The Idaho Republican., 1916-06-02
Important Plant Foods


of these found in our soils.
Important Plant Foods
First, potatoes require very large
amount of water, the average of fig
ures obtained by investigators of this
important question, both in Europe
and America show that one pound OF
potatoes requires on an average 400
pounds of water to carry the crop
thru from the time the tuber is plant
ed until the crop natures, SO it is
easily seen that no matter what kind
of plant food we use. we will not get
a crop of potatoes until we have
plenty of moisture. To secure this
enormous amount of moisture we
should fall plow the land when pos
sible. This allows for the storing of
the rains and SHOWS of winter. The
early spring disking and narrowing
form a soil mulch and prevent the
escape of this moisture. The organic
or humus content of the soil must
be maintained. This can be done by
turning under live stock manure or
green crops. such as rye, clover, al
falfa, soy beans, etc. We will not go
into detail regarding all these plant
foods, but simply explain those that
are most frequently deficient, namely
lime, nitrogen or ammonia, phos-
phoric acid and potash.
Lime is found very largely in the
cell walls or dry matter of the
plants. 1t is especially needed by
legumes such as alfalfa and clover,
which are spoken of as "lime-loving"
plants 1t is not advisable to apply
lime to the potato land, as it is apt
to put the land in such shape that
the potato scab may be more prevail
ent on the crop. Lime does not
cause potato scab, but it makes con-
ditions right for the development Of
this troublesome disease. The potato
man should use lime only in correct
ing the soil acidity for the growing
of the legumes that he turns under
as green manure crops. Keep lime
off the land when planting potatoes.
Nitrogen or ammonia is a plant
food that gives the rich green color
to the plants and causes them to
grow tall. or we say, nitrogen pro-
duces stalk growth.
Phosphoric acid is the plant food
that hastens maturity, causes the
production of the fruit or in this
case the tuber and improves the
quality.
Potash assists in the laying down
and transportation fthe starch to
the potato tubers and adds strength
to the stalk. Potatoes are very high
in starch, hence the reason for rec
the use of fertilizer on
this crop that analyZes high in pot
ash. l:s
In order to grow larger crops of
potatoes, of better quality, our farm
ers must first, turn under all the
live stock manure and green crops
that they have, then apply from 400
to 500 pounds of fertilizer on the
stony or sandy soils that anlyze
about four to five per cent ammonia,
six to eight per cent phosphoric acid
and five to seven per cent potash.
On the various clay and loan soils
the fertilizer will probably not need
to run quite so high in nitrogen and
possibly a bit lower in potash. 1t is
best to try out two or three kinds
Of fertilizer in order to get the analy-
sis that suits the potatoes on each
particular type of soil. After the
best anlysis is found for your farm
try out different amounts to deter
mine what applications give the best
yields. In Aroostock county, Maine,
The largest potato growing region in
the United States, amounts up to
$500 pounds to the acre are used
with profit.
Use Wood Ashes
Our farmers will be unable to Sc
cure high potash goods this year. II
they have wood ashes they can mix
,hese with the fertilizers or apply
hem separately. Quite a number of
farmers last year bought fertilizer
low in nitrogen and phos-
H. L. IL L s-~I. L..