Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-03-31
Facts About the Nitrogen Situation

Is there any objection TO combining
different nitrogen carriers? This con-
stitutes one OF the questions most fire.
Qusntly asked by correspondents. There
fore. IL seems well to elaborate on this
subject for the information OF our
farmers There Is. Of course, no ob1ec-
ton 70 combining isrent materials
which furnish nitrogen in a commercial
form, provided the combinations be
made on a proper basis and in a man
ner best calculated to supply the def
ciencies Of the soil and the needs OF the
crop 10 be grown thereon.
In considering this matter. II is inn
portsnt 20 remember that there are two
classes OF nitrogen carriers known, first,
as Inorganic. and second, as organic
Roughly speaking. the materials which
would be classed as inorganic are nj
trate OF soda. sulphate Of ammonia, cal
cium cyanamid and calcium nitrate.
Those materials classed as organic
would be cotton seed meal. dried blood.
tankage. fish scrap and heterogeneous
gusno. OF course, certain other mate
riais are available and are used to sup
ply nitrogen. but the quantity is rela-
lively small, and frequently they would
be regarded as OF local interest. AS an
example OF this class we might men
ton castor. pOmace. a by-product OBJ
tanned in the manufacture OF castor
oil
4 brief summary OF the sources from
which the above materials are obtained
will now be presented. Nitrate OF soda
used largely as 4 top dresser. is de-
rived from mines located in Peru and
Chilli IN a practically rainless- country.
The nitrogen is very readily soluble in
water. This material contains from
awr 0T "a lie nFH
gen Sulphate OF ammonia contains the
highest per cent OF nitrogen OF any car
rter or this material at the farmers dis
posal II Is by-product Of coke ovens
and gas works. 1t contains about 20
per cent OF available nitrogen. Calcium
cyanamid IS a manufactured form Of
nitrogen IL = made from calcium car
btde which can be manufactured cheap
y in large quantities wherever electro
cal power Is available at a reasonable
cost per horse power. At moderate tenn
peratures calcium carbide combines with
the atmospheric nitrogen forming what
Is known. therefore, as calcium cyana-
mid. compound containing is per cent
OF available nitrogen Calcium nitrate
IS manufactured by electrical process
also This is accomplished by passing
air through highly heated arcs, thereby
combining the nitrogen and oxygen, and
lime. calcium nitrate is obtained. 1t
contains about Is per cent Of nitrogen.
II ranks with nitrate OF soda but con-
Iains lime in the place Of soda
Cotton seed meal is a hOme-prOduced
product, is fairly rich in nitrogen. and,
therefore. a good fertilizing material.
II contains from TO per cent OF nj
trOgsn. about 2.5'per cent OF phosphoric
acid and LIS to per cent of potash.
Cotton seed meal ranks close TO dried
blood in availability. When applied be-
fore seeding II may be relied upon TO
feed the crop throughout it's period OF
growth II is one Of the best forms OF
organic nitrogen Dried blood is a by
product Of slaughter houses. When
dried by compressed steam it is often
charrsd. and constitutes a lower grade
OF material on that account II decom-
poses rapidly In the soil and provides a
quickly available nitrogen Tankage is
very variable in composition. IL con-
stitutes the refuse of abatoirs and
slaughter houses. and contains quite a
mixture OF materials. The nitrogen con-
tent varies considerably and ranges from
TO IL per cent Tankage also contains
from to IL per cent OF phOsphOric acid.
II does not decay quite so readily as
some other materials, but is a good
Fish scrap. as the name indicates. is
most abundant along the sea coast, and
consists OF gOund and dried waste from
fish houses. II contains from TO 8
per cent Of nitrogen. and some phOs-
phOric acid. heterogeneous guanO is de-
rived from the rainless regions OF South
America. II consists OF the deiecta and
bodies OF fsh-eating birds. and varies
widely in composition. IL is an excel
lent source OF nitrogen, and 20 some ex-
tent Of phosphoric acid as well.
In this connection IL Is well 10 remem-
Der that heterogeneous fertilizers are used
Tor a definite purpose First Of all, 10
supply a deficiency I'm the soil, and. sec
oad. 10 furnish the plant with the need
ed amount OF this element throughout
the growing season. II Is evident. there
fore. that nitrogenOus fertilizers must
be selected with care and combined prop
erIy or they may tend 10 overstimulate
the plant BY reason OF their quick avail
ability at one season and leave IL with
out a sufficient amount OF this element
AZ another season For those who are
concerned about the advisability OF using
nitrogen. Il Is only necessary 10 say
that IL Is the most costly element, and
also one OF the most needed elements in
Georgia soils. This Is shown by the
experiments conducted by the college OF
agriculture on the test areas located In
various parts Of the state The farmer