FARM FERTILISERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 17

FARM FERTILISERS

PREPARATION AND USE

MAXIMUM RESULTS DESIRABLE

;:(i) Throughout New Zealand emphasis shbuldbe'laidfon the use -of lime )iud, phosphates-bofore any general atiomp't' to iitcr'ease-lhe use of more concentrated, more expensive nitrogenous fertilisers is made. It has been shown .on'dairy farms that high expenditure iti' 'connection with fortilii?ers:.\js the chiefmoans of maintaining high-production,-of butterfat per "acre. Tho grassland problem in Now;.. Zealand, is,to even out production throughout.tho year. Experimental work-shows that'ia soil1 which has boen limed and phosphated, the use of nitrogenous fertilisers will produce food much oarlier in'the spring at the timo when it is most valuable. THE USE OT LIME. To extend tho.usij, of lime, the following recommendations are made:— (1) Tho installation, on a regional basis, of crushing plants on'such a scale as will enable large scale production of ground carbonate of lime to provido for those areas "where farming is on un intensivo scale, and whore access is ready. (2) Tho encouragement of small scale crushers which .can oporate in districts romoto from tho larger works, and from the railway, so that local outcrops .' of limes tone; may be trcatod in the immediate vicinity. (3) Whero any: liino-workß are operating with any form' of' Government assistance (free railage) "the output should possess a certificate indicating that it is suitablo for agricultural purposes. This is necessary in order to give farmers tho confidence/that their purchases of lime arc on right lines, and to'avoid tho discouragement: which may arise through tho application, of classes of liino that are likely vto-bo of littlo use. (4) Attention : should be devoted to the fineness of the grinding, and this would vary in accordance with the degree of hardness of the limestone. The harder the .limestone, in general, the finer should, rbo the grinding. (5) The cost of'-groiind limestone per ton should be kept* as low as possible, and a price be* tyy.ee;! 10s ami 15s at the works is suggested in this connection. "■[',''[ ~.<•;,■■ ORGANISATION. -..The comtnitteo further recommends that all fertiliser companies in Now Zealand should bo o>auised on a Dom-inion-wide basis so tii at all propaganda, arrangements for distribution and sales should be devoid of that element of rivalry;.'which leads to waste by doubtfill advertising. The propaganda for fertilisers should be based upon results secured from fully authenticated expert uients conducted in New Zealand! "Rationalisation of the industry* would secure tho greatest benefits when controlled by an organisation fully equips ped to represent all points'of view involved in the industiy, oach in its right proportion. .This would iucludo members, who had a thorough grasp of the scientific control necessary, ,to operate and develop such an industry, others with a knowledge of the marketing and distribution, and a representative who had complete' understanding of the problems iavolved in securing tho greatest benefit from thcso'fertilisers when applied to the soil. It was m/t essential that tho way should bo kept cloar whoreby science couW: como to tho assistance of the industry, thereby securing further economies. COST AND SELLINa PRICE, It was in tj>o interest of Now Zealand genorally that fertilisers should reach the farmer at tho lowest possible price; consistent with reasonable profit to the manufacturer, and adequate recompense to those undertaking tho distiibution of tho commodity. Very considorable reductions had been made in prieoa in tho last few yoars in Now Zealand, and prices now compared very favourably with those prevailing in other, countries; taking into account tho relative grades. The prico of Buperphosphato is now well under prewar figure.

. ''iEeeomnionclatiojis of considerable ' iy&iue to the farming community in' the' ' .matter of fertilisers and their application ■\vcro embodied- in a report furnishss recently By a'-special d.oiumittbe \m--.dai" the supervision ■of the Department. »ij Scientific and Industrial Research, i^.itaio report 3tatcs that tho mechani[>iq]l condition oj: fertilisers prepared at .'■wi|trks in New Zealand is consistently good, and that very little technical im- . pfjoveinant can bo secured by further "attention- to manufacturing processes; i^jiere is evidence that manures put uj) "an, a granular, condition produce loss .scorching "than" those in "a vary' finely << divided r form..-; This applies particu- '. laVly "Titft, ,'thb"'.;highly solublo manures, r: sijoh acthj iiijkogenous group and the : -nfw Jtiauibiiinin; ph'ospliate' typo of. for"tijiser, : *.Concentration of nianurial infigrediejfe'lo.save handling and' distri- '> butiott^W^Si especially for top-dress- : iijg rough country,'might-bo'given consiaoration along the linos of ascortuia- , an'g tfi.elcip'tiniUm degree oi' concentration wMctoftis,compatible 'with', .-.ready la^d oven jcjistrttmtipn. The whole.quea- ; -■■tijan of ViJoncontration- requires careful i «o'nsidei!3tipn; \ • ■

