ELEMENTS OF THE SOIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18536, 5 April 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

ELEMENTS OF THE SOIL

ESSENTIALS IN FARMING. The modern usage of fertilisers has a tendency to be restricted to the three elements enumerated by the Fertilisers Act—phosphates, nitrogen and potash. The extended use of these has given results of a very variable nature, this state of affairs might be expected with the diverse types of land to which fertilisers are applied. There is also the factor of the presence or absence of the other elements in the soil, should any of these be absent, the best results are not possible from the three major elements of the plant ratios. The ten elements necessary to plant growth must be present if the maximum efficiency is to be secured from one and all of these. Of the ten elements, carbon, hydroi gen. and oxygen are obtained exclusive!ly from the air. One nitrogen partly from the air and partly from the soil in proportions variable according to the kind of plant. Six element—phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, iron and magnesium are obtained from the soil. It has become quite the recognised thing to apply calcium as lime and the necessity for iron has been amply demonstrated on the “sick land” areas of the Dominion. Sulphur thus remains the essential element which has so far not been regarded in its true place as a necessity.