Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-07-31
SOIL TREATMENTFOR
DELAWARE WHEAT
State Agronomist Grantham
Makes Some Suggestions for
Benefit Of the Growers.

Prof A. +. Grantham agronomist oi
the Delaware Agricultural Experiment
Station contributes the following con-
corning fertilizers for wheat IN Delaware
The lack of proper fertilization is often
the cause of poor yields of wheat on Della
ware soils While the first consideration Is
the thorough preparation OF the soil
through crop rotation and good tillaRe,
certain applications of plant food are neccs-
sary on most farms to secure the best
yields of grain. The use of legIIme crops
and manure in the rotation lessons the
demand for fertilizers carrying large
percent of nitrogen.
The kind and amount Of fertilizers
that may be used with the greatest profit
will depend on the previous cropping OF
the land and its natural fertility. No rule
can be laid down as to what ferihzer
formula is best for wheat on all farms.
However, there are some general prlnci-
plies which apply to the fertilizer require
ment of wheat On Delaware soils wheat
responds readily to liberal use of phos-
phoric acid Experiments at the Della
ware College Experiment Station show
that phosphoric acid, when used alone,
produces a greater increase IN the yieh OF
wheat than either nitrogen or potash used
singly, indicating that the soil Is deficient
in phosphoric acm.
This does not mean that nitrogen and
potash are not necessary for the best re-
suits. 1t is only when the threo, nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash are supplied
in the proper amounts, either by the eoil or
by the grower, that the maximum Yield
will be secured. On poor soils it will be
necessary to supply all throe clements OF
plant food Where the land has been
carefully rotated with legumes, or where n
leg,lme such as cowpoas precedes the wheat
crop. only phosphoric acid and potash are
needed greatly. II the soil has not been
kept in good state of fertility by rotation,
the liberal use of nitrogen VIII pay. On
farms where fair 10 liberal amounts Of
stable manure are used on sod for corn,
and wheat is to follow, phosphoric acid
alone is sufficient If seeded early. Late
seeded wheat should always have more
nitrogen in order for it Ia make enough
growth in the fall to pass the winter in good
condition. If cowpeas are turned under
phosphoric acid alone will probably give
the best returns.
Where it Is possible to plow land for
wheat early, or to follow some early
maturing crop, such as factory peas or
pafIN POTATOES, less nitrogen IN UeCcSSaTN
in the fertilizer rs the fallowing of a soil
well supplied with organic matter through
several weeks tends 70 make available the
soil nitrogen II is we'll 70 apply 200 to
800 pounds Of acid phosphate per acre
under such conditions If manure is avail-
able for the wheat and spread 1T on the
surface of the plowed ground and disk if in.
This should be supplemented at time of
seeding by $50 pounds Of acid phosphate
per acre. Wheat following tomatoes re-
quires little fertilizer except 200 to 500
pounds Of acid phosphate per acre. To-
nato land should be seeded AS early as
possible after the tomatoes are removed.
If wheat follows wheat or oats, 800 to
400 pounds Of q fertilizer carrying from
two to four per cent nitrogen and 10 TO II
per cent phosphoric acid is recommended
1t Will not pay 70 use potash at present
prices in the fertilizer unless conditions
are such AS to permit seeding at the proper
time on soil thoroughly well-drained and
especially adapted to wheat growing.
The effectiveness OF fertilizers IS governed
10 a considerable extent by the time of
seeding Likewise, wheat may be seeded
much later if the proper kind and amount
of plant TODD is used. : here it is planned