime, besides
serving directly as building material
for all forms of vegetation, is the key
which unlocks other treasures of the
soil and supplies them also to grow
ing plants.
Lime carbonate is also moisture
1t is known that lime
stone soils maintain their fertility
for years. Scientific authorities agree
that lime is a fundamental require
ment for soil fertility, because it pro-
vides in degree for essential chemi-
calls, bacterial and PHYSICAL eondi-
tions as well as supplying a plant
food want. Limestone tloar for the
purposes named should be ground fine,
say 100 mesh, and is should be at
least 90 per cent calcium carbonate.
One hundred pounds of limestone will
lose A pounds of carbonic acid in the
fire. The application of this eaustic
lime should not be made either to
soil or. plants. 1t will injure the
latter and do the former little, if any,
good. Carbonate of lime may be up
piled directly to the tender plants
benefcially.