White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-03-12
THE FARM FERTILIZER
PROGRAM

There is only one way TO deter
mine what are the fertilizer needs
of a crop growing on certain soil.
That is, to test this out with series
of fertilizer plots carrying one ele-
ment alone to the plot and with all
possible combinations of nitrogen,
phosphates and potash. This has been
done by the Experiment Station at
Prosser and in several instances have
been carried out by farmers under
the direction of the Extension Ser
vice here in the County. The re-
suits of these plots to date show
that nitrogen is the first element
needed, and that on our older soils
phosphates are apt to be lacking, but
as yet no need for potash, that is, to
the point where the increase in returns
would begin to pay for it's applica.
ton, has been found.
MANY of the commercial fertilizers
sold in the County are decidedly low
in nitrogen or decidedly high in phos-
plate and potash, whichever way one
wishes to look at it. If one is going
to use the average so-called COM
plete fertilizers sold in the County
one should use probably not to ex-
coed one thousand pounds per acre
and then increase the amount of
nitrogen applied by the use or 200 TO
$50 pounds of ammonium sulphate
to the acre. 1t is probable that the
application of 1000 pounds of the
complete one year IN two and pos
sibly three would be enough to sup
ply the other elements other than
nitrogen and that the other one or
two years nitrogen alone could be
added. This should be fairly econo-
mical program, remembering OF
course, as we showed at the Hort
cultural schools held the latter part
OF January, that the fertility can be
purchased for two-thirds OF their
cost in the complete fertilizer on the
market.
Mr.. Singleton, Supt. of the IT.
rigation Branch Experiment Station
at Prosser, states that they have
gotten best returns when they have
applied up to 120 pounds of nitrogen
per acre which would require 600
pounds of ammonium sulphate or
1000 pounds of a 3-1o-7. One, OF
course, would need to consider crop
that had been put into the soft. Ii
sweet clover crop had been turned
down or alfalfa plowed under one
would not need to apply the nitrogen
in such quantities as given above as
these, crops would be adding con-
siderable nitrogen to the SOIL
The measure of the amount of nitro
gen to use is the measure OF plant
growth made by the plant. With trees
six to ten inches of growth Is the
measure of properly pruned tree
as to whether enough plant food is
being provided. With asparagus It
would be the color and top growth
following the cutting season: With
crops like strawberries it is sui
ficient leaf growth with good color,
and so on with other crops.
At this time when farmers need
to check carefully, items of ex-
pense careful study should be made
by every grower of his fertilizer pro-
blem. A grower asked us recently
how much 3-10-7 should be ap--
piled to an asparasus patch, and
asked whether 1000 pounds would be
enough. Our reply was that according
to Mr.. Singetons' statement the field
should have a 1000 pound application
and this would have cost him $94.OO.
The same nitrogen content could have
been met by the application of oOo
pounds Of sulphate of ammonia which
would have cost him $500. This is an
extreme case, but many real econ
omies will be found to be possible it
one will follow the above sugges
tons and we are sure that just as
good returns will be secured. In the
above case at least the application OF
another $500 worth of fertilizer in
the form Of superphosphate and sui