NITROLIM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 10

NITROLIM.

(“ Mark Lane Express.”) When discussing the subject of nitrogenous fertilisers wo have hithero hati to take into consideration the two important sources of nitrogen, nitrate oi soda and sulphate of ammonia, with perhaps a passing thought of higkzrado Peruvian guano, but for the future we shall have to include in the category the two atmospheric nitrogenous substances, nitrolirn (calcium oyana nide) and nitrate of lime, which are destined to occupy gradually a more arid more prominent place in the fertiliser trade. The interest and great confidence which is felt in the industry by capitalists is clearly demonstrated by the capital embarked in it. Nitrolim is at the present time being manufactured in different parts of ibe world by cloven companies, with a working capacity of about 150,000 tons a year, and arrangements are being made to double this output in a few years. If any of our readers would ho attracted by the details of the interesting manufacturing process of nitrolim, we may mention that such particulars may be found in the reprint of the paper “ On the Utilisation of the Atmospheric Nitrogen in tlio Production of Calcium Oyanamide and its Use in Agriculture and Chemistry,” read by Dr Albert It. Frank—the son of the inventor of the process—last June before the Faraday Society. Quite briefly, the process consists in the absorption of atmospheric nitrogen by calcium carbide at a high temperature, the combination producing calcium cyauamide, which is the highly nitrogenous substance now becoming well known under the name of “ nitrolim.” From a practical point of view, what the British farmer wants to know is:— 1. What are the characteristic qualities of this new fertiliser ? y , 2. Storage and mixing. 3. Where can it be obtained? 4. Price of nitrolim. 5. Use of nitrolim. ' 6 How should it be applied? Let us consider these questions seriatim. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF NITROLIM. Nitrolim may be described a« a very soluble, concentrated, nitrogenous fertiliser, containing, in addition to its high percentage of nitrogen, a quantity of lime, part of which is in the effective form of free or caustic lime, commonly known as quicklime. The standard product is guaranteed. Twenty per cent of nitrogen, equal to 24) per cent of ammonia. Together with a proportion of lime, including IS per cent freo lime. Nitrolim is therefore alkaline in quality. resembling in this respect basic slag. A sample recently analysed by Dr Augustus Voelcker and Sons yielded the following results

♦Calcium eyanamide . . . 58.91 Caustic ov free lime . • • 23.55 Magnesia °3 Oxide of iron and alumina . 2.11 Siliceous matter .... 2.13 Carbon 100.00 ♦Containing nitrogen . . . 20.62 Equivalent to ammonia . . 25.03 being thus similar in nitrogenous contents to sulphate of ammonia. In appearance it resembles basic slag, being dark in colour, heavy to handle, and somewhat dusty in texture. It is sold packed, in strong, double bags, tho inner ono lined with a special preparation to prevent the fertiliser losing its dry condition. The other bag is plainly branded with the trade mark of the North-Western Cyanamido Company, Ltd., and buyers should see that the hags delivered to them are so branded. STORAGE AND MIXING WITH OTHER FERTILISERS. Nitrolim can be kept in store just as well as any other ordinary commercial fertiliser. Mr Hall.tested this point at Rothamsted, and reported “Calcium cyanamido (nitrolim), as now manufactured, can be stored for a reasonable time under ordinary conditions without 'anger or sensible loss of its fertilising properties.” • Testimony to tho sumo effect has been given by the Agricultural Department of tin? University College, Bristol, and by other well-known experts. Nitrolim can ho mixed without inconvenience with basic 6lag, bone meal, bone flour and potasli salts. It can also bo mixed with superphosphate, hut in. this case a little more care is advisable. During the mixing operation water should be sprinkled over the mixture to the extent of 15 to 25 parts of water to 100 parts of the mixture. The resulting mixture can be handled as easily as other fertilisers. WHERE CAN NITROLIM BE OBTAINED? The different manufacturers of nitrolim have entered into an arrangement by which special territories are reserved to the works most conveniently situated for supplying them. _ ' This country, its dependencies and some other conveniently-placed territories have been assigned to tho NorthWestern Cyanamido Co.,‘Ltd., of •London, which has erected important works in the picturesque locality or Odda, Norway. The capital of tho company is at present -£IiO,UUU. in working capacity of the company is about 12,000 tons to commence with, but it is intended in -A short time to erect extra plant, so as to increase the output to double tho quantity. the works are laid out with a view to an eventual output of 00,000 tons. It may be asked why nitrolim should not be manufactured in England and thus establish here a new important industry, employing capital and labour to advantage? For its successful manufacture two things arc essential. Cheap electrical power, combmea with a cheap supply of carbon, and there is no place in this country which tho English. company could secure to enable it to supplv tho British farmer so cheaply with the new. nitrogenous ertihser while retaining a fair profit for its shareholders. . . „ Tho North-Western Cyanamido Company we are informed, has already divided, up this country into districts and appointed agents for the different districts, so that during the coming season there should be no difficulty in obtaining both particulars and supplies either for use on tho farm in large quantities or little lots for trial purposes. THE-URICE OF NITROLIM-. This is one of the first questions a farmer will ask, and the manufacturers seem to have appreciated the fact that, in order to introduce a new article, it is necessary to offer it at prices which compare favourably and are, indeed, substantially lower than the prices of similar nitrogenous fertilisers, against which it will have to make its way. The value of nitrolim is based mainly upon its percentage of nitrogen, and, wo are informed, it will be obtainable at a lower price per unit, of nitrogen than the same unit costs in sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda. Indeed, were this not so farmers would have no inducement to give the new fertiliser a preference over the other well-known useful manures, and wo should not feel justified in recommending them to do so. As Dr Voelcker recently said, it is no doubt a good manure, but whether the farmers will buy it- or not is dependent oil its cost. THE USE OF NITROLIM. It is not necessary in this journal to dwell on the necessity of supplying nitrogen to crops, nor to insist on the equal need of providing a sufficiency

