Smyrna times., 1917-08-08
WHEAT YIELD AND HOW
TO INCREASE It IN STATE
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
ENCOURAGING LARGE CROPS
A. E. Grantham. Agronomist of Della
ware College Experiment Station
Writes on "Use of Fertilizers"

Ihe lack or the proper 1ertlIlzatlon l
IS often the cause of poor yields of
wheat in Delaware. While the first
is the thoro preparation
of the soil thru crop rotation, certain
of plant food are neces-
sary to secure the largest yields of
grain. The use of legume crops in
the rotation lessons the demand for
fertilizers carrying high percentage
of nitrogen. To enable the wheat
crop to use plant food to the best ad-
vantage, the soil must be kept in good
physical condition in relation to mois-
ture. 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 supply of available plant
food. The maturity Of wheat may be |
considerably delayed if the soil is de-
ficient in certain elements Of plant |
food. The lack of sufficient available !
phosphoric acid will delay the ripen-
ing of wheat 5 to days. Expert
ments at the State Farm show that
wheat we'll fertilized will mature
nearly a week earlier than that which
is not fertilized. Early maturity
lessons the chance of loss from fungus
diseases and is accompanied by bet
ter quality of grain.
Kind and Amount of Fertilizers
The kind and amount of fertilizers
to use will depend on the previous
cropping of the land and it's natural
fertility. No rule can be laid down
as to what fertilizer formula is best
for wheat on all farms. The farmer
can best judge of the soil require
ments providing he knows how the
soil has been managed in the past and
has noted carefully the results OBJ
tanned from the use of various fertiliz-
ers. However, there are some gen.
eral principles which apply to the
fertilizer requirements of wheat On
Eastern soils wheat responds readily
to liberal use of phosphoric acid.
Experiments at this Station show
that phosphoric acid when used alone
produces a much greater increase than
either nitrogen or potash indicating
&Lo4 4bo coil 20 da6o,aDf IN vbOephoric
acid. This does not mean that nitro
gen and potash are not necessary for
the best results. 1t is only when the
three, nitrogen, phospboric acid and
potash are supplyed in the proper
amount either by the soil or by the
grower that a maximum yield will be
secured. On thin soils it will be
necessary to apply the three elements
of plant food. Where the land has
been carefully rotated with legumes,
or a legume precedes the wheat crop,
only phosphoric acid and potash are
greatly needed. Experiments at the
Delaware Station show that under the
above conditions nitrogen rarely pays.
Where the land has not been kept W
by rotation liberal use OF nitrogen
in the fertilizer is generally necessary
to get a normal yield. Where wheat
is to follow corn to which has beer
applied a moderte quantity of stabl'
manure, acid phosphate alone shoul'
give good results. If the fertilizer
used do not contain nitrogen it is wei
to seed the wheat a little earlier thal
usual. If the corn land is not in
good state of fertility a fertilize
carrying 2 to 3 per cent. nitrogen an
10 per cent. of phosphoric acid is de
sirable. In case the wheat follow
wheat or oats a fertilizer carrying
to 4 per cent. of nitrogen, and 10 t
IL per cent. phosphoric acid is desir
able. The normal fertilizer "a
wheat contains from to 4 per cent
nitrogen, 10 to IL per cent. phos
phoric acid and 3 to 5 per cent. potash
Owing to the lack of potash on tn
market it would be desirable to il
crease the percentage of phosphor
acid slightly. If soy beans. cowpea:
early potatoes or other titled croI
are followed by wheat an applicable
of 3 to hundred pounds of acid pho
phate per acre will give good result
Fertilizers for wheat should be al
piled rather librally. Four to fiv
hundred pounds per acre is not t,
much, considering that grass is
follow the wheat.
Price of Fertilizers Should not Hind
The high price of fertilizer m
cause the growers to question the
STABILITY of extending their acrea
of wheat this year. 1t should be I
membered, however, that the pri
of wheat has advanced somewhat me
rapidly than commercial fertilizer
Under present conditions it will p
the grower to give special attenti
to soil preparation and other com