VALUE OF FERTILISERS

Shannon News, 9 December 1927, Page 4

VALUE OF FERTILISERS

RESEARCH AT ROTHAMSTEP. Some important conclusions, regarding the use of artificial fertilisers) are pn s.'-nted in the report for 192526 of the Rothamsted Experimental Station, which was issued last month. It states that experience has shown that nitrogenous manures increase crop yields in almost every season and are the steadiest of all in their notion. Phosphates ;md potassic fertilisers have much less regularity of action, but where they are effective are of considerable- value. Superphosphate, it is pointed out. it a sound investment for root crops; it may give little, return in good seasons when roots are plentiful, but it. gives much-needed increases in bad seasons when roots are scarce. In like manner, potassic fertilisers are an insurance against spring droughts for the potato crop. Wherever supplies of farmyard manure are restricted the fertility the. s oil falls off considerably unless phosphatic and potassic fertilisers are periodically added. An interesting account is given of experiments which were made to stimulate plant growth in desired directions. both chlorides and eyananide being used. The results, the report adfls, seem to promise a way of obtaining- valuable increases in grain crops at only small expense. Experiments with potatoes showed that the nitrogen fertilisers are usually the- most consistent in their action, giving every year, with rare exceptions, an increase of about 20 cwt. of potatoes .per cwt. of sulphate of ammonia; whatever the season and whether farmyard manure has been used or not. In regard to the law of diminishing returns, and the argument that, beyond a certain point the use of fertilisers is not economically sound, the comment is made that while this is undoubtedly true, many farmers are not near the point of diminishing returns and would obtain better results, both in output and financially, by putting more into the land.