IMPORTATION OF FERTILIZERS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume VI, Issue 6, 16 June 1913, Page 598

IMPORTATION OF FERTILIZERS.

B. C. Aston, F.I.C.

There are several interesting facts to be learnt from a study of the figures showing the yearly importations of fertilizers. Looking at the respective quantities imported at the different ports, one is first struck by the enormous quantities of phosphate landed at the Port of Auckland. Thus, in the purely phosphatic manures (amongst which bone is included), Auckland imports as much (36,000 tons) as all the South Island ports, although there are two facts which somewhat discount this statementviz., (1) that Dunedin possesses a phosphatefield and produces a considerable amount of phosphatic fertilizer, which does not therefore appear in these figures; (2) that the. fertilizer imported into Otago (Dunedin) and Southland (Invercargill) is largely guano, which is much richer in phosphoric acid than either basic slag, bonedust, or superphosphate, the kinds of fertilizers mostly imported into the northern ports. But, making due allowance for these two facts, the amount of phosphates imported into Auckland is far greater than anything one can compare it with elsewhere in the Dominion. This great need of Auckland for phosphate, be it observed, is coincident with a paucity of available phosphoric acid in the majority of the soilsamples which have been analysed from that province (see Journal of. the Department of Agriculture, Vol. iii, No. 4, p. 304, “ Some Typical Auckland Soils,” by B. C. Aston). Considering , the respective qualities of the different phosphates employed, it is seen that the soluble and quick-acting forms* of phosphate are more in favour in the northern parts, while the insoluble or slower-acting are more in demand in the extreme south. . Thus the North Island ports, together with Lyttelton and Timaru, imported 64.700 tons of phosphates, of which only 18,300 tons were bonedust and guano ; whereas Dunedin and Invercargill imported 21,000 tons, of which 15.700 tons were bonedust and guano, about 14,000 tons being guano. The reason that guano and ground rock phosphate are so abundantly used in Otago and Southland is well worth investigating.

On the relative merits of slag and superphosphate it is interesting to note that New Plymouth imports more slag than superphosphate,

and this disproportion will probably be much greater in future years, the Taranaki climate being exceedingly moist and the soil responsive to slag treatment. At Napier, on the opposite coast, the port for the Hawke’s Bay District, the climate and soil of which is much drier than that of Taranaki, and the country often calcareous —conditions favouring the use of superphosphatethe imports of superphosphate are more than twenty times greater than those of slag.- The same is true of the even drier climate of Canterbury (Lyttelton and Timaru ports). A, fact most worthy of close attention is that for the whole Dominion only 969 tons of purely . nitrogenous fertilizers (valued at £12,816) were imported. A considerable quantity of this was probably not used as a fertilizer, but for manufacturing such articles of commerce as ammonia solution and nitric acid. - Of potash fertilizers, 4-,248 tons, valued at £24,627) were imported. The following particulars of the importation of fertilizers into New Zealand for the year ended 31st March, 1913, are compiled from returns furnished by H.M. Customs. The port of entry, name and quantity of fertilizer, and country whence imported, respectively, are shown.

Auckland. . , Bonedust.— 335 tons ; New South Wales, 4,786 tons ; Bengal, 1,910 tons. Bone Char. New South Wales, 487 tons. Blood Manure. — New South Wales, 20 tons. - • - Blood and Bone. New South Wales, 150 tons ; Victoria, 150 tons. Bone Phosphate. —New South Wales, 31 tons. . Basic Slag.- United Kingdom, 6,655 tons ; Germany, 478 tons ; Belgium, 5,756 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 3,965 tons; Victoria, 25 tons; New South Wales,. 44 tons ; Germany, 1,225 tons ; Belgium, 939 tons ; Japan, 1,115 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 3 tons. 1 Guano and Rock Phosphate.— New South Wales, 80 tons ; Christmas Island, 6,200 tons ; Seychelles, 1,500 tons; Ocean Island, 92 tons; Society Islands, 1,260 tons Germany, 5 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— New South Wales, 38 tons ; Germany, 388 tons. Muriate of Potash. Germany, 20 tons. Kainit.— United Kingdom, 31 tons ; Germany, 655 tons ; Belgium, 60 tons. Phonolite. Belgium, 3 tons. Gypsum.— South Australia, 1,235 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. New South Wales, 56 tons. Nitrate of Soda.— Victoria, 41 tons ; New South Wales, 202 tons. Nitrolim. Norway, 11 tons. Sulphate of Iron. United Kingdom, 25 tons. Potato Fertilizer.— United Kingdom, 50 tons.. - Kaipaba. Bonedust. New South Wales, 43 tons. : • New Plymouth. Bonedust. New South Wales, 200 tons ; Bengal, 210 tons. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 823 tons. Superphosphate. United Kingdom, 100 tons ; Victoria, 129 tons ; New South Wales, 250 tons ; South Australia, 90 tons. - . - -w.

