Arizona sun., 1950-06-16
Fertilizers,
What Good
Are They?

Flowers and vegetables, like our
selves, need food, the right kind of
food, in the cupboard. The plant
cupboard is the soil. Unless this
cupboard is well stocked and unless
it is frequently resupplied, plants
will starve.
Food for plants, flowers or veg
etables is supplied in the form OF
fertilizers-either as barnyard ma
nure or as commercial fertilizers,
explains Harvey F. Tate, horticul-
turist for the Agricultural Exten-
sion Service at the University of
Arizona.
To improve and keep high the
supply of plant food (soil fertility
always apply barnyard manure in
heavy amounts. ManureS have
many good effects upon the soil,
good effects which are lacking in
commercial fertilizers. Therefore,
commercial fertilizers cannot. be
substituted entirely for barnyard
manure. When manure is used IN
large amounts, starvation from the
lack of minor elements seldom
shows up.
When manures are put on the
ground, spade it in, mix with the
dirt thoroughly six to eight weeks
before planting time. Spade ma
nure into the soil six to eight
inches deep and then irrigate or
sprinks the ground at once
so that the manure will begin to
rot. Use 100 to $50 pounds of ma
nure for each square rod Il rod
equals 161z feet0 If poultry, rab-
bit, goat or sheep manures are
used, then apply at one-half the
rate used with barnyard manures,
or from so to 70 pounds for each
square rod.
Good results can be obtained by
applying small amounts of manure
and adding to it certain CONNER
cial fertilizers. But, commercial
fertilizers will not keep the soil in
good texture composition or tilth.
Nitrogen, one of the plant foods,
is the plant element that generally
gives the greatest response in plant
growth. Phosphorus, however, may
be of equal value in growing vege-
table crops and flowers-if it is
properly used.
Commercial fertilizers have one
advantage over barnyard manures.
They can be applied during the
season whenever the plants show
need for more plant food. Com
mercial fertilizers are readily avail
able to plants, while barnyard ma
nure must decompose, or rot, to
make the plant food available to
vegetables or flowers.
Here are explanations of the
more common commercial fertil-
izers, what they contain, how they
act, and at what rate they should
be applied:
Ammonium Sulphate; 2O% nitro
gen fertilizers; dissolves immedi-
ately in water; not quick acting in.
cold weather; broadcast Cor scat
teri " to 1 level cupful per 100
square feet.
Ammonium Nitrate-32 to 24%
nitrogen; supplies nitrogen only;
highest forms of nitrogen fertilizer;
use carefully to revent burning of
plants; broadcast II to II level
cupful per 100 square feet.
Sodium Nitrate--15% nitrogen;
supplies nitrogen only; dissolves
Immediately in water; good fertil-
izer to use in cold weather for
quick action; broadcast II to 1
level cupful per 100 square feet.
A m m mum Phosphate-two
formulas s-16-20 and 11-48; these
fertilizers contain both nitrogen
and phosphorus; excellent to use in
flower beds and gardens; granular
and easy to handle; can be applied
as seedbed is prepared or as side
dressing; broadcast n to II level
cupful per 100 square feet.
Super Phosphate-two formulas
one contains 20% and the other
44% phosphate; should be applied
as seedbeds are being prepared;
not easily dissolved and must be
placed where plant roots can reach
it; broadcast 1 to 2 pints per 100