Evening star., 1942-05-04
Shortage Of Nitrogen
May Mean Fertilizer
Reduction for Farms
Munitions Needs, Lock
Of Shipping Cited by
Expert os Couse

Following President Roosevelt's re-
quest last week that the Price Con-
troll Act be revised to permit ceilings
on farm commodities as low as 100
per cent of parity, American farm
ers learned today from the Agricul-
ture Department that they may
have to conserve on the use of
chemical fertilizers in their fall
paintings.
While refraining from any definite
prediction that farmers face a
shortage of essential fertilizers, the
department admitted that it was
assured of only about one half of
nitrogen needed in the manufacture
OF fertilizers for 1943.
That important chemical is vital
to another industry-the making of
gunpowder.
Depends on Synthetics.
The munitions industry has de-
pended almost solely on synthetic
nitrogen, with agriculture in the
past receiving only small portion
of it's nitrogen from this source.
With the advent of war, this small
supply is cut of for fertilizer manu-
featuring, DR.. Theodore r. Meyer,
consultant in agricultural war re-
lations, points out, and the industry
must look to other fields.
Bulk of the nitrogen used for side
dressing crops comes from Chile.
this country importing annually
about 600 1000 tons of nitrate of soda.
But with the growing shipping
shortage a new threat has arisen.
Before the war in Europe we i'm
ported from Germany and Norway
supplies of calcium nitrate, am
monium phosphates and other
chemicals used in fertilizer manu-
featuring, Dr. Meyer explained. The
cutting off of these made necessary
increased importation of Chilean
nitrate.
The department has asked for
more ships on this trade, but, COM
ments DR.. Meyer, It's any ones
guess how many will be alocated."
Domestic Elements Less.
Adjustments already have been
made in the transportation of two
other important products employed
in making fertilizer, superphosphate
and potash, formerly shipped from
sources in Florida and California by
boat, the consultant said. They are
now being shipped to manufacturing
plants by railroad.
Farmers who have been in the
habit of using low analysis mixed
fertilizer such as 4-8-4 could allie
viate the strain on Transportation
facilities by using high-analysis
products such as 5-10-5, which do
not require sand as filler.
About tWo-thirds of all fertilizer
used by American farmers is a mix
ture of nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash, Dr. Meyer explained
A bright side to the nitrogen pic
ture in SO far as farmers are con-
cerned is the increased supply of
nitrogen as by-product of sulphate
of ammonia, he said. From the
coke ovens of the Nations steel
plants comes ammonia, which Is
made into the sulphate product and
sold to fertilizer manufacturers.
Oil Meals Have Double Use.
Another hopeful sign, DR.. Meyer
points out, is the growing stock of
oil meals, which can be used both
as fertilizer and for feeding live
stock. These meals are left over
after peanuts and soybeans, priced
in war industries for their oil, have
been processed, it was explained.
Farmers need have no fear of a
lime shortage, DR.. Meyer added.
Lime which is used to counteract
acids in soil is produced in nearly
every State
Meanwhile, the department, with
an eye on the future, is urging
farmers to use fertilizers wisely and
with minimum of waste. To this
end the department has requested
its Agricultural War Board to
furish fertilizer dealers data on the
best use of fertilizers in given areas,
Stressing that there be no waste or
excess usage.
Farmers also have been asked TO