New Plymouth— continued. Guano and Rock Phosphate. New South Wales, 49 tons ; South Australia, 125 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— United Kingdom, 55 tons. Nitrate of Potash.- United Kingdom, 20 tons. Kainit. — United Kingdom, 40 tons. Gypsum. South Australia, 339 tons. Patea. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 30 tons. Gypsum. — United Kingdom, 40 tons ; South Australia, 25 tons. • Wanganui. . Guano and Rock Phosphate.— United Kingdom, 1 ton. Gypsum.— Victoria, 12 tons ; South Australia, 5 tons. Poverty Bay. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 20 tons. Superphosphate. — Victoria, 10 tons Belgium, 0 tons. Kainit. United Kingdom, 5 tons. . . Napier. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 175 tons ; Germany, 50 tons. Superphosphate. — United Kingdom, 425 tons Victoria, 108 tons; New_SouthJWales, .185 tons; Japan, 1,825 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 110 tons ; South Australia, 20 tons. Guano and Rock Phosphate.— United Kingdom, 2 tons ; New South Wales, 25 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— Kingdom, 16 tons ; New South Wales, 2 tons ; Germany. 10 tons. Kainit. — United Kingdom, 1 ton ; Germany, 125 tons. Potash Manure. Germany, 60 tons. Gypsum.— Victoria, 20 tons ; South Australia, 70 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. New South Wales, 10 tons. Nitrate of Soda. New South Wales, 2 tons. Nitrolim. — Sweden, 3 tons. Wellington. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 4,393 tons; Germany, 515 tons ; Belgium, 225 tons. Superphosphate.— Kingdom, 1,447 tons; Victoria, 1,837 tons; New South Wales, 373 tons ; Tasmania, 25 tons ; Germany, 612 tons ; Belgium, 213 tons. Phosphates.— United Kingdom, 90 tons ; Belgium, 30 tons. Guano. Victoria, 50 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— United Kingdom, 16 tons ; Germany, 77 tons. Kainit. — United Kingdom, 90 tons ; Germany, 405 tons. Phonolite. Germany, 2 tons. Gypsum. Victoria, 512 tons ; New South Wales, 75 tons ; South Australia, 405 tons Sulphate of Ammonia. —New South Wales, 21 tons. Nitrolim. — Norway, 55 tons. " ■ Castor Meal.— Bengal, 7 tons. Turnip-manure. — United Kingdom, 75 tons. < Rape-manure. — United Kingdom, 75 tons. ' ' ' Jadoo. — United Kingdom, 2 tons. Nelson. ■■ ’ •. Basic Slag.—United Kingdom, 79 tons ; Germany, 125 tons. Superphosphate. United Kingdom, 171 tons. Guano. Victoria, 20 tons. - Sulphate of Potash. Germany, 10 tons. Kainit. — Germany, 40 tons. Gypsum.— Victoria, 21 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia.— New South Wales, 12 tons. . a.; Blenheim. Superphosphate. Victoria, 11 tons.

