Milford chronicle., 1917-08-10
INCREASE The YIELD OF WHEAT
zee Use OF FERTILIzERs.

THE USE OF FERTILIZERS.
The lack of the proper fertilization i.
often the cause of poor yields of wheat il
Delaware. While the first consideration
is the thoro preparation of the soil thru
crop rotation, certain applications of plant
food are necessary to secure the largest
yields of grain. The use of legume crops
in the rotation lessons the demand for
fertilizers carrying a high percentage OF
nitrogen. To enable the wheat crop to
use plant food to the best advantage, the
soil must be kept in good physical condi-
ton in relation to moisture, drainage and
bacterial activity.
Wheat responds more readily to appli-
cations of plant food than most other
crops This is largely due to the fact
that wheat makes the most of its growth
during comparatively short period and
consequently requires an abundant sup
! ply of available plant food.
The maturity of wheat may be consid-
erably delayed if the soil is deficient in
certain elements of plant food. The lack
of sufficient available phosphoric acid will
delay the ripening of wheat 5 to 7 days.
Experiments at the State Farm show that
wheat we'll fertilized will mature nearly
week earlier than that which is not fer
tilted. Early maturity lessons the chance
of loss from fungus diseases and is ac-
companied by better quality of grain.
The kind and amount of fertilizers to
use will depend on the previous cropping
of the land and its natural fertility. No
rule can be laid down as to what fertili-
zer formula is best for wheat on all farms. |
The farmer can best Judge of the soil re-
quirements providing he knows how the !
soil has been managed in the past and |
has noted carefully the results obtained |
from the use of various fertilizers. How
ever there are some general principles
which apply to the fertilizer requirements
of wheat. On eastern soils wheat re-
spends readily to a liberal use of phos-
phoric acid. Experiments at this station
show that phosphoric acid when used
alone produces a much greater increase
than either nitrogen or potash indicating
that the soil is deficient in phosphoric
acid. This does not mean that nitrogen
and potash are not necessary for the best
results. It is only when the three-nitro-
gen, phosphoric acid and potash are sup
piled in the proper amount either by the
'oil or by the grower that a maximum
yield will be secured. On thin soils it
will be necessary to apply the three ele-
nents of plant food. Where the land has
)een carefully rotated with legumes, or a
equine preceedes the wheat crop, only
,hosphoric acid and potash are greatly
leeded. Experiments at the Delaware
station show that under the above condi-
ions nitrogen rarely pays. Where the
and has not been kept up by rotation {
iberal use of nitrogen in the fertilizer is
necessary to get normal yield.
Where wheat is to follow corn to which c
as been applied a moderate quantity of Z
table manure acid phosphate alone :
hould give good results. If the fertiliz- =
rs used do not contain nitrogen it is we'll
} seed the wheat a little earlier than =
sual. If the corn land is not in a good q
tate of fertility fertilizer carrying 2 to c
20 nitrogen and 10% of phosphoric acid
desirable. In case the wheat follows o
heat or oats a fertilizer carrying to n
% of nitrogen, and 10 to 12@6 phosphoric r
i'd is desirable. The normal fertilizer :
II wheat contains from to 4 % nitrogen,
to 12a6 phOsphoric acid and to SO
)tash. Owing to the lack of potash on r
e market it would be desirable to in Il
ease the percentage of phosphoric acid o.
lightly. If soy beans, COW peas, early
lldlOSS Ut Quiet lllleu crops are followed h
wheat an application of to hundred :,
'unds of acid phosphate per acre will :,
We good results. Fertilizers for wheat %
ould be applied rather literally Four u
five hundred pounds per acre is not u
0 much, considering that grass is TO "
low the wheat. ca
The high price of fertilizer may cause 70
me wheat growers to question the de- h,
ability of extending their arraa0a Of =
leat this year. It should be remem- y. !"
red, however, that the price of wheat "a
s advanced somewhat more rapidly "
an commercial fertilizers. Under pres ch
conditions it will pay the grower to qu
re special attention to soil preparation Al
other conditions regarding seeding to-
as to get the most satisfactory results IL
m the use of high priced fertilizers. wi