of phosphoric acid, potash and lime. Such elementary facts of crop cultivation are well known to all our readers. The problems which have to bo considered axe much more complex. What are the best forms in which tho different ingredients can be furnished to different crops and to different soils? At what times, in what quantities, and in what mixtures can fertility he applied to tho soil with the greatest advantage? Such are tlm questions which our agricultural institutions are continually trying to solve, and we venture to say' that with conditions so changeable as must always be the case in agriculture, it will never be possible to fix stereotyped formula for each crop. General principles can bo decided, and upon them every farmer must use his own judgment, based on the trials and observations gatkored through his own farming practice.

If it is not possible to give fixed instructions for tho application in every case of such well-known fertilisers .as nitrate of soda and sulphate of am monia, wo must not expect that it is feasible to lay down detailed instruction for the use of such a comparatively novel material as nitrolim. It may suffice if we submit to our readers the opinion of agricultural experts who have devoted much attention to the study of. nitrolim, and if wo venture ill tho next paragraph to put forward a few suggestions as to its application. We will begin with tho opinion of Mr Hall, Director of Rothamsted: — “ Numerous field experiments both in this country and abroad have established the fact that, as a manure, calcium cyanamido (nitrolim) is practically as effective, nitrogen for nitrogen, as sulphate of ammonia.” Mr James Hendrick, Chemist to the Highland and Agricultural Society:— “ The experiments which have been selected as typical of the very large number which have been published all tend to show that, unit for unit, as a nitrogenous manure, cyanamido (nitrolim) when properly used upon suitable soils is equal or nearly equal in value to the well-known nitrogenous manures, nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia.” Dr Neumann, agricultural expert, Berlin:— “From experiments it is clearly demonstarted that nitrolim has an equai value as a nitrogenous fertiliser to nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia.” Professor Immendorff and Dr Kempski: — “ It may bo said, as the result- of numerous experiments, that everywhere where sulphate of ammonia can be applied with satisfactory results, there also may calcium cyanamido be used equally well.” Landed proprietor, Mr GerstenburgGernhorm : “Dr Stutzer recently wrote in the Journal of tho National Agricultural Society of Germany that farmers will bo well pleased to have a competitor for other, nitrogenous fertilisers, which the sellers have had too much to themselves.

