The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-03-04

Per cent per cent
Nitrogen .....--. Ol4l3 O.0t67
Phosphoric acid 0.l2 0.0e6
Potash .......-. 3Ol5 3.463
This soil shows 20 pounds Of potash
70 every one Of nitrogen and 3 Of
pO ash for every one Of phOspH0ric aid
an subsoll shows an even greater sur
pl : Of potash. To indicate how ratUr-
lly fertile is this soil in pot sh Il Is
", rthy of note that according to Prof
NJ erker. Halle Station. Germany. ang
So containing as much as 40 per cent
po-ash is classified as rich soil as far
as this plant food is concerned.
Al We were TO be guided by such
ch amlcal analysis We would infer that
If any additional plant food were re
qured il would not be potash, but
ra her nitrogen and DhOsphoric aciG.
Results show, however, that in a rota-
tlt n of clover, corn, wheat and oats
covering a period Of 80 years on this
SO |. highest net returns came from
plats on which phosphoric acid and pot
ash were put on at the rate of one
pound of the former to POS of the lat
te-. The reader will readily recognize
that striking evidence is here offered in
that in such rotation containing clo-
yer any additions OF commercial nitro
gen reduced the net returns, the more
nitrogen applied the greater the net
loss. Furthermore 1t was pointed out
that the l-20S combination alone,
which equalled in net returns that from
other plats receiving ten tons of barn
ward
where no other fertilizer was applied
Results show also that potash or phos-
phoric acid when used alone or in any
otter combination than l-2.0S (this te-
ing the relative proportions IN which
the crops require these plant foods).
net returns Wee lessened
The evidence here offered is not di-
rect as far as apple production is con-
cen ned, hut 1t shows very clearly that
eeumnous crop, if left to gather its
own nitrogen. is fully capable of doing
50 without supplementary nitrogen
FRI m commercial sources. 1t also show
that legumes not only do not need this
fertilizer, but are actually harmed By
Its use. The beneficial results from
the use of phosphoric acid and potash
are also pointed out when proportioned
ac ordlng to the relative requirements
Of the crops. The striking fact is that
crops responded to large applications Of
potash despite the fact that the soil
was unusually rich in this plant food.
Prof. John 2. Stewart, chief, Dept.
Exp. Pom. of the Pennsylvania State
College, in bulletin 1853 of that station,
SAYS: Figures show that the cOrrela
ton between soil composition, as deter
mined by the methods of soil samping
analysis the actual response Of associ-
ated trees to additional fertilization is
eltaer exceedingly slight or absent en-
tuely. One would expect that the
,dr-est response woud appear where
the chemical fertility of the soil was
Invest, and vice versa. This evideEtly
nas not occurred In fact, the least
response to practically all types Of iei.
| tllIzdtion has occurred in experiment
| 2i6 in which the soil analysis poorest
Of all, and some of the largest respons
IS have appeared IN the chemically
richest soils. We realize that the full
che emical resources have not yet been
exhausted, but from the facts at hand
the following deductions may be made ::
The ordinary methods OF soil analysis
are not yet adequate to furnish a relia-
bic indication of the fertility needs of
the orchard. Trees on chemically rich
soils will not of necessity prove unre-
sponsive to additional fertilization, nor
viii trees on chemically poor soils al.
ways prove responsive. In other words
some other Indicator than the chemical
composition of the soil must be relied
upon to determine the real need of ad-
ditional fertility in the orchard. AT
the present, therefore, the surest and
most delicate test yet devised for de
termining the fertility needs of an
orchard soil is the actual response Of
the living tree in the soil concerned to
appropriate fertility additions.
Prof. krause, formerly of the Oregon
Experiment Station. has pointed out
the necessity of keeping in proper bal
ance the nitrogenous compounds in
plant growth with the carbohydrate.
such as starches. sugars, ,etc., If normal
fruiting is to take place. This balance
may be distributed in many ways. such
as heavy pruning of especially vigorous
trees Just before a light crop in which
ease the tree naturally produces exces-
sive wood growth. Excessive fertiiza-
tion is another factor. In the judg
ment of the writer the continued and
excessive use of one kind of fertilizer.
such as nitrogen, may disturb this bal
ance, and it is not beyond the range of
possibility that applications Of potash
in some form may prove helpful, if not
IN increased returns, at least in better
keeping quality.
There is much complaint this year
that fruit from certain sections is not
holding up well in storage. This may
be due to delayed picking, frost, etc.
There is no direct evidence. but there
is possibility that to some extent this
may be due to excessive use of nitrogen
not properly balanced with other plant
food.
TO be concluded