The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-05-08

The majority Of sugar beet grow
erS no longer consider the use Of
phosphate fertilizer an experiment.
They have proven to their own sat
isfaction that phosphate fertilizers
give them an Increased yield Of
sugar beets and that its use returns
them a handsome profit. Occasion-
ally, however, a grower reports that
he has used phosphate and was
unable to detect any beneficial re.
suits. This may be due to a number
of factors.
Many experiments have been made
n last few years to determine how
obtained from the use of phosphate
fertilizer. The knowledge already
gained may make the use Of phosphate
even more profitable to those growers
who are now satisfied with results AS
wei! as reveal why others have been
unable to notice any improvement, Two
factors have been found which greatly
influence results obtained from the
use OF phosphate. These two factors
are:
l. Method of application,
2. Rate of application.
Method of application is important
and often influences success or failure,
Certain individual factors must be con-
sldered to determine the best method of
"kkA4S1O4S41s
If a grower wants to hold his invest
ment in phosphate down to the lowest
possible figure and is primarily inter-
ested in return on the immediate beet
crop, the best way to apply phosphate
IS with the fertilizer attachment on the
beet seed planter, because, where only
50 to IFS pounds per acre is applied, the
seed.
Ipcoticfo ctor1, ~o,,,rt, ~ -
small applications broadcast, for the
phosphate is so diffused in the soil
that the high lime content of our west
'ern soils more readily combines with
the phosphate, delays its availability
and prevents the crop from utilizing
the phosphate to best advantage.
Where it is concentrated close to the
seed, reversion is prevented and the
immediate crop gets the full benefit.
While best results are obtained with
small applications OF phosphate close to
the seed, larger applications by this
method are dangerous because of So
called burning. Actually, this burning
Is due to a lack of moisture. If beetS
are irrigated o o after planting, or if
the soil is quite moist at planting time,
considerable quantities of phosphate
can be applied with the seed without
injury. But if the soil is dry and the
beets are not irrigated up" not more
than 125 pounds of phosphate per acre
should be applied with the seed.
The broadcast method of applying
phosphate for sugar beets is effective
II enough is applied. BY this method
200 to 300 pounds Of phosphate per acre
is the proper quantity. In an acre of
ground, to a depth of six inches, there
are approximately 5000 600 pounds Of
SOL. This fact emphasizes the extreme,
diffusion obtained when only so to 125
pounds of phosphate are distributed
IN this vast quantity of soil. with
heavier applications a certain percent
age OF the phosphate can be rendered
temporarily unavailable and still enough
VIII be present to properly feed the
The broadcast method with heavier
applications has the advantage OF Civ
ing uniform residual results on sue
ceeding crops. Results with broadcast
application are usually noticeable for
three years. Another point in favor Of
broadcasting is the elimination of any
termination injury. To illustrate the
necessity of b~roadcasting larger
amounts, certain tests with 125 pounds
of phosphate broadcast have given no