The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-11-09
FERTILIZERS USED TO
INCREASE PRODUCTION
Must increase Yield Per Acre 10
Meet Demands.

The unusual demand for agricultu
raj products means that either the
area of land devoted to cultivation
must be increased, or that larger
yields must be obtained from the land
now under cultivation. Since our Ia
Dor supply is being diminished, il
seems hardly practical to increase our
agricultural production by increasing
our cultivated areas, but to increase
oar production by increasing the
Yields per acre of land now in cuitiva-
ton.
This can be done most economically
by the better preparation of the soil
before planting and more thorough
cultivation after the crops have begun
growing This will keep the soil in a
physical condition favorable for the
growth of crops. Grow the crops in
a systematic rotation that does not
permit the same crop in the same
field two years in succession. Grow
lcgumes, such rs velvet beans, COW,
peas. soy. beans, vetch and crimson
clover wherever possible in the rota-
TONS The iegumes will increase the
nitrogen supply of the soil, and main.
lam the organic content
In addition 10 the foregoing prac-
tices. use commercial fertilizers and
lime.
The results obtained on fertilizer
-plats located in many different coun.
lies in the State, show that the soil
type determines, to a larger extent,
the kind of fertilizer that is most
profitable.
KINDS OF FERTILIZERS TO USE.
In the limestone valleys and up
lands of The northwestern part Of the
State, cotton production was most
probably increased in Walker County
by The use Of Phosphorus and nitro
gen. In Murray County about equal
results were obtained with each of the
elements, nitrogen, potash and phos.
rhorus, and IN Barlow County by the
combined use of lime, green manures,
nitrogen and potash.
In the Piedmont Plateau, potash is
me OF the first needs of the soil. On
the "hatwoods" lands of Gilbert County
lime, green manures, potash and phos-
Phorus are the first needs for cotton
production. In Walton county the
red lands" gave the largest returns
when lime, green manures and com.
plete fertilizer was used The gray
lands" OF Pike county responded most
where lime, green manures and pot
ash were used
In the coastal plain section of Geor-
gia, there are a great many soil types.
each of which presents different prob
lens.
In Builoch county complete fertiliz-
ers OF about 9-3-5 composition gave
greatest returns on cotton; where the
land was well Supplied with organic
matter, phosphorus and nitrogen arr
the first needs. The Norfolk fine sandy
loan OF Coffee county is deficient in
available potash and should be sup.
piaCu Will hltIOSCu eltHST as IPTIiliESt
or supplied with legumes. In Dooly
county the Greenville sandy loan
needs lime, green manures. potash and
phosphorus. The Greenville clay loan
seems TO be supplied with phosphorus,
but needs more lime and organic mat
Ter. While the Norfolk very fine sandy
loan. such as is found in Chatham
county, needs lime potash and nitro
gen
These conclusions are based on the
value of increased yield Of seed cot
ton due to fertilizer treatment and cal
culated at normal values OF &c per
pound for seed cotton, 4c per pound
for phosphorus, sc for potash and Ice
for nitrogen. Ground limestone at a
value of $3.50 per ton and green man
ures at cost of seed and labor of
seeding. A more detailed report of
these results will be issued by the
AgrOnomy Division at an early date
George A. Crabb, State College of Agri.
culture.