MANURE TRIALS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19461, 7 November 1928, Page 3

MANURE TRIALS.

WHEAT RESULTS AT LINCOLN,

,The report issued by Lincoln College, in regard to wheat raanurial trials, is of live interest to growers. Numerous tables of results are given, and the following are some of the outstanding details in regard to wheat:— (A.) While phosphates give increases of 1.0, 5.0, 1.8, 1.7, 4.0, 5.1, bushels per acre (average 3.1) nitrogen- as Ammonium sulphate, gave increase of 9.5, 8.8, 8.9. 4.4. 3.5. 14.5, 17.4, (average 9,3): in the two last cases, increasing yields from 66 to 82 bushels per acre. It would appear that phosphate saturation is a possible state of affairs. Nitrogen then becomes the factor limiting production. (&.) Over a\ period of 5 years on 8 different paddocks:—(a) Super at the rate of 2cwt per acre on the College farm barely pays for its use; (b) Ephos cost 3s 6d les per acre, and returns 13s more per acre than, super; (c) Ground rock phosphate epsts 5s elss and returns 15s less; (d) All other phosphates show the same return as super. (C.) In the manure trials on mangelß, the reported yields are low 12 tons per acre, and neither ammonium sulphate (lewt per acre) nor potash (lowt per acre) appears to have any effect on yields. The fact that some other factor, such as rainfall in January, is the limiting factor, probably accounts for this.

Grass Top-Dressing.

A number of small plots have been put down to ascertain the > value of nitrogen alone, and combined with phosphate, tho nitrogen being applied aa ammonium sulphate, nitrate of soda, urea and diammonphos, and phosphate as super and diammonphos. Hay weight results are being compared with results from frequent cuttings. The plots are cut' and grazed alternately each fortnight. This should maintain approximately pasture conditions, and the grazing combined with cutting immediately after grazing is completed should afford useful Information as to what extent payability is influenced by manuring. This is a most important point that has not hitherto been evaluated, and information on it might be useful to those who use manure, particularly potash, just becouse they think their stock do better.*