The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-01-24
BETTER QUALITY
PASTURES SLATED

The value OF a pasture ID lllSoS-
ured not only by the things that
can be seen, the total growth OF
heritage, but also by the things
that are not so easy to see, the
total mutritive value of that her
bage.
So. with this thought in mind,
,wo research members Of the
Agronomy Department at State
College, DR.. R. L. Lovvorn and W.
w. Woodhouse, Jr., sought to de-
velop a pasture that would meet
the needs of the growing live
stock industry in the state.
The first part of their objec-
tive they could easily develop; it
was soon apparent what growth
would thrive best and with what
fertilization. But their problem
was to determine if this increased
growth furnished additional feed
value.
For this, they sought the help
of DR.. j. o. Halverson and DIR.
F. w. Sherwood, in the Nutrition
Laboratory of the Animal Industry
Department of the Experiment Sta
ton at State College.
Test Plots
In 1887, the researchers began
study with test plot on the Paul
Youngblood farm in Johnston
County. Their work here continued
through 1912.
A year after the first expert
ment began, they started work on
a pasture in Haywood County, on
the farm of G. H. Smathers, where
work is still going on.
From the experiments conducted
at these two places, and at the
Coastal Plains Branch Station at
Willard, they found that a pas
ture of grasses and legumes, fer
tilted according to certain recon-
mendations, provided the best
growth and appeared to produce
the most satisfactory feed. 49,
But to determine the nutritive
vaue of this this heritage, they
brought samples to the animal nu-
triton laboratory on the college
campus for an analysis.
Results Of Test
The hree feed values they were
seeking were protein, phosphorus
and calcium, the nutrients every
livestock grower wants to give
his animals.
From the chemical analyses,
they reached their first and most
important conclusion. When a le-
gume-grass mixture is seeded and
fertilized properly, the result is
not onl more growth, but growth
of a better quality.
Broken into finer points, they
found these things to be true.
First, if commercial nitrogen is
added to the grass-legume sod, no
additional protein is obtained, and
furthermore. the total yield and
percentage of protein in the plants
is lowered. Therefore, the re-
searchers eliminated nitrogen as
a FERTILIZER requirement for their
pastures.
Second. if an application OF
phosphate, higher than that neces.
sary to get good growth, is add
ed, the phosphorus content of the
heritage will be stopped up. And,
they found, the protein value will
be increased at the same time.
And third, the calcium content
of the heritage will also be n.
creased by this additional appli.
cation of of phosphate of the other
cation of phosphate of the other
fertilizer elements are present in
adequate quantities. Also, they
found that applications of lime
stone will increase the protein con-
tent and the calcium content Of
the pasture mixture.
From these analyses, the two
agronomists were able to draw up
a recommendation to be given to
the livestock growers of the state
for a pasture of greater quality
and quantity.
Recommendation
The fertilizer and applications
developed from this research are
these: 300 to 500 pounds of super
phosphate to be added every three
to four years, a ton of limestone
every five to eight years, and pot
ash where needed.