Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1918-11-22


proper drainage or where excessive
green crops have been plowed under,
but these are only temporary, and
when caused by lack of drainage
may be overcome by draining the
land.
When soils become acid the sup
ply of available lime and other bases
in the soil becomes too low to meet
the plants requirements, An acid
condition is simply the positive in
dication that the supply Of available
lime is getting low.
Even acid soils may still contain
lime that is bound up with soil acids,
but since there is an excess OF soil
acids, all of which try to hold onto
the lime, it makes it extremely diff
ficult for some plants to get enough
lime unless more is added to the
soil.
In plant growth various acids are
formed that must be neutralized or
the plant sap becomes so strongly
acid that the growth processes are
interferred with or stopped. In
order 70 neutralize these acids, the
plant must get sufficient lime from
the soil. II the growth of legumes
is lowered or stopped by a growth
of lack of lime or any other cause,
then nitrogen fixation in the nod
ules by bacteria is lowered or STOP
ped. The nitrogen is by product
or waste material Of the bacteria
in the nodules and must be removed
by the plant in order for the bacter-
ial activity to continue and make
possible the fixation of more nitro
gen.
The lugume plant is not able to
remove this nitrogen from the no
dulles unless other conditions are
such that 1t can grow normally and
thus have use for this nitrogen.
Alfalfa requires a large amount
of lime. and Is greatly efficated by
an acid soil. 1t requires about 100
pounds of carbonate of lime to pro-
duce a ton of alfalfa. A ton Of red
clover requires 75 pounds, while
oats, rye, wheat and corn require
only about one-fifth as much as alf-
alfa. Most garden crops require
large amounts of lime. 1t Is thus
easy to see why some crops are
much more affected by an acid sol
than others. Some non legumes are
affected just as much by an acid sol
as the most susceptible legumes. A
more liberal supply Of lime is nee
essary for good barley soil than
for oats because the barley has a
weaker feeding system and does moi
possess the power to reach into the
soil and get its supply of lime and
at the same time barley requires
more lime than oats
Lime Requirements
Whether or not a plant is affected
by an acid soil condition depends
on three factors % the lime con
tent of the plant, CD the rate o.
growth of the plant, and go the
feeding power Of the plant. The
higher the first two are, the greatel
the need OF lime and the more thu
effect of the acid condition. Th'
third factor works in the opposite
direction, that is, the stronger th'
feeding power the less the effect o
the acidity. The combined effect o
the three constitute the lime re
quirement. Alfalfa has a higher linn
requirement than clover and henc,
Is more sensive to soil acidity. Mos
legumes are high in lime require
/ ments.
All desirable soil bacteria ar,
more or less affected by an acit
condition Of the soil. A good sup
ply Of lime insures successful inocu
lation and nodule development. !
also makes the nitrogen, phosphor
GUS and potassium of the soil NOR
available. Lime improves the ply
sical condition of both clay an
sandy soils by making the clay
more open and workable and tn
sands more compact. Plenty of lin
prevents the accumulation of solu
able toxic or poisonous substance
in the soil. It is really the grea
regulator Of soil fertility.