important Tests On N.Z. Fertilizer Effects

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1947, Page 6

important Tests On N.Z. Fertilizer Effects

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. TO promote research and other scientific work in connection with the manufacture, use and availability of fertilisers and other materials beneficially affectiuy irrowth, a scientific research laboratory is to be set up near Auckland.

The newly-formed New Zealand Fertiliser Manufacturers' Research Association will establish the laboratory with the assistance of the Government. The aim of the project is to increase production and to improve animal and plant health for the development ol primary industries in New Zealand. In the first public announcement ot the new association, the chairman (Mr S. I. Crookes) said yesterday that half the funds would be provided by the Government and the other half by the superphosphate concerns in New Zealand. STATE COLLABORATION The association was formed under the aegis of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, through the agenCy of the manufacturers’ research committee. “A vigorous programme of work is planned, including, in addition to the examination of the raw materials and processes used in the manufacture of fertilisers, preliminary tests of fertilisers and their effect on plant growth in relation to soil types,” Mr Crookes continued. This work would be done in close collaboration with the Soil Fertility Station of the Department of Agriculture at Hamilton and the Soil Bureau of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in Wellington, senior members of the department being members of the management committee of the association.

Technical representatives of member companies have been coopted to form a special technical committee. In addition to the Government nominees, the members of this committee include Dr J. C. Andrews, Mr Henry Woodyear-Smith and Mr W. E. Russell.

The following are members of the management committee: Chairman, Mr Crookes, representing the New Zealand Farmers’ Fertiliser Co. Ltd.; Mr William Goodfellow, Challenge Phosphate Co. Ltd.; Mr L. J. Stevens, Dominion Fertiliser Co. Ltd.; Mr C. J. Molloy, Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. Ltd.; Mr R. E. R. Grimmett, Soil Fertility Station; and Dr J. K. Dixon. Soil Bureau. The secretary is Mr J. L. B. Stevens, of Auckland.

The management committee which met in Auckland this week, has decided to proceed immediately with an investigation of the effect of adding superphosphate to the soil and to enable this to be done some radioactive phosphorous is being obtained from the United States.

By use of special equipment developed recently in the search for uranium required for war purposes it will be possible to follow exactly through the soil and through the plants, the actual fate of all the radioactive phosphorous. “It is hoped that an immensely valuable fund of knowledge of importance to our crops, herds and flocks under local conditions will be discovered as a result of this investigation, the cost of which will be met by the association,” Mr Crookes said, commenting on this project. The initial investigation would cost not less than £SOOO. As a site for the laboratory had not been chosen, tentative arrangements had been made to commence this investigation in Wellington and it would take two or three years to bring il to fruition, he added.