Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-03-28
Fertilizer Mixtures.
AVAILABILITY OF DIFFERENT MATERI.
AIS AND HOW TO NIX THEM.

STANLEY B. Sink. Instructor In AgTonomy. Soil
Division, at Farmers' Week.)
A fertilizer 10 Q readily available form
OF plant food that may be added to the
soil to supply lacking elements OF fsrtil'
ity. Commercial fertilizers carry vari
ous amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium, any one, two or all
three, usually stated a. ammonia, phos-
phoric acid and potash in order to make
the percentage OF each look larger for
they arc combinations OF the above ele.
ments.
Briefly the functions of these elements
are; that nitrogen makes the plant grow
more vigorously and rapidly, produces q
large amount of straw, fodder or hay,
makes the plant appear very green and
of good color. 1t may also make the
plant take longer time for maturing.
Phosphorus aids in the development Of
the grain and seed giving the grain .
plump, thrifty appearance and good
quality. 1t shortens the time Of the ma
turity of the crop. Potassium strength
ems the straw, aids in making . thrifty
and healthy plant in general, and aids In
carrying the plant foods from one part
of the plant to another in order to carry
on the life processes.
In fertilizer, the most common car
riers of nitrogen are, nitrate OF soda,
tankage, sulphate of ammonia and blood
meal. Nitrate of soda is salt mined In
Chilli, South America, is very quick act
ing, all soluble in water and in form
that the plant can Immediately use. II
placed In the soil very long previous to
the time when the plant will be large
enough to use It, or in too largo quaint.
ties, some will be lost through drainage
water. Sulphate Of ammonia 10 nearly
as quick acting and nearly as soluble as
nitrate of soda. It leaves residue that
tends to make the soil moro acid while
nitrate of soda tends to correct soil acid-
ity. Tankage 10 very slow in its action,
having to decay before tho plant 10 able
to use the nitrogen contained In 1t. 1t
may be 90 low In It's nitrogen content
that 1t would not be worth hauling
home. To be of value 1t must contain
at least 6 percent nitrogen and should
contain a. much as 10 percent.
Dried blood is highly valued as . fer
tilizer; but It is seldom used In fertiliz-
ers on account of its high feeding value
for animals.
Phosphorus is usually purchased In
what Is known as acid phosphate, which
is phosphate rock treated with sui
phuric acid In order to render the phos-
phorus more available to plants. 1t may
contain from 12 to 20 pounds OF phos'
pboric acid per 100 pounds. 1t Ia In Q
form that the plant can readily use and
is known az q quick acting fertilizer.
Bone meal contains from 20 to 80 per-
cent of phosphoric acid. It must decay
before the plant is able to use ell OF the
phosphorus contained In It. 1t 10 said
to be slow in Its action and is best suit
ed for use on lands being seeded to
grasses. Basic Stag is also . slow acting
fertilizer, containing from II to 10 per-
cent phosphoric acid and about % per
cent lime. Basic Stag Is good fertilizer
for clovers and alfalfa.
Muriate of potash is the usual carrier
of potassium and has about 30 pounds
pure potash per 100 pounds OF muriate.
It is quick In action, all soluble and In
form that the plant can readily take up.
Sulphate Of potash carries from 48 to 5O
per cent of actual potash, is nearly as
soluble and az quick acting 40 muriate
and usually . little more expensive.
Kainit contains about II percent OF act
ual potash. It is more expensive than
either OF the other two forms, consider
ing the actual potash content. All po-
tassium containing materials are Ger
man products and are unobtainable at
reasonable price. This makes their use
improbable at present prices.
The filler Is usually sand, cinders or
muck and may be considered OF value
only for the exercise to be had 10 hand
lipg It and the extra freight bill to pay
for its added weight in fertilizer.
Should fertilizer mixture containing
4 percent nitrogen, 8 percent phosphoric
acid and 4 percent potash be desired, the
following method for finding the
amounts OF each material to use, may be
followed.
The percent of nitrogen means that
there must be A pounds Of nitrogen In
every 100 ooupds of the mixture or 30
pounds for ton. Nitrate of soda con.
tains 15 pounds of nitrogen for every 100
pounds. Therefore since 80 pounds are
wanted, 80 times 100 divided by 10 equals
5S3, the number of pounds OF nitrate OF
soda required.
8 percent phosphoric acid would mean
8 pounds per 100 of the mixture or lou
pounds per ton. II acid phosphate con-
tanning l6 percent phosphorio acid is
used, then 100 times 100 divided BY 10
would be 1000, the required number OF
pounds of the acid phosphate to use.
Four percent potash means that there
must be 4 pounds of actual potash per
| 100 pounds of the mixture or 80 pounds
per ton. Either muriate or sulphate OF
potash usually contains 80 percent or 30
pounds of actual potash per 100 pounds.
Then 80 times 100 divided by 90 equals
| 100, the required number OF pounds OF
either muriate or sulphate OF potash to
use.
Thus we have:
Nitras. Of soda g, sss pounds
Murtats oi potash leo
1893
a.rd a d,ler 007
1000 ono ton
These materials should oil be put
Through . sand screen. Then they may
be spread out In thin layers over any
smooth floor, and mixed the same %
sand and cement. Three times shovel
| ine over, then resscking, ordinarily