PHOSPHATES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 29

PHOSPHATES

THEIR EARLY REACTION GETTING HIGHEST RETURN U. Cockayne, Director of the : New Zealand Plant Research Station, | when speaking to a group of farmers i at the Marton experimental area re- ! cently, said:—“The tendency in the j P ast "'as to put phosphate on in che „: s Pfihg to act rapidly, but there is a ~ tendency now to discourage this in , ! favour of early application, say, start- ,; in March.’’ The main object of ' early autumn application of phosphate j is to stimulate growth in late autumn j ; and early winter, which are normally . P eri ods of low grassland production. , or tllis early autumn application the 5 use of soluble phosphate such as j superphosphate, is indicated, as it acts quickly and gives the desired increase in the minimum of time, i . W riling in the “Journal of Agricul ture” for December, 1929, Mr. A. W. I Hudson, crop experimentalist, New , Zealand Plant Research Station, , said: “Recent work conducted by the writer at the Marton experimental i area indicates that superphosphate . has a marked effect on the growth of ; pasture in from four to eight weeks 1 after application, providing the rainI fall and temperature conditions are - sufficient to promote growth.” He i j continues: “For autumn and winter growth a dressing should be applied . I during March or April. Tile effect of . j this application will carry on into the i j spring, and assist growth in August ■ j and September.” Mr. Hudson advises , Umf the minimum dressing on most : soils should be about 2 cwt an acre, but larger dressings are recommended! He concludes: “It is noteworthy that nearly all the observed farmers on highest production are using from 4 cwt to 6 cwt an acre per annum of some form of phosphate, usually m two applications.” To secure the maximum production m grassland a good application of lime along_ with the phosphates is necessary m many areas in New Zealand ; and m addition the use of potash has been found effective in certain districts, more especially in Southland.