The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-03-17
VI" A BL Ell AN -
4 FARMING -

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10 three classes. The major clements
needed for plant growth are nitrogen.
phosphorus and potassium Tor pot
ASH guess they are called the major
clements because plants need them in
large amounts. Some of the others are
likely just as important, but needed
in smaller quantities..
Secondary plant foods are calcium,
magnesium and sulfw. Then there are
those classed as minor soil elements.
sometimes called trace clements be-
cause they are always found in very
small quantities in most any soil. 1t
is only recently that the Importance
of the trace elements has been recog-
nized.
Commercial fertilizers are based on
one On more Of the three major ele-
ments. These fertilizers go by num-
beers which indicate the content of
these elements in the following order:
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash. Thus.
a 3-l2-6 fertilizer contains pounds
per hundred Of nitrogen, II pounds of
phosphoric acid and 6 pounds Of pot
ash. The other 10 pounds is filler.
Most filters contain some calcium,
magnesium and sulfur. We get nitro
gen i'm ways: "a the fiXation of at
mospheric nitrogen by nodules on
roots Of legumes such as clovers and
alfalfa, (2) Use of manure and rot
ting of sod or cover crops. and CD
Use Of fertilizers containing nitrogen.
All our soils here are low in phosphor-
Us, so we have to supply it in ferti-
lizers. Soils in this section have a good
supply Of potash, but it becomes solu-
bic so plants can use it, very slowly.
Lining helps release some of the in
soluble potash. If you are raising
heavy crops of legumcs, that feed
heavily on potash, you should be add
ing extra potash in fertilizers.
OF the secondary elements, we get
calcium and usually magnesium by
lining. Some sulfur is present and
more is added thru the use of most
ordinary fertilizers.
The trace or minor elements are the
ones we don't know too much about
1t Is known that some of them are es-
sential for good plant growth. 9th
ers do not seem to be essential for
plants but are necessary for good
health of the animals (including peo-
ple) who eat the crops. Some Of
these minor clements are iron, copper,
zinc, boron, manganese, sodium, chlor-
inc, nickel, molybdenum and iodine
A few things about these have been
known for quite awhile; for instance,
that iodine was necessary to prevent
goter. Research scientists are finding
out more facts about them all the
time
Tomatoes are supposed to be high
in vitamin c content Yet tomatoes
grown in soil with the proper amount
of manganese will have 10 times as
much vitamon as those from soil
deficient in manganese. All of these
things are bound to be reflected in the
health of humans and other animals.
1t is not an accident that the best
race horses are raised in the bluegrass
region of Kentucky Something in the
soil makes them great horses. Selec-
tive Service found that in the region
around Colorado seven out of ten
registrants were fit for military ser
vice. In several Of the Southern States
only 8 out of 10 were found accept
able. Colorado has soils high in miner
ais, and fairly low rainfall. In the
southeast heavy rainfall and light
soils have resulted in heavy teaching.
Then, too, the western soils are newer
in agriculture; those in the south have
suffered heavy erosion.
Medical science has made great
progress in fighting disease by killing
germs. 1t has made comparatively lit
tie in combating the degenerative
diseases such as arthritis, heart di-
sease, dental troubles, bone diseases
and others not causes by germs. Re
cent evidence has shown that many Of
these could be greatly reduced if our
food contained all the minerals it
should.
Our choice of foods, and modern
eating habits result in heavy mineral
losses. We pare potatoes and throw
away most Of the minerals in them.
Wheat is a good food, yet we refine
our flour by discarding about IA ele-
ments till we have practically pure
starch. Their we fool ourselves by en-
riching the fl I by adding about four.
What bearing does all this have to
conservation 1t means that we must
add, by fertilizing, the minerals we
know are lacking in the soil. And we
must keep them there by preventing
erosion. Subsoils may contain the
necessary minor and secondary ele-
ments, but only in topsoil are they
available to plants; and through them
to livestock and to US.
w. w. MACE