s:;[ (JONFUSION AT PRESENT. .;','Many. mixturoß designed for a par--1 :Wculai-:jur^^-'-jas. ; ai: .presdnt. on. the njiarketj"ihsrrepw£\^states/ ;aTer'ineffcc■■•ftye,- in'^Bmii_eh:,'aJs V:most; of: thoiii contain Biichl small, additions -of nitrogen ;*pr potaglr^ir theirvjiiain bulk of 'phos--'piate'iih^tiivtlie additional ingrcclionts ■hive 'ilittle" effect -on' crop yield. Mix■■feures offered for sale should bo com.jkiunded in accordance) with mauurial

lequirements for different crops or distrietß, .as eatablishediby; the'cxperimdn*. tal work of ther * DepartineJitv of Agriculture, or other |roepgiu^ed institutions where experimental work is conducted. The' propaganda , i;e'garding such mixtures ■■would then (BBbist the Department.'- ;instead\- of iflOnfusing tho farmes, :aa at prosqnt. In view of the impo#anpe i6i .■thoMime used in association,.w^tjt.manures,, arrangements might bp- nj^'de f oiy thej. £ei> companies and'iiuje^conipanies •ip mis lime with '-%£pxi;<ii'y at ■ their ■works, instead of th'ig:b i bingidoiic:"'t)n i«ums. v A.rebate on 'freight- paid JEor 'lime so^Msefl in mixjuiefl SAjmid -be, allowed jitpiHhje companies,, concerned. ■.

FE^TIJJBER DISTKIBT7TOES. i DealiS^feh the (jiiQstion of the distribution of fertilises, tlie committee (jecommends the rationalisation of the industry around wo'iks already established in both islands, to avoid overJapping, and an unnecessary duplication of charges. Periodic bulk distributions are also recoirjmended, especially qLt those times of pih year whon' manu'nal practice should bo done in any parj'Jtcnlar district. jThis would allow of £ho running of special fertiliser' trains, (■which would enable a reduction in transport coats, and stimulate fetbiliser applications in the districts which they I4&rve. A manure transport .survey, with the view.of cheapening,' transport 'costs to the'farm throughout New Zealand, is urg"&eL^as worthy of coustfderation. "^-- .^ Attention should be devoted-to^hc Hesigning and manufacture locally "of* Bjanura distributors suitable for New Zealand ' •conditions.; The most suitable types of distributors are-iiow •imported, and even they are not perfect. Distributors atVpresont: in use are capable of improvement both as regards jjfflciency and price, and attention should be drawn to the efficiency of , Istoa s jnaohjnea. by. .the conduct of-Bpe» -ifj«pta;ialß; ;r Those' tests will also prob'k.bly disclose the most suitable mechanical condition in which manufacturers ' Should.endeayour fo ■ atandardiso. their fertili^s,"h'aylng regard" to the e'vcii distribution''^'tlie soil and the uui^ioinj.^ate of applicatioa per-acre. 1 jtm^J|A*i6»r NOT tJNDBESTOOI). The committee comments that utilisi *-tion of manurial top-dressings, especiv ally phosphateg, is.very imperfectly uni derstoo^:, i What'lrapperis to the phos-1 phator appHed-to certain pastures year after year, for instance, is not understood. Not all of this phosphate applied r can be tracedlin,-analysis of, Jhe pastures growing' ''the>eoß,' and h-n not removed in products sold off the farms., It is suspected that in regions of comparatively high rainfall, aud in soile of open tosturo, a large proportion )-«flclLes..bpyQfl.iiJie. jam;a,of .pianj; roats. i Tfer-qBeWWa-ariseH -a« to whothw-alter-ations in the times and methods of ap-pj!eatipji-;.|(rptildvjiot: : effect a cons/dorable aawi'if'oi-inttittirial'matter noy lost;, Limißg..ycry.probßbly woujd economise phospiia'tes.in-particular^ when tised'as supcrjihosphate.- ■' ; ■ : APPiICATJON OP MANURES, T'v;tW matter■ of -distribution of manuib--.o_3t; thavfarm, the cemniittee stj,tesvthafc Hy.is desired that niaxiinuin results ahbjilil ho .secured from all ap-. plicaiiiois dfimanuresi. To this pnd.the following reepmrnendations aro matle:--^. (aX.||':CanJjpt. be too strongly realised that JBsnUfi.njs is .only one factor in pro-. \ ductitrH fro'iri grass land. Much valuable ' manure is wasted because sufficient at-teiction:.-js- not:.paid :to two- important- • '"'■ ..... ■\i;, (l^.MjijiiHerdmenfc and- control of pasr.-> .;■• tariwiiMss sJiowd1 ne-fgr liii : allowed $0 ■•.get out of control, and no effort should . f be spared in encouraging the farmer to '.■•■} fepd his grass in the short leafy stage i ' and preserve all grass which cannot bo '-. • fod at this stage as ensilage or hay. , 'Great waste of valuable,' feed now l: occurs during late spring and. summer '■ months. . . (3) The importance ■■of sowing tho ' 'right strains or species of grasses and U clovers: It is essential ' that farmers . j realise that'JliQ,egteb]J3hmenlr,ot' good : ; types of-grausw and clover£f gives far .. greater .-retntrpjii £0* fertJJiecr expended, (b) iTb^fs,ni|<jr'-Bhonld use straighti ■ out fotlMsiers, gue^i suporphosphato, I slagiiftjf^Bulphate' of'ammonia, in proy I fererf^j^piixtiireß,' unless Oioso.lattei1 "'■ i are pretzel in aecordanfo with carei 1 ully.tbofl^it'Out I (c) In'jgeneral/supor and slug should [ be purchased ,iq eupi)ly phosphates ■ rather than Jngolublo rock phosphates. ■ I (d) Much groatpr use should bo mado ■ 1 of liroo in ordorithat the Ijmo content :! of a soil may _bq snfßcie,ntly high to jii enable thu host advantages to be doj 'rived from tbo tfso of fertilisers. It is j .desirable to carry put exhaustive oxpori--1 ments in oi'det,,^"compare the leUtive , fertilising valu^'pf IUo citratq soluble , form of phospiipric, acid propared by ; ( - reveraion of njojio-tcalcic phosphate with ; lime with that-otthe water soluble fojin ; of phosphoric acid, tiurjer-rcvorted in : this way may give better mault^ than ' j lime-super by prolonging fho gruziup; j period, reducing leaching losaos, and ': j lessoning the deleterious effect of bupev ! on gormination; ►