“ It may therefore be of interest to know the results of my trials on the beetroot crop with nitrate of soda and eyanamide. The latter was applied eight days before the seeds were drilled, and the crop was equal to 6 tons 12cwt per acre. With nitrate of soda one-third applied with the seed and two-thirds applied in two top dressings the yield was 5 tons luewt. Both pieces of laud were adjoining and quite alike in character. The other immures applied were the same in both plots. “Tho small crop was duo to the prolonged drought; on the sixty-two acres under beet on my farm the yield was only 5 tons—a very poor result, dn., as mentioned, to the dry weather. “ Mv experiment with nitrolim as a top-dressing for wheat also produced quite satisfactory results.” Extract from recent address hv Dr Stutzer to the German National Agricultural Society : “ Calcium eyanamide has proved itself to ho a thoroughly reliable and useful manure in all ordinary soils, and has produced especially good results with potatoes, wheat and oats. Moreover, it is decidedly cheap, as the nitrogen in it costs about 25 per cent less than in nitrate of soda. The only class of soil on which it cannot be recommended is sandy soil, when such'soil is deficient in bacterial activity. The best results are obtained when the cyanamido is applied about eight days before the seed fs sown, but this interval is not of importance with good soils rich in bacteria. Cyanamido can be employed as a top-dressing during the cool seasons of the year. With some crops, such as potatoes and sugar beet, it has been observed that the cyanamido gives even better results than nitrate of soda.” METHOD OF APPLICATION.

In,.general it may be said that nitrolim may bo applied in the same quantities and in the same way as sulphate of ammonia; an ordinary dressing is from I to 2ewt per acre according to the character of the soil and the kind of crop. For nitrogen-loving crops such as mangels and potatoes larger quantities can be applied, up to 3cwt per acre, with advantage. * The dominant fertilising constituent in nitrolim is its contents of nitrogen, and in order to ohtain the best results from its use the crop should also have a sufficient supply of phosphate of lime and potash. Tt is suitable lor application practically to all cultivated soils and grass lands. Tho exceptional soils to whicly experience indicates that it is not so well adapted are sour soils and soils that are of a barren, sandy character, to which other nitrogenous manures are also not so well adapted. Air Hendrick, chemist to tho Highland and Agricultural Society, reported as the result of his experiments:— “ It is not suitable for application to sour soils or to soils which contain a great amount of humus matter, like peaty soils. On the other hand, it can safely bo used on all ordinary and heavy soils.” Professor Neumann remarked:— “ Nitrolim is a useful and reliable for all soils except for 60ur, peaty, and barren sandy soils.” Professors Immendorff and Kempski: can bo employed with advantage, just as sulphate of ammonia can, but it is not so adapted for sandy or sour soils.” As regards time of application, the best results, according to the reports of numerous trials, appear to be obtained when it is applied to the soil about a fortnight before the seed is sown.- Thus Hendrick recommends that it should bo applied some days, say from a week to a fortnight before the seed is put in the ground. There is no danger of loss of nitrogen, as from the character of the fertiliser the nitrogen is not liable to bo lost in tho drainage until it has boon turned into nitrate, and Dr Kirchuer, director of the Agricultural Institute of Berlin, says: “ Nitrolim, like sulphate of ammonia., produces tho best effect when it is applied about two weeks before the operation of seeding,” and ho gives various examples of this fact;

thus in an experiment on oats yield were approximately per acre:— Corn. Straw, lb. lb. Nitrolim applied thirteen days before sowing seed . . 2400 230!) At time of sowing . . . 2100 2000 Professor Neumann says: “As the effect of nitrolim depends on bacterial action in the soil, in order to obtain the full advantage of its efficacy it should bo applied eight to ten days before the seed, according to the character of the soil and the kind of crop.” It is important that the nitrolim should be incorporated with the soil by being ploughed or harrowed, or dug in as soon as possible after application. The best way to apply nitrolim is with a manure distributor.

If spread by baud it should be first mixed with some earth, or with kainit, to lessen the inconvenience arising from its dusty nature.

Although it produces the best results when applied before tho seed is sown, nitrolim may, according to some reports, bo also used with good effect as a top dressing. In such cases it should oe first well mixed with about its own weight of finely-divided earth or vegetable mould from ten to fourteen days before its use, and it is almost needless to say that in the interval the mixture should not bo exposed to the rain. IN CONCLUSION.

We suggest to any of our readers who are in the habit of using nitrogenous fertilisers that they should make themselves practically acquainted with nitrolim by experiments during this season.

