The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-12-20


posed to mean the same thing when
applied to soil, but there may be a
wide difference, says the United States
department OF agriculture. The differ
ence is one that may mean success or
failure in crop production.
Some Rich Soils May Not Be Fertile.
By fertility is meant the ability OF
the soil to produce a good crop. A soil
is rich if it contains a considerable
quantity OF each OF the elements re-
quired by the plant in the process OF
growth. Unless, however, these ele-
ments are available to the plant and
the soil is such as to promote plant
growth, the soil can not be said to be
fertile. Certain elements are always
available to the plant; others must be
acted upon by certain substances under
suitable conditions to become available
or soluble.
A lotion crop OF sugar beets will
require approximately so pounds OF
nitrogen, IA pounds of phosphoric acid,
and II pounds of potash, 20-bushel
wheat crop will require approximately
Al pounds of nitrogen, about IS pounds
of phosphoric acid, and II pounds OF
potash; a 40-bushel corn crop will re-
quire approximately SO pounds OF nj
trogen, Fl pounds OF phoSphoric acid,
and p pounds OF potash; 2-ton clo-
yer crop will require approximately IS
pounds Of nitrogen, Is pounds OF phoS-
phoric acid, and IS pounds OF potash
These elements are required by all
field crops, and in addition seven 9th
er elements are required IN much small
er quantities. These elements are al
IN
larger or smaller quantities: the only
question is as to the quantity OF each
and whether the elements are ayalla-
bic to the plant.
Soils may be rendered iniertile
through natural causes such as leach
ing, and through artificial causes, such
as single cropping, improper rotation,
and the improper proportion OF live
stock to crop production. One OF the
principal methods OF increasing said
fertility is through addition OF humus
to the soil, either by stable manure
or green crops plowed under.
Teaching May Waste Stable Manure.
Too much OF the fertilizing prop
critics Of stable manure are wasted
either by teaching in the barnyard or
by evaporation when spread on the
land and left on the surface. II the
manure is spread and can not be ploW-
ed under quickly it should be disked
unless the ground is frozen II manure
must be left on the surface OF the held
it is much better LETT in piles and
spreads just before it is ploWed under.
The effect of stable manure on the
land is cumulative, and frequently is
more marked with the second crop
than with the first.
Green crops plowed under provide
another source of soil Improvement.
Such crops as peas, beans, clover, and
alfalfa are among the best Tor supply
ing humus to the soil These crops
should be plowed under in the fall so
as to have abundant opportunity to
decay before the growing season be-
gins the following spring. II legu
lninous crop can not be grown Tor
green manure other crops, such as
oats, rye, barley or even sorghum, may
be used.
The green crops will add little ma
terial not already in the soil, but they
may bring up needed elements from a
considerable depth and when plowed
under deposit them in soluble form in
the surface soil For the reason deep
rooted crops are to be preferred,
If the required elements are not in
the soil or are not readily available
the need should be supplied by COM
mercial fertilizers. The composition of
the fertilizer used will depend upon
the requirements of the crop to be
grown and upon the condition of the
soil which is used for crop production
A sugar beet crop, for instance, should
have abundant potash, while for a
wheat or corn crop attention should
be given to the nitrogen supply.
Fit Fertilizers to Soil Needs.
A complete fertilizer consists Of nj
trogen, phosphoric acid and potash.
Materials containing these elements are
mixed in different proportions for dit
ferent crops and for different soil re-
quirements. 1t frequently appears that
a complete fertilizer is not required.
For example, there may be present in
the soil an abundant supply of avail
able potash, but the supply OF nitrogen
and phosphoric acid may be deficient.