The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1930-09-25

/ This matter has been talked ovel
with Mr.. Singleton at the expert
ment station, who states that il
their work there that nitrate ha:
! been the only element which it h
profitable to apply. The question
raised by Mr.. Singleton in regare
to the plots has been whether the
benefit may not have come from
| the rather indirect effect of tn;
acid in the acid phosphate. Ths
past season, however, amnopho:
was used on one plot with pract-
ically as good results as has beer
secured through the phosphate, ano
in view of the fact that these plots
have been on a sandy soil and
good results have been secured
from the ammophos, Mr.. Single
ton feels that there may be need
for the phosphates. The station Is
rather handicapped in that their
soils are comparatively new and
not run down they may not show
benefits from fertilizers which
might show on other older farm
lands of the county. One plot which
was carried in 1929 in the Finley
community on new soil showed no
benefits whatever on alfalfa from
lime, phosphate, potash or nitrates.
Others who have used superphos-
pilates during the past season on
old soils have reported very good
returns thru its use.
We question seriously, the use OF
very much potash in fertilizers Tor
this section based upon results al
ready secured and if we were rec
ommending to farmers in general
it would be that not more than
four percent of potash be used in
a complete fertilizer for any crop.
1t is exceedingly difficult to
make a general recommendation
for fertilizers. We feel that farm
ers should get as much information
as is possible on the fertilizer
question and that they then use
careful judgment in the purchase
of fertilizers for the various crops.
Since crops vary considerable in
their fertilizer requirements, fer
tilizers should be purchased to meet
crop requirements for the particu
lar crop, always taking into con-
sideration the general fertility of
the soil. In other words if one were
growing a lettuce crop which we
know requires large amount OF
nitrates and a fair amount of phos-
pilates along with a reasonable
amount of potash, then one should
purchase on the basis of soils up
on which demonstrations have been
conducted, fertilizer high in nj
trates and phosphates and possibly
with no potash since these soils
have shown no potash lack. For
almost all crops nitrates can be ap-
piled economically and we believe
that phosphates can be applied
profitably to many of the crops.
The form in which the fertilizer
will be purchased is problem
which number of our farmers are
asking about. In our judgment at
the present price of ammonium
sulphate, ammophos, nitrate of
soda, superphosphate, and potash,
we believe the farmer can afford
to purchase the ingredients which
he needs for his crops and soil type
and apply them in this form more
economically than in the form of
complete fertilizers, particularly
those carrying organic materials,
depending upon cover crops and
such manures as he may have
available for the organic material.
The growth of a crop of sweet
clover wherever this is possible
will undoubtedly put more organic
material into the soil in the places
where it is most needed, than can
be possible through the addition OF
organic fertilizer of any kind to
,, the soil, except for a few particu-
| lar crops.
Let US say in conclusion that the
fertilizer problem is one which will
never be completely solved on any
farm or on any field but is one
which the farmer should give con.
siderable attention from year &c
year, trying to balance soil com,
position and fertilizers against the
crop needs to be grown. It is not .
subject, however, which the farm
er cannot thoroughly understand
once he has opportunity to get the
fundamental facts of soil fertility
fertilization and the growth Of tbs
crops.