The Clio messenger., 1917-12-07
PH0SPHATES ARE IN DEMAND
Supply Promises to Be Short-Use
OF Complete Fertilizers ls
Urged In Its
Stead.
BY PROF. A. J. PATTEN,
Experiment Station Chemist, Mlchi-
gan Agricultural College.


to an intensity of feeling which
choked off words, the fiery one used
the lull to give his visitor careful
looking over, apparently to determine
his mental status.
"YOu look sane enough" he finally
conceded, "but l can't say as much
for your judgment"
The man whose ire had thus been
stirred up was farmer-One of the -
cylinder, 1913 model sort at that-and
he was addressing caller who had
mildly suggested that perhaps, in the
light of the fairly good prices being
offered for grain crops, 1t might be
Il good move this coming season to
apply little commercial fertilizer to
help out production.
"Why," the farmer had finally con-
cluded, lit would bankrupt me. Yes,
sir, bankrupt me to attempt to buy
fertilizers with prices as they are"
This incident Is related not as some
thing unusual, but rather because it is
so common that it represents what
may in general be said to be the ex-
listing opinion about fertilizers. The
tendency seems to be to class these
now as eXtravagances to be INDUCED
In only by millionaire farmers"
Never, however, has popular opinion
been so far wide of the mark. 1t will
surprise some men to know that fertil-
iZers today are cheaper actually, when
considered in the light of what they
will return, than they have been in
some years.
Some highly enlighting figures relat-
ing to this subject have been COM
piled by the chemistry division of the
NJ A. c. experiment station. When
prices were at their 1914 levels one
bushel of corn would buy only SO
pounds of IA per cent acid phosphate,
or Go pounds of 1872 fertilizer. In
1917, however, this same bushel OF
corn would have purchased 157 pounds
of II per cent acid phosphate, or 100
pounds of 1872 fertilizer. Interpreted,
this means that fertilizers applied to
crops this year really cost only about
one-half as much as they did in 1914.
What has been found % be true of
fertilizers used on corn, has been dis
covered to apply equally as well to al
most all farm crops.
AS n word Of caution, this showing
should not induce farmers to rush
headlong into the use of fertilizers
without taking stock of their own re-
quirements and determining the kinds
of fertilizers that will most nearly fill
their needs.
1t would of course be foolhardy to
attempt to lay down any hard and
fast rules that will apply for every
farm. 1t can be said, however, that
the best results from fertilizers will be
obtained from soils well drained, in
good physical condition, and not acid.
Where lack of drainage and the acid
ity of the soil are the factors which
keep down yields on given farm, 1t
would be hopeless to attempt to over
come them with fertilizers.
Where fertilizers are what are need
ed, the kind to use will depend upon
two factors at least-one of them the
soil, and the other the crop.
In a general way 1t may be said
that the soils of Michigan are deficient
in phosphoric acid and will respon to
treatment with phosphoric acid fertil-
izers. Many other soils are also lack
Ing I'm nitrogen. The reason underlying
this nitrogen deficiency is to be found
in the fact that many of the heavier
types are not well supplied with or
ganic matter. which is the chief source
of the soil nitrogen. On such soils,
and especially where there are early
spring crops. fertilizer carrying
some nitrogen should be used.
Where q soil is rich in organic mat
ter or humus, or where there Is plenty
Of barnyard manure that can he put
on, the amount of nitrogen in the fer
tilizer may be reduced or entirely elm
mated where II Is to be used on grain
crops. If there is too much nitrogen
i'm the soil II is liable to result in max
ing the grain crops lodge badly.
On potatoes, sugar beets and all
truck crops some nitrogen in the fer
tilizer is desirable on all soils.
The need for potash is not so urgent
as Is that for either phosphoric acid
or nitrogen. In Michigan practically
all soils are abundantly supplied with
this element though 1t may not be I'm
such a condition as makes 1t easily
usabe by the plant. 1t should be
realized also that with potash costing
the farmer about ten times more than
Il did in 1914. It Is advisable to limit
the amount used as much as possible
and to get along without 1t whenever
his can be done.
Muck soils are usually, though not
universally, deficient In potash. I'm
'cse mucks, therefore, II will Tn
ubtedly be profitable to use potash
tIlizer In spite of the high cost.