The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-03-14
FERTILIZERS FOR
BERRIES SUGGESTED
(By Gordon q. Brownl


trial. Reference is here made TO the
fertilizer question. The idea is to dis
cuss the problem. not only in the li1ht
of principles involved. but also in that
of local experience.
The necessity for dealing in princi
plies is especially apparent in Hood
River valley. Owing to the fact that
we have big range in conditions
within very small area, it is practic-
ally impossible to give such clear-cut
recommendations as will mt all cases.
Soils on which the Clark Seeding is
grown comprise several types ranging
from the lighter redshot "parkdale
loan" of the Upper Valley to the
heaviest clay loan of Barrett. The
former 10 virgin soil. as it is COM
monty called, while those in the Lower
Valley have been cropped for consid-
cradle time. Naturally the fruiting
period, whether early or late, intiu-
ences the grower in his use of fertil-
izer.
1t is worthy of note that in practic-
ally all strawberry sections throughout
the United Statesland Canada artificial
applications of fertilizer occupy Il
prominent role. 1t is remarkable how
unstandardized the practice has be-
come. Records show profits from both
extremely heavy applications and
those of comparatively lighter ma
ture. Heavy applications OF stable
manure, hardwood ashes, bone meal.
tankage, fish guano, dried blood. su-
perphosphate, nitrate of soda and pot
ash compounds, either alone or in COM
bination, form the basis of the differ
ent practices found.
In Hood River the use of nitrate of
soda has been most prominent. The
use of Berne Brand animal fertilizers
and fish guano has also been conspicu-
Gus.
However, the strawberry is not an
exhausting crop. The slight amount
Of plant food in berries, as shown by
Prof. l.. l.. Van Slyke, of the New
York experiment station, indicates that
over 80 per cent of :the entire weight
of the fruit is water. He estimates
| that the approximate amounts of plant
! food constituents used in producing a
crop of 5000 pounds per acre, or little
more than 400 crates, are u pounds
nitrogen, 3 pounds ph0sphoric acid and
/ 8 pounds potash. Contrast this with
the requirements oof "a bushel wheat
crop which are 38 pounds nitrogen, l3
pounds potash and 10 pounds phosphor-
/ ic acid
In view of this fact it is often ques-
toned why Is it necessary to fertiize
the strawberry? Why do Strawberries
on normally rich soils respond to heavy
applications of fertilizer? A number
of answers may be given. First of all
it is worthy of note that the strawber-
ry is very shallow rooted plant and
consequently its feeding area Is quite
restricted. Most of its food is taken
within a foot to Is inches from the
ground surface. The most Satisfactory
and generally accepted explanation is
found in the fact that its main require.
ments of fertilizer come within com.
paratively short period, namely from
blossom period until the crop is har-
vested. Its moisture requirements are
also very heavy at that time. During
a period of five to six weeks the plant
often produces as much as quart OF
berries weighing much more than the
plant itself.
Contrast this feeding habit with that
Of the apple or pear. Plant food is
taken from large area and at consld.
cradle depth. The tree has an oppor'
tunity to gather its nourishment dur
ing period of five or six months
The strawberry grower should keep ii
mind therefore that while the straw
berry does not require very large
amount of fertilizer in the aggregratt
its requirements are very heavy during
a very short period when it must be il
a readily available form. Hence the
necessity of artificial applications.
The station has been experimenting
with the use of nitrate, superphos
phate and sulfate of potash during the
past two years upon the red shot soils
at Dee Nitrate has been usedDat the
rate of 220 pounds, one half applied il
Yearly spring and the remainder at bios
soming season. In other tests tht
whole amount has::been applied in early
spring and in others at p'ossom period
The same series of tests have beer
conducted with 440 poUnd nitrate ap
plication. These weights have beer
used on the basis of every 10, 900 plant!
fertilized. Superphosphate has beef
used at the rate Of 470 pounds and sui
fate of potash at 125 pounds. All tn,
combinations possible of these three
fertilizers have been tested. Bot
tests from which averages were takel
were composed of one year old plant
of excellent vigor and uniformity
Both were upon clover seed.
Briefly, 440 pounds nitrate of sod
applied in two equal applications CAV,
the largest yields upon two yea
basis. This was closely followed by
similar amount applied in early spring
The 900 pound application put on il
two equal amounts closely approx
mated the results for the heavier ap
plications. Such an application ap
pears to possess some advantage owe
similar amount put on at one tim
only either in early spring or whel
blossoms are out. In the light o
Yields it has not been found practica
to use either superphosphate or potash
, The various combinations indicate,
r above appeared to possess no advan
tage.
In the light of results to date tn
writer recommends the use of no
2 more than 220 pounds nitrate especial
( ly on rich soils or where clover ha
, been turned under. Larger amount
may tend to give soft berries of poo
shipping quality. No tests bearin,
directly upon this problem have bee
made as vet, however, Soft berrie
prevailed last year, but this was du
e very largely to the season as we'll a
- to the kind of fertilizer used.
. The grower of strawberries in th
Lower Valley should make his first ap
= plcation as soon as the plant begins t
e warm up and grow. The Upper Vale
grower should wait longer, not onl
: because the season is later, but ais
5 because the light soils of the Uppe
3 Valley may tend to allow much valu
able nitrate to be leached out if ar
5 piled before it can be utilized.
=. For more specific recommendation
please telephone 27s2.