Evening journal., 1919-08-27
EXPERT DISCUSSES
WHEAT FERTILIZERS
Professor Grantham Sends
Out Bulletin on Question
TO Delaware Farmers
RESPONDS WELL TO
PHOSPHORlC ACID

Professor A. z. Grantham, head OF
he Department OF Agronomy, Delaware
.olese Experiment station, has sent
,ut the following bulletin dealing with
proper fertilizers for wheat in This
Nste
"The lack OF proper fertilization is
often the cause Of poor yield Of wheat
on Delaware soils. While the FIRST con-
siderstlon is the thorough preparation
n the soil through crop rotation
and good tillagc, certain applications Of
plant food are necessary on most farms
10 secure the best Yields OF grain The
ase OF legume crops and manure in The
rotation lessons the demands for fer
tilizers carrying a large per cent OF
nitrogen
srhe Kind and amount of fertilizers
that may be used with the greatest
pront will depend on The prevous crop
ping OF the land and its natural FER
tniiy. No rule can be laid down as 10
what fertilizer formula is best Tor
wheat on an farms. However. there are
some general principles which apply 10
The fertilizer requirement OF wheat. on
Delaware soils wheat responds readily
10 liberal use OF phosphoric acid. EN-
purlmenis al this station show That
phosphoric acid when used alone pro-
duces greater increase in the yield of
wheat than either nitrogen or potash
used singly, indicating. that the soil is
deficient in phosphoric acid
This does not mean That nitrogen
and potash are not necessary for the
best results. n is only when the three,
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash
are supplied in The proper amounts
,iiher by the soil or by the grower
hat the maximum yield will be Sc
,urcd. on poor soils 10 viii be neces-
iary TO supply an three elements Of
plant food where The land has been
carefully rotated with legumes. or
where a lcgume such as c0wpeas pre-
-ccdes The wheat cr0p,. only phosphoric
acid and potash are greatly needed. II
The soil has not been kept in a good
state OF fertility by rotation. the lib
cral use Of nitrogen will pay, and
wheat Is 10 follow, phOsphOric acid
alone il sufficient if seeded early. Late
seeded wheat should always have more
nitrogen IN order for i 90 make enough
growth IN The fan 90 pass the winter
IN good condition. II cOwpeas are
turned under phosphoric acid alone will
probably give the best returns.
Where IL is possible TO pl0w land for
wheat early, or to follow some carly
maturing crOp, such as factory peas or
early potatoes. less nitrogen Is neces-
sary in the fertilizer as the following OF
soil Well supplied with organic mat
ier through several weeks tends 10
make available the soil nitrogen u is
well l0 apply 2n0 10 300 pounds Of acid
phosphate per acre under such cOndi-
t|ons II manure is available for the
wheat land spread 10 on the surface OF
ihe plowed ground and disk 70 in This
should be supplemented at time Of seed
ing by 30 pounds Of acid phosphate
per acre Wheat following tomatoes
requires little fertilizer except 200 90
300 pounds o. acid phosphate per acre.
Tomato land should bo seeded as early
ss possible after the tomatoes are re-
moved n wheat follows wheat or
oats 800 20 100 pounds of a fertilizer
carrying from , 90 per cent Of nitro
sen. 80 20 f. per cent OF phosphoric
acid. 10 Z per cent OF potash Is
recommended. The effectiveness Of fer
ihizcrs Is governed 20 a considerable
extent by The time OF seeding Likewise,
wheat may be seeded much later II the
proper kind and amount Of plant food
is used Where q is planned 90 top
iress the wheat with nitrate Of soda IN
lhe spring 70 Is quite necessary that
the crop be well fcrtilized With phos-
phoric acid in the fall