Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-03-11
METHOD OF GRADING GUARD EXAMINATION
L|l!E FOR POTASH HELD AT FA|RMONT
Iagenbeck Discusses Hoarded Pot
ash and the Soil Prop
critics.
iBy Karl Lagenbeck.)

Wy iNdii dStHDcck.)
The net result of the use of lime
IS equivalent to the application Of
potash and phosphoric acid fertiliz.
erS 10 tne SOIL. not to mention the
marked influence on nitratcs. It NAV
be remarked further. that this is en-
treiN legitimate as the soil store of
pl2nt-Iool, While not TO be wasted is
not to be boarded; it is to be wisely
use. IN this statement. Professor
Froar OF Pennsylvania State COLLEGE
bo.!s down the whole principle Of
SOL LINING. It is timely because fer
tl!iZ"r manufacturers. unable to Get
German potash, the only source Of
supply, are compelled 10 cut il ont Of
their mixtures. Farmers not lining
nave dependod on the potash in the
fertilizer for crop food, and have un-
Wlttlngly boarded the natural avail
able potash in their soils. This ac-
cumulated potash is now on deposjt
lof them IN the soil storehouse. But
the crop cannot get it, in suliicien,
amount for full growth. unless the
supply be unlocked
1he soil is a great sponge. which
absorDS not only water. but materials
out or It's saltwater solution. conspi,
uouSIy potash and phOsphatcs. II
hoiuS these so firmly, that thew dc
not go back into the soil water cy
cepl IN very small amount and are
consequently boarded there. For 1hc
growing crop gets only the soil food
passing into the soil water. which il
apSorDs. The soil sponge does nCi
noard an inIcfnita amount Of p]aI,l
loods, but maximum amount Of each
uepehdlng upon two things. its fine
ness and its SOurneSS. What is suD
phed over and above this mayimum
IS held SO loosely that it passes into
the SOIL water again easily for the
peneht or the crop. If, therefore. not
ASH and phOsphates are used as fer
t1llzers, these give I'D to the soil so
much or each for permanent holding
as IS required to make up this maxi
mum amount. The surplus goes to
the benefit Of the Immediate crop
ms shows two things--first, why the
sane fertilizer, used in the same
amount Tor the same crop, on two
SOILS, may give vigorous growth on
one ana poor growth on the other
soil. The latter took nearly all of #
to satisfy the absOrptive or hnardino
property Of the sOil-sponge. Second.
~, that the soil lib2rally ferti!ized for
several years, holds, for future uso
large amount Of available plant food
mainly potash. Some agent mu~-
however, be employed for unlocking
it, .
rms agent, as Professor Frear saws
Is lime. The reaction is not chemical
but physical. 1t does not take n1acn
IN definite proportions between lime
ana potash, but between lime and the
particular soil and a greater or less
rainfall. as incidental factor. It is
not possible to say. therefore. so
much cost for lime will supply so much
potash left out Of the fertilizer" But
you can. say, 80 much lime needed
10 neutraliZc by soil will give he
enough potash, if | have not wasted
the hoard III previous years by over
nlllng. The wise farmer will insist
that the county agent carry soil
tester and tell him how much limo to
use. For if he lines by guess. he NAV
Iilhe 100 much, wasting money for
Hhe ana driving more potash out of
the soil than the immediate croD
needs. Again, the lime used bv cus
tom alone, al therefore by guess. NAV
De TOO little for his soil. in this case
hc laliS short. ~ the trade. Of potash
TCeaHo. Iri' IS the logic OF What
prompts Profess rroar 20 saw. as
q result OF his experience. the eay.
ing OF lime bills alone. would doubt.
ie"S many times repay the cost of =
study Of the lime requirements Of acid
soils. ''