Smyrna times., 1963-10-17
Present Day
Soil Shows
Need Of
Fertilizer

ing laboratory are showing al
greater need for lime than ever
before. Some Delaware soil
needs lime so badly, according
to DR.. William H. Mithcell, ex-
tension agronomist, that far
mers are questioning the &C
curacy of the tests.
He says this problem will in
crease unless farmers do
something about it. 1--WE now
have the know-how to make our
present average crop yields
look small In comparison to
those that can be produced on
properly lined and adequately
fortified soils".
In an effort TO solve this lag
between the availability of
knowledge on the subject and its
application on Delaware farms,
the Delaware Agricultural Ex-
tension Service is conducting a
lime short course In connection
with its annual crop show. The
short course, sponsored by the
Crop Improvement Association,
will be held on November 10Th
at the Capitol Grange Hall in
Dover.
Highlights of the program in
clude a talk by DR.. John Axley,
University of Maryland agrono-
mist on the ABC's of Lining,
and talk by DR.. Joel Giddens,
University of Georgia on the eff
fects of molybdenum on soybean
yields.
The Delaware Crop Show will
be held on November 18th and
10th, concluding with an awards
banquet on the night of the 10th.
In addition to crop exhibits from
growers, there will be ed
ucational exhibits, a All crops
and soil judging contest and a
color film on the Chesapeake
Bridge Tunnel System.
Entries In the crop show
should be made prior to No
vember lst at the County Agent
Offices In Georgetown, Dover,
and Newark.
In discussing the seriousness
of Delaware's lime deficiencies
| Mitchell said a record number
of lime deficient plants were
sent to the College for exami-
nation this past season. And
College specialists we're asked
to visit a large number of farms
where lime deficiencies we're
showing up. Many of these prob
lens, Mitchell said, we're
traced to acid soils.
'It's pretty obvious that far
mers are not using the amount
of lime needed for best crop
Iproduction. The seriousness of
this situation is being COM
pounded by recent trends in
tillage practices. The use of
larger tractors has resulted In
farmers blowing deeper and
bringing more acid subsoil TO
the surface. Also farmers are
using higher analysis fertilizer
with less room for limestone
In the formulation. In 1850 the
leading fertilizer grade in Del
aware was 3-12-6. Today it is
l0-l0-l0 supplemented with
large amounts of nitrogen ma
terials. High nitrogen fertiliza-
tion increases the need for lime
to offset its acid effect.
Mitchell says lower cost nit
rogen materials also encourage
farmers to use acid forming
nitrogen top dressing material.
The use ofnitrate of soda, which
Is basic or neutral, has dropped
sharply in the past ten years.
Taking its place has been the
acid forming nitrogen solutions
anhydrous ammonia urea anc
ammonia nitrate. Increases ir
crop yields have also rapidly
increased the need for more
lime. AS these crops pull more
nutrients from the soil they al
so require more lime.
Mitchell says the purpose o.
the lime short course Is to tie
: all of these factors together anc
present them In such a wa
that farmers will realize the
importance of adequate lime fol
maximum crop production.