Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-15
incubation often Essential

On farms that have not previously
grown alfalfa or sweet clover, alfalfa
when seeded on old land that has not
been MANFRED. may start very slowly.
It is often noticed that alfalfa on old
land, if other conditions are favorable
weeds kept clipped off. etc.-in two
or three years may come to be a good
stand and produce heavily. When the
reason for alfalfa not starting prompt
~ is not understood, and the crop
not fully appreciated, it is often plow-
ed UP and the impression spread that
the alfalfa is a failure on such a farm.
The reason for alfalfa and other le-
gumes not starting promptly under
such conditions as above described is
very simple. All such plants as alfal-
IA. clover, beans, peas. etc., known as
'legumes' require large amounts of
the element Of plant food known as
nitrogen. If there is a large amount
Eof this readily available in the soil.
such plants use this supply and grow
accordingly. They are, however. not
wholly dependent upon the soil for
their nitrogen. providing there is in
the soil the bacteria which forms no.
dulles on the roots Of such plants,
through which they may secure nitro
gen from the unlimited supply in the
'iair. When these bacteria are present
in the soil they attach themselves to
the tender Notwithstanding a part
nership-one mutually beneficial to
each other. This relationship is of
! immeasurable Value to agriculture,
for it is the means by which is OBJ
tanned this most essential and expen-
sive element of plant food. nitrogen.
If these bacteria are not in the soil
in sufficient number. or the soil not
in condition to favor their growth,
and the soil is deficient in available
nitrogen. the growth of these legumes
is limited until the soil is put in condi-
ton. and these bacteria have increas-
ed sufficiently in number to obtain a
supply Of nitrogen from the air.
Bacteria Very Essential-and Very
Small
1t should be readily. seen that if
there were any question as to the
presence of these bacteria in the soil.
| it would be very profitable to go to a
considerable trouble to put them in the
soil. While these bacteria are SO small
that probably 10000. of them piled to-
sether could hardly be seen by the
naked eye. they are nevertheless capa-
BILE of gathering from twenty-five to
fifty dollars worth Of nitrogen per
acre, from the air, and storing it in
lthe soil, roots and top of h alfalfa,
sweet clover Or other leguhes. That
is. the crop of alfalfa. sweet clover or
other legumes would contain in its
roots and tops this amount of nitro
gen which is taken fro mthe air, while
if these bacteria were not present in
the soil to enable the crop to utilize
the atmospheric nitrogen they would
have to draw on the supply already
in the soil, the same as other crops
such as small grains, corn and the
true grasses. ~, d
! We generally think of inoculatfng the
alfalfa for the purpose of making it
produce profitable crops,, while the
reason should be that we inoculate ii
so thai it will be able to obtain its
supply of nitrogen from the cir. rathsr
than from the soil.t 1t appear to be
a fact. however. that where the soil
is rich in nitrogen. the alfalfa and
other leghnaes prefer to take h sup
ply Of nitrogen from the soil. but
wher for any reason the supply in
the soil is deficient they have the ad-
vantage Of being a5ie TO secure it from
! A. ~ Hra .. . "nr-# - =".s. -