It could he tried as a top dressing for cereals, and its effect on potatoes, mangels and garden produce should be particularly tested, as it has given capital results on these crops in Germany, Holland and Belgium. Trials might also he made to see how it mixes with other chemical manures, so as to improve its condition for handling. Any new source of nitrogenous supply should be encouraged, and advantage taken of a little healthy competition among the sellers of such commodities.

In selling their produce, farmers have themselves to encounter competition from all quarters of the globe, and it is only fair that there should also be competition among those who cater for their requirements. We say, therefore, welcome little stranger’ u Nitrolim,” and may you become a useful member of the farming household 1 PRACTICAL HINTS UPON THE USE OF NITROLIM. (Extract from the “Chemical Trade Journal.”) Calcium eyanamide has now been in use experimentally as an artificial manure for a period of five years, and although in some cases the use of this fertiliser has not produced the results expected, in the greater number of cases results equal to those produced by sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, liavo been obtained. The experiments have been carried out, in Italy, Germany, Great Britain, France, Scandinavia‘and tho United States, and its effects uiKin both pot and field culture have been studied. The following are the general conclusions drawn from the experiments:— It is advisable to sow tbe fertiliser as uniformly as possible, and not too superficially. Any irregular accumulation in tho top layers of soil may produce, at leak temporarily, a slight injurious effect on the germinating seed, similar to that resulting from on over-copious application of any of the other nitrogenous manures. This method of application is also’necessary to prevent losses from evaporation of the ammonia formed in the soil, which might otherwise occur, particularly in the lighter classes of soil, when the manure is not sufficiently covered.

Tho application of cyanamido in ample quantities in spring has invariably given satisfactory results, whilst the autumnal application can only he recommended In more limited amounts. Surface dressings have recently been again applied with good results ou v.rops tilled with the hoe, where tho dressing was given shortly before hoeing. In spreading the manure, especially in wet weather, the same precautions should be observed which aro adopted with nitrates. Generally, however, it is not iutended for surface dressing, to which it seems less suitable than nitrate: whenever practicable, therefore, it should be sown at a depth, varying according to tbe nature of tbe soil, between three aud six inches, and spread as uniformly as possible over the land "to be manured, from eight to fourteen days before sowing. Immediately upon drilling or sowing,. it should be either lightly ploughed in, or more thoroughly buried with the harrow, the spade, or tho hoe,, as the case may require. § Being manufactured so as to obtain the highest possible degree of fertilising efficiency in the form of a fine oowder, the operation of spreading the unmixed cyauamide by hand may be come somewhat troublesome in windy weather, because of the lime contained in the product. This inconvenience may, however, be lessened by mixing the’ fertiliser with earth, or with a small quantity (about 3 to 5 per cent) of a potassium salt, or with ground ""basic slag. The exact quantity of manure to be applied per unit of area depends in each instance ou the crop to bo grown, tho condition and constitution of the soil, and generally on the considerations which govern tho use of the other nitrogenous manures. The best results have been obtained with applications of from 251 b to 451 b of nitrogen per acre—i.e., 1251 b to 2201 b of nitrolim, with 20 per cent nitrogen. Excessive applications should, however, be avoided, especially in field manuring. In selecting tho fundamental manure it is necessary to" remember that nitrolim and superphosphate should not be employed simultaneously, or in admixture with each other without certain precautions, as the lime contained in tho former will cause a proportion of tho free phosphoric acid of tbe superphosphates to revert, and will also temporarily raiso the temperature considerably. Nitrolim and basic slag, or a potassic salt, however, will go very well together as a. mixture without any special precautions, nor is there any objection to tho use of superphosphates in direct admixture with cyauamide, provided they aro carefully mixed in a suitable place before spreading, and the proportion of nitrolim to superphosphate does not exceed 20 parts per 100. Manuring experiments with nitrolim have so far been successfully carried out with tbe following plants:—

Field Crops.—Sugar-beet, beets, mangels, swedes, potatoes, carrots, wheat, barley, rye, oats, Indian corn, rice, mustard, grass, hemp and other fibre plants, and sugar-cane. Garden Crops.—-Spinach, lettuce, radishes, endives, parsley, cabbage, cauliflower, leek, onions, beans, and other vegetables. ' Orchards, etc.—-Fruit trees generally, orange, lemon and lime trees, vines, and olivo trees.