ON THE LAND

Northern Advocate, 4 May 1933, Page 8

ON THE LAND

FERTILIZER RATIO

| Experiments have been conducted in | Canada, recently, with a view to findiing out at what depth of application to I the soil a given quantity of fertilizer will give the greatest increase in the crop. It is claimed that according to the depth, and manner of application, l2 cwt. may be made as effective as 3 to 4 cwt. which has not. been applied to the best advantage. Mr, Hooper, of the New Work State College of Agriculture, says that many trials have shown that fertilizers applied in ordinary amounts with a fertilizer drill, which places the seeds and fertilizers lclo.se together, almost invariably return crop yields which are superior to broadcast applications which are not well worked into the soil. Three fertilizer treatments employed in the Ottawa experiments consisted of applications per acre of loOlb, muriate of potash (oO per cent.), 5001 b. superphosphate applied separately and a complete fertilizer applied per acre at the rate of 1251 b. sulphate of ammonia, 3001 b. super and 751 b. muritate of potash. Triplicate field plots, well scattered and with ample untreated checks, were used for each treatment. The field on which the. fertilizer trials were conducted had been in oats the previous year. Before sowing barley, each fertilizer was' incorporated into the soil in three different methods, namely: —(1) Ploughed in to'a depth of six inches; (2) disced in with a harrow, the disc harrow being worked once each way; and (M) harrowed in lightly with a tyne harrow. The land where the fertilizers were disced or harrowed in had been previously ploughed.

In every case, says Mr. Hooper, the ploughed-in fertilizers gave the largest yield. Observations in the field also indicated that the ploughed and discedin potash plots gave barley plants with larger heads and stronger straw. While he thinks it might be relatively unsafe to recommend the general plan of ploughing in fertilizers which have been scattered broadcast on the soil, he considers the experiment conclusively indicates that deep and thorough mixing of the fertilizers with the soil is a necessary procedure if the full benefit of the plant nutrients is to be obtained. A series of tests were carried out the following winter with pots in a greenhouse. These tests showed that where the manure had been applied at a depth of from 2 to iU inches the increase in dry matter was nearly trebled.

Stock Knowledge. “Live and learn,” applies to all farmers and the more one learns, the more pronounced becomes the conviction that we are still a long way from understanding the complex working of nature. The “ Australasian” gives a summary of a book, “Sex Hygiene and Reproduction of Cattle,” by Dr. W. W. Williams, which deals with many of the troubles which confront stock breeders of to-day. Regarding nutrition the book says: “The health of the genital organs is so dependant on the general state of health that various factors which alter the general vitality may markedly influence the functioning of the genital organs and thereby affect reproduction. Adequate exercise, good nutrition, good habits, and care are necessary for the best general health and -well-being of the animal. If an animal be deprived of any one of an innumerable variety of substances it becomes sick and various organs of the body suffer in conse r quence, A like result may occur if the nutrition is faulty in other respects, such as results from a ration carrying foodstuffs in unusual proportions or in varieties which cannot be properly utilized. i

Factors to bo observed in compounding grain rations are worthy of special attention and may be summarized:— (.1) Provide a diversity of origin of grains in the grain mixture, and particularly a diversity of origin of the protein elements. (2) Feed as wide a ration as is consistent with proper production, varying the percentage of protein in the grain mixture according to the roughage, used. For instance a cow receiving a poor quality of mixed hay may well bo fed a grain mixture containing as much as 20 to 22 per cent, of protein, whereas, if good lucerne hay alone were used as a roughage the grain mixture need not carry more than 1(5 per cent, protein. (0) When feeding high-producing cows limit or avoid the use of grains carrying food elements for the cow to utilise properly. Rome, grains when used excessively tend to inflame the udder. With some high-producing cattle it is apparently unsafe to use either cotton-seed meal or gluten in amounts greater than about one-tenth part of the grain mixture, although low-pro-ducing cows or those having an j abundance of exercise seem able to tolerate them better. Almost any of the common foodstuffs may be used in an excessive and detrimental ratio in a grain mixture. (4) Corn (maize) and oats constitute a most satisfactory

basis upon which £p build a safe dairy ration. v Good ensilage may provide a small portion of the* corn as well as succulence. Generally hay which is 1 produced on properly fertilized laud j carries with it all the minerals recpiired tor the proper carrying on of the bodily functions of the cow. Roughage grown on soils deficient in lime may not carry sufficient calcium, and there appears the necessity of either fertilizing well with lime or supplying calcium in the ration. Roughage and grains are usually considered the most desirable sources of minerals. Mixed grasses and clovers usually make the best hay for cattle. Hay should always be cut early before the plant has gone seed.” The book costs only

45/-, but it contains much up-to-date information on the cause and prevention of many stock ailments.