NEW NITROGENOUS FERTILISER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21244, 27 January 1931, Page 4

NEW NITROGENOUS FERTILISER.

INCREASING POPULARITY. Increasing interest is being displayed by British agriculturists in the nitrogenous fertiliser, cyanamide. Consumption _in the United Kingdom, though appreciably lower than that in most Continental countries, has shown a marked advance during recent seasons and it is anticipated that the movement will be emphasised during the 1930-31 seasons (says an exchange). The unique properties and special uses of cyanamide, it.is stated, are rapidly becoming more widely known and appreciated. The low price of the -unit of cya'riamide nitrogen, in comparison with other forms, has also served to increase its popularity. Attention has, moreover, been continuously devoted to manufacturing and marketing questions, and further investigations in these directions are still proceeding. Cyanamide is now being successfully employed in the preparation of a number of standard compounds in conjunction with potash and basic slag or North African phosphate. Definite interest was aroused in Britain in these mixtures during the previous season and brisk business was experienced. only are these materials excellent in texture, but, being basic, they are particularly effective on arable and grass land Subject to soil sourness.' The valuable practical observations and yield results gained from experiments on pasture land have been made available to merchants, farmers and others through the advisory services of interests now responsible for the marketing of, and all technical advisory and publicity work in connection with, cyanamide in the United Kingdom. An outstanding feature of British experimental work during the last'season has been the success which has again attended the use of cyanamide for sugar beet. The special suitability of the fertiliser for this crop was strikingly marked in both experimental work and farm practice and these results give promise of being confirmed by later experience. The employment of cyanamide for hay and pasture land, particularly in connection with the intensive grazing system, has achieved similar success to that obtained in previous seasons, and the demand for the fertiliser for_ grass is steadily increasing. In this connection, observations have indicated that the lime content of cyanamide has been effective in producing a type of herbage particularly palatable to stock. Apart, however, from its use as a source of nitrogen, cyanamide is exceedingly effective as a weed destroyer in arable and grass land, and as a check to the development of many insect pests and diseases. Remarkable results have been forthcoming in the destruction of charlock in corn by top-dressings and successive official experiments have each season con--firmed the special value of cyanamide in reducing the ravages of finger-and-toe disease in cabbage and turnip crops. Farmers have been quick to appreciate features of this kind, and they are now beginning to recognise the possibilities of applying a form of nitrogen to their crops whicji at the same time provides a ready and cheap means of maintaining their land in a clean condition.