with1 crops, especially cruciferous types, e.g., turnips, rape, and legumes (Income), equal quantities of lime slioirlijj.ic added in order to avoid germination losses. . .... '

(h) "Wheatgrowera should uso 1-Jcwt of nitrogenous fertiliser as a top-dress-ing to their crops in the spring. Such an application has shown the practice •to be economical.' . . '.■-•■ ■

!.' (c) North Ijrtsji<T. iJastiwes,:'where suit* | able summer a^d{Miiumn''j:a.iniall is ex*, '■ perigneed, shqiifSjJbjß top-dres.scd with' : supeiphoa^Jjfttpilil^ast.twico'in a year, ■' viz., ear|y,;t^H|;uniin-;anfl"i-paTly .summer, ,an order tKatfipastuve production in the i late summer and;"wint&r ; '.months should Ihe increasccl. In districta Whiijii usual-' '; ly experieaoo autumn droughts the ; early autumn application should bo do-. ' layod until rain seems imminent. '.-. ~f-f) -'Wd increase the growth, of • pas- ■ turcS," e*peciiilly foi L lrayaiid-ensi'lage/ an early' spring application of nitrogenous fertiliser should be applied, "Wiere superphosphates ase aosvn

■-■,=Q3dS bas^been njadc possible in the firsti^]aoe ; ibjj very important 'ddvolopi meats having' been niaSe in the control of the "eherai.cal .■processes involved in the manufacture of superphosphate. By this mean* mndh larger outputs have, been obtained from: existing plants, whOov;low. capital and operating. oosts liaye. : _thuß been geoured in new plants, resulting in "substantial reductions bc-~ ing made in overhead charges. It has be.en shown, conclusively in New $egfend_that; t]ie'\lowering. of;' prices■ has brought about increased consumption of fertilisers, thiig -cresting a market for th» increased ■■■manufacturing capacity previously, secured, and increasing tlie primary products of the country.