The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-03-31
.ensIon HorticuIturist, Oregon
AGRICULTURAL College.
BY Clayton L. Long,

order to comprehend iu1iy lnS
,tv nroblem as related to orchard
e we'll to consider the extent
aources G" losses of fertility from
lard soils; for it is recognized thai
Continued profitable fruit produc-
"a a constant maintenance of soil
L,itv II is necessary to return to
fDoii as much fertility as is removed
Ia various agencies at work. These
B[ncies are, crops removed, drainage
Teaching, and oxidation OF nitrogen
organic matter
Losses by Crops Removed.
Lie removed annually per acre
nv an apple orchard.
urol weight - Wood: $500 lbs;
les. $500 lbs; fruit, 24,6oo lbs; to-
$1,000 lbs.
~[itrogen-Wood, 11.3 lbs; leaves,
The fruit, 1872 lbs; total, 3d. lbs.
5~hosnhoric acid = Wood, 3.s lbs;
has 5.3 lbs; fruit, GA lbs.; total,
lbs. ,-o
fruit. Ais lbs; total, $40 lbs.
h. above shows, that an acre of Wig
Inc producing apple trees removes
z.ogen equal to that carried by $40
has of nitrate of soda. Phosphoric
I, ooual to that carried by So pounds
f1s per cent super-phosphate and
lash equal to that carried by 1s5
Erds of sulfate of potash. Gener-
sneaking one acre of apples does
remove as much nitrogen as an
Lal area of ordinary farm crops,
Int the same amount of phosphoric
and considerable more potash.
Losses by Drainage and Leachlns-
II the fertility removed by the trees
Instituted the total loss the problem
hid not be SO difficult but there are
,lses through other channels as we'll.
Utility existing in a soluble form is
lille to be lost in drainage water or
Teaching down through the subsoil,
kond the feeding roots. The amount
1t in this way depends upon the
Iount of soluble fertility, the nature
1.-The subsoil and the amount of rain
Ii. The heavy rainfall and the mild,
len winters of western Oregon are
hditions ideal for such losses, and
ldoubtedly contribute greatly to the
terioration of these soils. The most
ftious loss from this cause is that OF
,ltrogen. This is the most deficient
the three key elements in our or
d soils, especially where clean cul-
kation without annual cover crops
~Imanuring has been practiced. 1t is
10 the most expensive to supply,
Biting in commercial forms about 20
BITS a pound. Experiments made at
Ithamsted, England, upon productive
fd, with an average rainfall Of 28.O2
bhes and an estimated drainage Of
inches, resulted in a loss of more
hn IS pounds of nitrogen, equivalent
THAT carried in 225 pounds of nitrate
soda. With the much greater rain
of western Oregon, drainage from
SO soils would be even greater.
Phosphorus lost by drainage is gen.
Itly conceded to be small, as little
it exists in soluble form at any time.
Ptassium is lost in greater amounts
though not equalling the loss of nitro
fn. The fruit soils contain large
flounts OF this element, but practical
all of it exists in an insoluble form;
lace, the loss Of even a part of the
f'Lble amount is of vital significance
the grower.
another important source of loss is
fough the decay or oxidation of the
fsahlc matter of the soil. This pro-
rs consists in a combination of the
Instances of the organic matter and
p oxygen Of the air. Most of the
'yands formed are gases and pass
-D"o the air. The more contact
~ with the air the more rapid
4: or oxidation proceeds. The or
matter carries practically all the
'ogen OF the soil, hence this process
49, ally affects the nitrogen OF the
Pl. Clean cultivation and exposure
'ne soil to the air and rays of the
IN hastens this process. The extent
Ills loss has never been fully de-
Frmlned but there can be no doubt
mat it is very large.
''ao'e Losses of Fertility Annually.
all practical precautions have
'aken to check the losses of fer
from the soil it will be found
ut large losses still occur. The Min
o'a experiment station after max
several tests, concludes that from
asee TO five times as much nitrogen is
0as rom the soil annually as is re.
pOved by crops.
CO.. canadians found that by AZ
'a u Oh grain farming, practically one
~ VI the nitrogen of III orr sr.,,s 10