The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1922-02-10
GYPSUM FOR
POIlATCH FARMS
Interesting Article by A. N.
Rognstad of Bear Ridge

1t is quite generally believed that
land plaster is d direct fertilizer
only and that 1t is recent dis
covery.
History relates that it was used
on the .legumes by the Jews in
Palestine, B. G. The reason it has
not been used very much in this
country Is probably because the
legumes such as the alfalfa and
clover's have not been grown very
extensively until the last quarter
century.
Landplaster (the commercial
name) is finely ground Gypsum
Rock. gypsum is chemically known
as Calsium Suiphate or Lime Sui
phate. The SuIphate form is the
only form IN which the higher
plants can use sulphur.
Pure sulphur when applied must
first be changed in the soil tc the
acid, then into the sulphate before
it can be used.
In Latah and Nez Perce counties,
our soil, commonly known as Pa
fouse Silt Loan, was found to be so
dehclent in sulphur that amounts
obtained IN soil analysis were un-
VEGETABLE.
The legume family of plants seem
to respond most readily to the ap-
plicatlon of gypsum because they
require so much sulphur in their
makeup. Alfalfa tor instance re-
quires 65 pounds of Sulphur Tri-
oxide per acre and to supply this a.
mount of sulphur about 1o0 pounds
of gypsum is needed.
nave used three varying amounts
of Lypsusm on alfalfa, 100, $50 and
2OU pounds and found that $50
pounds gave the best results. There
was no increase in yield on the 200
pound plot over the $50 pound plot.
The Oregon Experiment Station
found that sulphur fertilization of
alfalfa increased the protein con-
tents over 100 per cent and since
the protein content gives alfalfa its
chief value, that alone is sufficient,
regardless of increased yield to
justify its application.
Last year | got yield of approxi-
matey tons of alfalfa per acre on
land treated with Gypsum and one
tor on the untreated land. also
got an increased of 200 pounds
beans per acre by the application of
100 pounds OF Gypsum. am try
ing 1t this year on peas and clover.
A cooperative experiment was also
started here this year to determine
the effect OF plowlng under varying
,growths of alfalfa with varying
treatments of Gypsum on subse-
quent wheat crops.
Gypsum, therefore, owing to the
tact that 1t is source of sulphur is
direct fertilizer.
1t is also indirect fertilizer, act
ing as stimuIant on the insolubIe
mineral compounds. releasing Pot
assium and Potash. This is one o1
the most valuable benefits from
Gypsum fertilization. 1t also acts
as a stimulant on the nitrogen. Tx
ing bacteria of the soil and The
nodule forming bacteria of the lie
gumes to such extent that the rout
system becomes 8 or a times as larg,
and extensive. For this reason
there can be no i'll effects from tn
continual use of Gypsum The IN
crease IN the nodule forming bac
terra, and root system will mucl
more than offset the plart food re
leased thru this stimulating pro
cess.
If possible landplaster should b
applied IN the rail-, anytime a1ter Tn
first fall rain and before deep freez
ing. This gives it a chance to was
down and around at the roots befor
spring. thereby giving maximum re
turns the first year. The life O
one application is as long as tn
same field should be left to altalf
IN one rotation. | have one plot
years old that gave as big increas
the 5th year as it did the first yeal
The best method of applying ou
side of using a fertilizer drIlI c
attachment, is with an ordlnar
cogwheel type of feed grain drill
Other type feeds do NOT work s