The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-04-01
TRONA POTASH INVESTIGATIONS
Experiment Station Issues Review
of Studies Made in 1919.

Clemson College, March 30.-"Tro-
ma Potash: A Progress Report, by
C. P. Blackwell, agronomist, and G.
H. Collins, assistant agronomist, has
just been issued as Bulletin 202 of
the South Carolina Experiment Sta
ton and is ready for distribution. 1t
is free to citizens of South Carolina.
The following from the introduc-
ton of the bulletin explains the pur-
pose and the nature of the work re-
ported in the publication.
at is realized that this subject has
not been cleared up satisfactorily and
that the data are conflicting and in
conclusive. The work is being con-
tinued in the hope of clearing up the
matter satisfactorily. 1t is realized
now that it is much more compli-
Gated question than it appeared to be
at first. 1t now seems certain that
there are several factors which con-
tribute to the influence of Trona pot
ash, and while some of these are
known, it is likely that there are
others which have not so far been rec
ognized."
The bulletin treats the subject un-
der (a) Observations of Results on
Crops in the Field, (b) Field Expert
ments at the Pee Dee Experiment
Station, (c) Greenhouse Experiments
at Clemson College. Below is brief
summary of the report.
/. Field observations in the sum-
mer of 1919 led to the belief that
crops had been greatly damaged by
Trona potash.
2. Trona potash used as source of
potash in fertilizer tests did not show
any greater average loss than has
been produced by German muriate in
previous years.
8. Trona potash gave widely diff
ferent results on different plots in the
same experiment.
4. A special test started in July
showed no injury from Trona potash
or borax with any of the treatments
used.
5. Distribution of rainfall seems
to be an important factor in deter
mining the influence of potash fer
tilizer.
6. In a test of potash materials
Trona potash gave reduced yield
with 900 pounds of an 8-3-8 fertilizer
per acre. Lighter applications gave
no indications of injury as compared
with Nebraska potash and cement
! dust.
Z. In greenhouse test sand main
tanned at 5 percent. moisture proved
to be insufficient to furnish the opti-
mum moisture requirements of the
cotton planted. Sand maintained at
18 per cent. moisture seemed to be
able to furnish the optimum moisture
requirements.
8. Applications of Trona potash
ranging from rs to 1000 pounds per
acre and analyzing 17.75 per cent.
anhydrous. borax appeared in green
house experiments to be harmless on
the termination of cotton and corn
seed under the conditions of the ex-
pertinent.
9. Applications of Trona potash
as above appeared to be harmless to
prevent the normal growth of young
cotton plants up to the time the ex-
pertinent was discontinued, when the
young plants were 10 inches high.
10. Applications of Trona potash
appeared to be harmless to prevent
the normal growth of young corn
plants.
II. Applications of Nebraska pot
ash ranging from 200 pounds to 1000
pounds per acre and analyzing "a
per cent. anhydrous borax appeared
to be harmless to prevent termination
and normal growth of both cotton and
corn under the conditions of the ex-
pertinent.
IL. Applications of commercial bo-
rax ranging from Sd to 400 pounds
per acre appeared harmless to pre-
vent termination and normal growth
of both cotton and corn.
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