The diamond drill., 1919-03-08

Experiments Prove Acid Phosphate
Gives Big Increase In Yields.

opened up TO agriculture. the idea has
always been held that no fertilizer
need be added TO the soil for some
time, until several crops at least have
been taken off the soil. This idea Is
being thrown aside, due to expert
ments with soils. The three principal
plant food elements necessary in
soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and po-
tash Different soils lack one or
more of these three elements In differ
ent degrees.
BY experiment. II Is found that
when one or more OF these elements
is lacking, 1t may be supplied by the
addition OF some substance contain
ing the needed food. Thus turning
under clover and grasses supply nit
rogen to the soil, as also does man
ure of all kinds. Then we have the
so-called commercial fertilizers, which
can be secured to supply any food
element desired, and in almost any
proportion desired.
II field has not as much OF one OF
these foods as the crop growing on
il demands, even though there is
cation OF manure. and this Is advised
with an application Of manure, and
in all cases where possible. The fol-
lowing experiments have been select
ed to show what the phosphate will do.
In Menominee county il was tried
on oats. A field was prepared and
planted and divided into three plots.
Plot had no fertilizer treatment and
yielded so bu. per acre. Plot 2 had
$50 inches acid phosphate per acre
and yielded 96 bushels per acre. Plot
had 200 inches acid phosphate per
acre and yielded 1l9 bushels per
acre
This same fertilizer was applied TO
meadow, one part OF which was left
untreated. The untreated portion
yielded ton per acre and the treated
portion two tons per acre.
In Menominee county oats seeded in
1917 were fertilized with the phos-
phate at the rate OF 400 inches per
acre. The effect on their growth and
more than enough OF the other foods.
the crop will not do we'll. To correct
this condition, we determine what the
element is that is lacking. and then
add that to the soil I'm some way The
adding of nitrogen by applying man
ure is common, the most people do
not understand the real change that IL
makes. They only know that II makes
the crops do better.
II has been found that the soils
Of the Upper Peninsula OF Michigan
are generally lacking in PHOSPHORUS,
and SO to get the best results in most
cases an application OF said phos-
phate, supplying the PHOSPHORUS.
gives very good results. returning
high interest on the money invested
During the past year several expert
ments were carried on throughout the
upper peninsula by farmers assisted
by the county agent. with acid phos-
phate on different crops. IL has been
found that the best results come when
the phosphate is used with an appli-
yield was easily seen. They had
been seeded to timothy and clover.
Part OF the field was left unfertilized.
This yielded hay at the rate of lit
tie over l2 ton per acre. while the
part that had the fertilizer on the
year before went two tons TO the
acre
In Iron county Amos Ishmay oxper-
imented with Il on his farm In 1916.
This was with potatoes. He had sew
eral strips treated differently as 10
fertilizers. The strips untreated with
either manure or phosphate yielded
2ll bushels per acre. The strip
treated with manure at the rate OF
about 10 loads To the acre yielded 9j7
bushels per acre. a strip treated the
same as 10 manure but with 100 lbs.
Of acid phosphate to the acre added
yielded 356 bushels. The potatoes
were more uniform, smoother. and
freerer from scab where tie acli
phosphate was used
Phosphate IS around $50 per ton
this year a good application Is 20o
10 $50 pounds per acre applied with
manure A good way 10 apply Il f.
10 scatter II on the load Of manure IL
the spreader. In this way II will feed
off quite evenly. II may he broad.
casted on also.
ID. C. LONG, Co. Agent.
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TURN THAT CLOCK!
Eaflura ~ conOropa hafora nn iourn