FERTILISERS.

Shannon News, 2 June 1924, Page 4

FERTILISERS.

There, are two. important reasons why the, active nitrogenous, ertilisers should, be employed with a sparing hand. In the first place, they are the most : expensive of all fertilisers, and secondly, if not. utilised by the crop during the first season the valuable nitrogen in them is lost, being washed away by rain. In this respect they differ from phosphatic and* potassic fertilisers, as in this class -the phosphate mot utilised remains in the soil for the succeeding crop, and the same with potash, although not quite in the same degree.

All the same, the effective value of the nitrogenous fertilisers —nitrate 'of soda, sulphate of airimouia, and nitrate of lime —even when applied judiciously in moderate f quantities, is most striking, and in favourable conditions increase the yield of a crop in a remarkable degree. Its effect on the growing crop may be noticed in a:few days; the colour of the.plant takes on a richer green and growth becomes perceptibly more vigorous. It is calculated that a dressing of 1 cwt per acre of any one of the nitrogenous fertilisers already alluded to may produce an additional four bushels of -wheat or six bushels of oats.

• Nitrogenous fertilisers seem to be especially adapted for the cultivation of the cereals, wheat and barley, for potatoes, mangels, and for the production of abundant crops of hay. Other crops also require a certain amount of nitrogen, but with them it is not the dominant constituent; the crop, like leguminosc, can ' forage for itself, or small quantities, often 'supplied from qther sources, suffice, i How td Use With Effect.

Wheat, winter-sown.— Early in spring, os soon as .the condition of the soil and'the weather permit, a iop. dressing of 1-1- cwt. per acre of nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia should be applied. It is not advisable to wait until the crop shows signs of having received a check by a spell of cold east! winds before applying the nitrogen. East winds or no east winds, tlic grower may depend upon the application doing good. The application should not take place in frostyweather, the best time being a mild day,;following rain. . . Wheat, spring-sown, requires more help, having a shorter time to grow. Sulphate of ammonia at the . rate of 1 cwt, per acre, mixed with 2, or 3 cwt. superphosphate and 5 to 1 cwt. muriate of potash, makes an effective dressing; it should be applied at the time of sowing. Oats, spring-sown.— Early sowing most important and liberality \yi nitrogen not out oU, place with this greedy crop. Cine cwtt sulphate of ammonia, mixed with 2 cwt. superphosphate and 2 cwt kainit, applied at time of sowing, is effective, and a topdressing of 1 cwt. nitrate tf of soda is often desirable. Potatoes and Mangels are both crops which benefit by fairly liberal dressings of nitrogen, with appropriate Phosphates and potash. Potatoes should have 1 to 2 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, with some phosphate and potash applied ■at time of sowing, while mangels should have phosphate and potash applied at time of sowing and 1 to 2 cwt. of nitrate of soda given as a top-dressing. Nitrate of soda is beter adapted to the needs of mangels than sulphate of ammonia. •It may be pointed out that the nitrate of. soda can be replaced by nitrate of lime if the latter is obtainable at an equivalent cost per unit of nitrogen.