Imperial Valley press., 1944-03-12
Valley Farmers
Keep Soil up
With Phosphates

Taking a lesson from the fact
that in a brief 800 years world
farmers have completely ruined the
fertility of come so million acres,
seriously damaged so million more,
Imperial Valley agriculturists have
become vitally interested in the
benefits of fertilizing the soils, not
only for greater production but for
a continued soil building practice.
Last year the farmers Of I'M
perial Valley spread upon the soils
of this area more than 5000 tons
of phosphate to replenish one of
the most important elements in the
soils the growing plants must have.
This amount has been used in the
county since last September when
he emergency fertilizer program
went into effect.
SOIL DEPLETION
Agriculturists in this area recog-
nized long ago that soil depletion
due TO the growing of vegetable
and otler crops would some dag
reduce The Otherwise natural fer
ility of the valley soils and among
he three important elements being
lost, phosphate was the most i'm
portant. Nitrogen can be naturally
replaced somewhat by good crcp
rotation system in which legumes
are planted every few years or by
green or animal manuring. Potash
is not of immediate consequence,
it is believed.
The phosphate problem is an
acute one en- most valley soils be-
cause it has been pulled out Of the
ground each year the land was
farmed, and there is ro naturally
adequate means of replacing it.
Legume crops themselves need
phosphate, manure doesn't contain
enough phosphate . thus ccm-
mercial fertilizer has become the
only answer. The application OF
phosphate since last September has
been proven that it is of value to
the production of the lands.
Most of the commercial fertilizer
received to cate has been 20 per
cent phosphate go per cent per
100 pound bag. The application
depends largely upon the crop
grown. Barley demands $50 pounds
of 20 per cent, alfalfa $50 pounds
and vegetables $50 10 $50 pounds
per acre.
HOW ACQUIRED
The fertilizer has been distributed
in this county through the Agri-
cultural Conservation Program, and
ranchers can apply for conserva-
tion practice payment.
A survey CT 1914 fertilizer needs
FOR Imperial county lands 10 step
up war production Of food was
estimated at 10000 tens. The local
offices C The Agricultural Conser-
yation Program have been notified
that 10000 tons have been allotted
he county and shipments will start
rClling in June 1st in time for
earliest possible planting. Methods
Of handling may be the same as
last year.
Difficulty is being experienced in
obtaining fertilizers on the west
coast due to lack OF labor in the
chemical plants, lack Of phosphate
production in the western states
area. and due to the great demand
this year. The overall Aeri:ul-
tural Adjustment Administration
program contemplates a minimum
Of l,C0o.0Oo tons CT super-phosphate,
some CT this to be used on food
and fibre areas rather than in the
ACP program.
Considering the fact that last
years commercial fertilizer dis
libution in Imperial Valley ex-
ceeced an inyeetmept Of over $780,
900 tc replenish the sells with
phosphate soil building chem
icals and soil conservation practices
are being rigidly observed in this
area i'm a determination that soil
depletion and sterility shall not
happen here.