POTASH IN NORTH TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1934, Page 3

POTASH IN NORTH TARANAKI

beneficial results shown. EXPERIMENT ON TIKORANGI FARM. The desirability of using Iwtash on North Taranaki pastures was demonstrated at a field day on Mr. J. H. Paulger’s property at Tikorangi yesterday. Pastures which had received superphosphate alone and others which had been treated with potash in addition to superphosphate were compared with marked advantage to the latter. The most interesting comparison was that between two haystacks from equal areas. The stack from the potash treated area contained almost double the quantity of hay in the stack from the untreated land. The field day was conducted by Mr. J. M. Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, New Plymouth, in conjunction with Mr. Leith Napier, representative' of a northern potash company. Mr. Paulger explained his experiments. The attendance was small owing to unfavourable weather, and to counter-attractions. The difference in hay yield was noted in a six-acre paddock. This had been divided in two, one half of which had been manured with 30 per cent, potash at the rate of 3cwt to the acre while the other half was left untreated. Divided in the opposite direction, the paddock was treated in one division with slag and in the other with super-phosphate, both at 3cwt to the acre. Tire stacks consisted of the products of the first halving. By the fact that the stack from the sward which had received potash was almost twice the size of the other, the desirability of using potash was patent. Three paddocks of similar nature which had been dressed with potash -in different quantities over the past two years were also inspected. One paddock had received 7cwt to the acre altogether, the second 4cwt and the third 2cwt. Comparisons showed that the difference in density of growth, clover and weed content, and. colour all favoured the more generously treated area. Over the next three years the second and third paddocks will be manured with potash until the same quantity per acre is in them as is contained in the first paddock at present. The first paddock will be untreated during the period and the resultant pastures compared. It is hoped in this experiment to find the potash saturation point. The time had arrived in North Taranaki when pastures were deficient in certain manures, said Mr. Smith in addressing the gathering. Up to the present phosphates were the only manures required and in certain districts that was the only dressing still demanded. In North Taranaki there was a definite place for potash. Soil surveys could not disclose a great deal, Mr. Smith said. It might appear that the soil contained plenty of phsophate but it would be known at the same time that more was required. There were 50 experimental plots throughout Taranaki in which tests were being made under farm conditions. Certain areas showed definite responses to phosphates, lime and potash. A potash response had been observed in plots from Pukearuhe to Waipuku though there was no definite response from Stratford south. On the coast there was no definite response south of Oaonui. Scientists said there must be a 15 per cent, response before it was visible to the eye. To add potash which would result in such a response was certainly a payable proposition but even if the response was less it was worth while. Ultimately it was hoped that they would be able to say how much potash could be profitably applied to the acre, Mr. Smith said. Not only potash, but also other manures were required, though on Mr. Paulger’s property it had been definitely shown that no increase in growth was forthcoming from additional dressings of phosphates. What was wanted was a completely balanced manure, but it was definite that potash was necessary.

In describing the hay paddock experiment, Mr. Paulger showed that the pot-ash-treated sward was definitely denser than the untreated portion. More clover had resulted, the grass was more compact and was freer from weeds. The paddock had been shut for six weeks while the hay had grown. Proof of the heavy take of grass in the potash area was that, it had taken longer to dry for stacking than that in the other area. When the rows had subsequently been grazed on the aftermath, they had kept to the potash treated half and left the other portion altogether. Mr. Paulger considered that the cows were attracted to the potash-dressed grass for other reasons than its palatability.