White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-08-02
GIVES RESULTS THROUGH use Of
Different KINDS OF FERTILIZERS

of these soils had relatively little veg
citation before the orchards were es-
tablished, So that originally they were
truly virgin soils, Our poorest orchard
soils in the Pacific Northwest are
inherently poorer than or
chard soil in any of the eastern states.
since the water holding capacity OF
the soils in many cases would not
Be sufficient to- support orchards at
all except under irrigation. On the
other hand, our best orchard soils are
very nearly equal to the best in the
country in natural plant food. 1t
seems logical to expect that on these
poorer soils, we will find the first
evidence of shortage of materials
other than nitrogen.
The Washington experiment station
now has orchard fertilizer expert
ments under way on, three rather
distinctive soil types. These tests are
cooperative between the Northwest
Fertilizer association and the Soils
and horticulture divisions of the Elk
pertinent station
The most complete series OF tests
was started year ago in an orchard
on a sandy to gravelly loan soil near
Wenatchee. This soil is typical OF
much of the fruit districts of the
state. 1t is of about average fertility
and depth. Six different experiment
al treatments consisting of nitrogen
alone, complete fertilizer, nitrogen and
phosphorus, phosphorus and potash,
nitrogen and potash and checks are
being used. Each treatment is, reph-
Gated four times, twice on Winesap
and twice on Jonathan. Two buffer
rows between plots are used. the buff
fer rows being fortified the same as
the adjoining trees on which records
are being taken A great deal OF care
has been used IN the laying out Of
these plots. It lis believed that the
experiment is 40 organized that the
results secured will be completely de-
pendable.
In this orchard the soils division
of the experiment station is making
a complete study of the soil and soil
solution in the different plots. Chem
ical analyses, Of tissues from the trees
of different plots are being made at
different times TO determine whether
the fertilizer treatments are modify
ing the composition of the leaves,
buds, etc. Complete records are being
made of fruit set, of size, color, firm
neo5 and storage quality OF the fruit,
of growth of the tree in trunk cir
cumstance and average terminal
growth and any other points OF in
terest which may develop. It is the
present plan to- continue these plots
for many years il possible. Fertilizers
were applied fdss the first time last
winter, SO no recordssar as yet avail
able on these plots.
Another fertilizer test was started
three years ago in a Jonathan orchard
on sandy bench soil in East Wen
atches. Two crop records have Teen
secured on this plot since the tests
were first started. The results OF
these tests to date may be sun'mar-
lied as follows: In yield the plot re-
ceiving nitrogen only has slightly
cut-yielded any other plot for the
past two years. On the other hand,
present prospects indicate distinctly
larger crop this year on the plot
receiving nitrogen and phosphorus,
and on the plot receiving complete
fertilizer than on the plot receiving
nitrogen only.
Plots receiving phosphorus and
potash without nitrogen are making
distinctly poorer foliage. and are pro-
dncing smaller fruits than the plots
receiving nitrogen. The color of the
fruit on the plots receiving nitrogen
is, slightly poorer than on the plots
which have not received nitrogen.
The plot receiving nitrogen only
has more of tendency toward alter
nate bearing than. the plots receiving
nitrogen and phosphorus or a COM
plete fertilizer Since these plots are
not replicated, we cannot be certain
whether this is due in any way to the
fertilizer treatment or whether it is
simply variation of the individual
trees.
Fruit from all plots has been put
in storage each of the past two years.
Fruit of uniform size and color from
all of the plots has been stored. Rec
ords have been kept on an individ-
ual tree basis.
| On the average, Jonathan break
J down has been slightly worse in the
plots receiving nitrogen fertilizer, the
worst plot being that fortified with
nitrogen only. All plots have showr
some breakdown in certain trees. Jon
! athan breakdown has generally beer
worse in trees carrying light loat
of fruit and such trees have tendee
to show this trouble regardless of thu
Il !Continued on page ~