Lyttelton. . Bonedust. -New South Wales, 25 tons. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 350 tons; Germany, 50 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 1,305 tons; Victoria, 1,489 tons; New South Wales, 502 tons ; Tasmania, 1,231 tons ; Japan, 2,219 tons. Phosphates.- United Kingdom, 140 tons. Sulphate of Potash. — United Kingdom, 5 tons; Germany, 40 tons. Muriate of Potash.— United Kingdom, 1 ton. Kainit.— United Kingdom, 165 tons ; Germany, 75 tons. Potash. — United Kingdom, 95 tons. Gypsum.— New South Wales, 100 tons; South Australia, 20 tons. Nitrolim. United Kingdom, 10 tons. Timaru. ■ Bonedust.— Bengal, 135 tons. ■ Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 51 tons; Belgium, 105 tons. Superphosphate. — United Kingdom, 2,640 tons; Victoria, 978 tons; New South Wales, 10 tons; Germany, 125 tons; Belgium, 50 tons; Japan, 1,471 tons. Guano.— New South Wales, 74 tons; Madagascar, 1,575 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— Germany, 35 tons. Kainit. — Germany, 200 tons. Potash Manure.— Germany, 75 tons. ' Gypsum.- South Wales, 5 tons; South Australia, 150 tons. Insecticide Fertilizer. United Kingdom, 30 tons. Dunedin. Bonedust. New South Wales, 82 tons; Bengal, 175 tons. Broken Bones. — New South Wales, 133 tons. Blood and Bone. New South Wales, 467 tons. Basic Slag.— Germany, 50 tons. . ■ Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 225 tons; Victoria, 415 tons. Guano.— Victoria, 1 ton; Malden Island, 2,686 tons; Christmas Island, 1,100 tons; New Caledonia, 1,413 tons. Sulphate of Potash.— United Kingdom, 80 tons; Germany, 75 tons. Muriate of Potash. — Germany, 2 tons. Kainit.— Kingdom, 25 tons ; Germany, 125 tons. Potash. Germany, 185 tons. Gypsum.— South Australia, 800 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia. New South Wales, 15 tons. Nitrate of Soda. — Victoria, 89 tons ; New South Wales, 30 tons. Nitrolim.— Norway, 42 tons. Potato -manure. United Kingdom, 100 tons. Turnip and Grass Manure.— United Kingdom, 100 tons. Non-odorous Fertilizer.— New South Wales, 5 tons. Invercargill. Bonedust.— New South Wales, 55 tons; Bengal, 1,325 tons. Bone, Char.— Bengal, 40. tons. Blood and Bone. New South Wales, 968 tons. Basic Slag.— United Kingdom, 100 tons Germany, 50 tons ; Belgium, 83 tons. Superphosphate.— United Kingdom, 200 tons; Victoria, 1,393 tons; New South Wales. 250 tons ; Belgium, 297 tons ; Holland, 3,000 tons. Bernard's Phosphate.— Holland, 502 tons. Guano. — Christmas Island, 2,449 tons; Malden Island, 2,597 tons; Seychelles, 1,400 tons; New Caledonia, 1,170 tons; Surprise Island, 1,159 tons. Kainit.— United Kingdom, 25 tons; Germany, 400 tons. Potash Manure. United Kingdom, 75 tons Germany, 415 tons. Phonolite. — Germany, 1 ton. Gypsum.— Victoria, 29 tons; South Australia, 300 tons. Sulphate of Ammonia.— United.Kingdom, 100 tons; New South Wales, 160 tons; Germany, 65 tons. '■ Nitrolim.— United Kingdom, 10 tons ; Sweden, 5 tons; Norway, 10 tons.

IVUjOUL ±,374,207 Importations for year ended 31st March, 1912, 94,296 tons, £353,327.

The Government has granted a sum of from £2O to £25 in order to enable experiments in top-dressing to be carried out in the Akitio County, with the object of ascertaining if a remedy can be discovered for osteomalacia, which has been appearing in lambs in that district this .season. Re-vegetating Experiments in South Island.lncluded in the varieties recently despatched from Ruakura Farm' of Instruction to Central Otago for re-vegetating experiments is a grass commonly known as buckbare (Sporobolus argutus). This is the first time it will be tested under ordinary field conditions in this country. Judging by fits hardiness, habit of growth, quantity of feed thrown, resistance to insect and fungoid diseases, there.is every probability of its■ becoming a valuable grass under certain conditions. Frosts at Ruakura Experimental Farm do not affect it, but the heavier frosts in Central Otago may prove too severe for it. As this grass is a native of the lower altitudes of Brazil, it may not prove sufficiently hardy for Central Otago conditions. A. W. Green.

* Bon.ed.ust would quicker-acting on an Auckland soil than on a Southland soil, and hence might possibly be classified as a slow manure in the south. •

Description. Weight ; . ■ Year Year . Value. ear • Year 1912-13. 1911-12. 1912-13. ■ 1911-12. Tons. Tons. £ £ Bonedust 9,281 10,799 60,050 69,032 Broken bones ... 133 766 Bone char 527 275 869 . 922 Blood manure .. 20 175 130 1,050 Bone phosphate .. 31 240 109 817 Blood and bone.. .. . . 1,735 635 10,344 3,924 Basic slag . 20,133 16,227 66,389 53,067 Superphosphate ".. . 32,964 32,567 120,303 119,597 Phosphate, n.o.e. 393 690 1,459 2,587 Guano and rock phosphate . 25,033 22,050 65,084 61,622 Bernard’s phosphate .. 502 1,598 Sulphate of potash 847 796 10,432 9,772 Muriate of potash - .. 23 . 20 277 234 Nitrate of potash 20 241 Kainit 2,467 2,187 8,339 7,255 Potash salts 905 916 5,554 5,235 Phonolite .. .. 6 25 Gypsum .. ' 4,163 5,494 6,687 7,604 Sulphate of ammonia 439 304 6,962 4,505 Nitrate of soda .. 364 258 4,164 2,725 Nitrolim (calcium cyanamide) 146 60 1,560 ■ 626 Sulphate of iron 25 63 . 122 217 Potato-fertilizer .. ' 150 225 865 1,168 Turnip-fertilizer . . 75 . 270 350 1,140 Turnip and grass fertilizer 100 520 Rape-fertilizer .. 75 360 Insecticide fertilizer . 30 167 Non-odorous fertilizer 5 78 Jadoo . . 2 16 Castor meal 7 437

Summary. The following is a summary of the kinds, quantities, and values of the various fertilizers imported into New Zealand during the year ended 31st March, 1913 :-