The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-10-25
Agriculture
SOIL IMPROVEMENT
IN GREEN MANURES
(By J. f. O'Brien)

~ - AAbC IL W ~ IL bA VI
manures are the green manures.
Green manuring is the growing of a
crop on the land and blowing it un-
der. When such a crop is turned un-
der. all the elements or compinds con-
sumed in the growth of the plant are
returned to the soil, and when
legumes (alfalfa, cowpeas, clover,
beans, peas, vetch, etc., are plowed
under, the nitrogen gathered by the
bacteria from the air is added as
well, so that after the crop is removed
the soil is much richer in nitrogen.
The best time to pillow under is when
the plant is in bloom. Green manur-
ing (a) adds humus to the soil, (b)
makes the soil more porous, (c) more
retentive of moisture, Cd lighter in
weight, (e) easier to plow and cult.
vate.
Depth to Pillow Under
This depends upon local conditions
but as a rule the deeper green ma
nure is plowed under the longer ii
will take to decay, becaues air is
necessary for decay and the deeper
it is placed the less air there. In wet
weather 4 inches and in dry 5 inches
are good average depths to pillow I'M
der green manure.
Weeds as Green Manures
Weeds may be utilized as green
and plowed under while
they are in bloom. Should any seed.
lings appear, a light narrowing or
disking will destroy them. Clovers
make excellent green manures. Peas
and beans can be Intercepted and
are valuable as green manures as
well as nitrogen gatherers. Hairy
vetch and common vetch make good
green manure crops. Alfalfa while ex
cellent as green is too valua
BILE as feed to plow under.
Lining of Soils
lime is necessary for plant growth
Plants will not grow properly in soils
deficient in lime. Lime is an indirect
fertilizer, that is it indirectly renders
the soil more fertile. Lime benefits
the soil, % by correcting soil acidity
(2) by making unavailable plant food
available, 60 by improving the me
chanical condition, making it more
mellow forable and porous. The
nitrifying bacteria cannot live in SOU
soil. The nitrogen does not combine
or mix with PHOSPHORUS potash and
other inorganic base elements with
out the assistance of lime. Lime
renders potash in the soil more avail
able, sets it free for plant food. In
furious compounds in the soil are rem
dered harmless by the free use o.
lime. Lime hastens the decay of al
organic substances in the soil. Alfal
ia, clover, soy beans, cowpeas, vetch
all root crops, tuteers, grasses, gar
den truck barley, oats, corn, ant
sorghum require lime in substantial
quantities. In addition to the litmus
paper test for acidity which of course
also tells the need of lime, the hydro
chloric acid test may be used. Make
a small ball of dirt with a hollow il
it, pour into the depression a few
drops of hydrocholoric acid. If lime
is present bubbles will appear. Lane
should contain from GA percent tt
0.5 percent of lime, at less than o.;
percent the land is apt to be very un
productive.
Amount of Lime to Apply
This depends upon condition o.
soil and crops to be sown. If soil is
sour, heavy and lifeless, one to two
tons to the acre. If only slightly acit
500 lbs per acre may be sufficient. II
is better to apply 800 lbs. per acre
every year for 4 years than to apply
1000 lbs. Il tom at a time.
Principal Sources of Lime
ID Raw limestone rock, it should
be ground as fine as flour, (2) hydrat
ed lime. The rock burned in a kiln
unslaked and caustic. 60 air slaket
lime. The hydrated lime slaked by
exposing it to the air. There are
other sources like ground shells, lane
plaster, natural phosphate rock which
contains some lime, gas and dye
house lime, basig Stag, mari, etc. The
proper lime to S is the ground lime
stone rock containing a high percen
tage of calcium-oXide.
The hydrated or caustic lime SHOULD
never be used as it burns up thu
plant food and makes the soil unpro
ductive. If it must be used Stake i
first by either water or air before
use. Wood ashes contains some lint
besides magnesia and potash, and il
especially good for fruit trees.
When to Apply the Lime
Several weeks before the crop i
planted, and with potatoes the yea
before. Do not apply lime along wit
other fertilizers or b%arnyard manures
Better apply the severa
weeks before the lime. The linn
must be distributed evenly, a spread
er will do it best, but it a be don
by hand if proper care is used. Neve
shovel it from a wagon as it is in
possible to gauge the quantity. TIL
best plan is to place the lime in heap
33 feet apart each way. If you wan
to distribute n ton per acre pu
so lbs. in each heap. If you want [
distribute 2 tons put 100 lbs. per hea
and so on in proportion. Each hea
can hen be very easily and event
distributed. If you have only a sma.