The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-02-04
The Fertility of the Soil
By A. NJ. Rogers.

IN which chemical changes ana Da'
: terial action can place the plant foo
in the proper form for the use c
plants.
i Some soils perform portion Of tn
above functions perfectly, but fail t
perform others. To be most produc
tive a soil must perform all.
The effect of improving the physi
cal condition of the soil is to suppl.
better home for the plant and t
| furnish more favorable conditions foi
making the plant food available. Many
soils contain ample supplies of plan
food, but fail to produce satisfactory
crops on account of their poor physi-
cal condition. They do not receive OF
retain moisture as they should, nor
can the crops grown upon them OBJ
tain the plant food and moisture
which they contain. Through good
cultivation, water at the proper time,
the application of lime and an abund-
ant supply of organic matter, are the
means by which the physical condi-
tions Of the soil may be improved.
There are 10 elements that are alb
solutely essential to the growth of
every agricultural plant. Three of
these elements-carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen--are obtained from air and
water. Four of the others-magne-
stun, iron, calcium and sulphur-are
present in practically all soils in such
large amounts compared to the guam
titles required by crops that they are
seldom depleted beyond the point of
profitable crop production. Nitrogen,
and potassium are re-
luired by all crops in large amounts,
while most of our soils are exceed
ngly rich in potassium, but deficient
n both nitrogen and phosphorus.
When grain crops are produced, as
.orn, oats and wheat, about two
birds of the nitrogen, three-fourths
f the phosphorus and only one-fourth
# the potassium required for the
rop is stored in the grain or seed,
While the one-third of the nitrogen,
ne-fourth of the phosphorus and the
hree-fourths of the potassium is
tored in the straw or stalks.
Now, with system of farming in
hitch the grain is all sold and moth
ig but the straw or stalks are re-
lrned to the soil, there is carried off
/ the grain much of the nitrogen
nd phosphorus, both of which the
,il is in greater need and should be
,turned to the land, while the po-
lssium, of which the soil contains
n inexhaustible supply, is largely
turned in the straw and stalks. The r
ements of plant food are not WISH
G and largely for that reason are
It given due consideration by the g
ajority of farmers. Instructions S
ncerning plant food should be given \
the schools and every one should
understand the terms con-
cted with soil fertility. That a
ing cannot be seen is no reason u
ny it is not of the utmost import :,
ce. We must understand first that
ere is no soil so fertile that it can
It be exhausted by continued hap ~
zard cropping; that if any one of -
e elements essential to plant growth =
not present in sufficient amount, r
> growth of the plant is correspond
yly limited. The element which is II
t present in sufficient amount to
,et the demands OF the crop be- SO
mes the limiting factor for that =
rticular soil. In some soils one f.
ment may be the cause Of poor
ps, while in other soils it may be
,ther element. Our Great Ruler ~
o foreknew all the needs of man
d placed all the elements essential ~
plant growth in this good old
Their Earth of ours and by the
per method Of farming we can
intain them in the soil. We can =
hope to get good crops year after ~
r unless we return to the soil the
cunt or little more that was re- Tel
red to grow the crop. ur'