HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
13
Determining Soil Fertility
Valuable Information Given by E. B. Stookey, Assistant Agrono
mist of Washington State College.
WANT inquiries are received eon
aj ee ruing the soil needs of differ
ent parts of Western Washing
ton. There seems to be a general
opinion that by an examination of a
soil it can readily be told just what
erops are best adapted to the soil, and
jnst what fertilizers will give the best
results. This opinion is based on the
facts that a mechanical analysis will
give the percentage of the different
sized soil particles, and a chemical
analysis will give the percentage of the
different elements in the soil. Both of
these analyses are of some value and
both furnish a basis from which some
suggestions can be secured. These,
however, are only two of several things
that must be considered.
This station is Hot in a position to
make either mechanical or chemical
analyses. Thero are, however, records
which show analyses of most of the
representative soils of western Wash
ington. The United States Department
of Agriculture in connection with the
State Geological department has made
reeonnoissanco soil sarveyn of the
greater prrt of western Washington.
Tho soil types have been fairly well
defined, and tho more representative
soih hare been analyzed. The state
ebemist also has made quite a number
of analyses of Western Washington
eoi.'
Available Records.
These records are available, and if
the exact location of a farm is known,
wo can tell quite closely the general
character of the soil. If soil samples
are sent to this station we are glad to
Biake a superficial examination. The
samplo will help us to determine the
oil type. The sample fhould be a well
mixed composite of several samples
taken from different parts of the gen
eral typo of soil. Only part of this
composite samplo need be sent. If
there aro types of widely differing
oils they should not be mixed.
Tncro are certain conditions besides
the mechanical and chemical analyses
that are quite important when erop
adaptation and soil nerds are to be
considered. In fact, if these eondition
' are well understood and their meaning
correctly interpreted, thfy may reveal
more than chemical and mechanical
analyses. Some of these conditions are
enumerated below:
Necessary Conditions.
1st It is necessary to know the
depth of the surface soil, and the
character if tho subsoil. In any case a
change in the depth of the surface soil
would probably affeet tho sort of crop
best adapted to the soil, an I a differ
ence in the character of the subsoil
would materially affect any adviee that
might be given. ...
2nd. The position of the land, as to
whether it is high or low land, will
eliminate some crops that might other
wise be recommended. Some crops are
better adapted to lower conditions than
others.
Srd. The question of drainage it
sometimes very important. A poorly
drained soil is unfit for the production
of somo crops, and warms up so slowly
that it is impractical to grow some
others.
4th. The previous eondition of the
land. By this is meant whether the
land was originally timbered or prairie;
the kind and character of the natural
vegetation; how long it .has been
eropped; what kinds of erops have been
grown; and what kinds, if any, and
with what results fertilizers have been
used. It is easy to see how these may
be of great help when studying any
eondition. The character of the natural
vegetation on the soil, or adjoining
oil, may indicate quite clearly that
eertain crops would be better adapted
than others. The other conditions, too,
re of considerable value.
Eth. The crops that are giving the
best results in the locality. Certain
erops are known to grow best where
certain other crops grow well. Any pe
culiarity of the growth of any plants,
or any peculiar climatic eondition will
be of interest and value in arriving at
a conclusion. When advice is wanted
of a soil expert regarding an; land the
inquirer should give a dear detailed
account of the character and history of
the land in question.
These things are mentioned in order
to show the factors that are valuable in
determiaing the crops adapted to a soil,
and help indicate the fertilizer needs,
the soil analyses are valuable, bnt their
value is too often overestimated.
Classification of Soils.
Soils are classified into groups ac
cording to the amount of the different
sized particles present. A clay soil has
a high percentage of clay; a sandy soil
has a high percentage of sand, and to
on through the different classes and
sub-classes. It is of value to know the
percentage of the different sized parti
cles present so we can classify the
soils; we know in a general way that
certain erops are adapted to certain
types of soil.
A ehemical analysis gives the total
nmoitnts of the plant food elements
present in too small amounts. It is
known that a eertain amount of each
element is present in fertile soils, so we
can say from a chemical analysis that
such a fertilizer would probably give
good resnlts. This, however, is not an
assured faet. Some soils may be very
rich in a certain element, but this ele
ment may become available to the plant
so slowly that an application of a fer
tilizer carrying this element may give
very profitable returns.
Again, a chemical analysis may show
that a soil is below normal in a certain
element. Through cultivation and
proper methods of handling, this ele
ment may become available to the plant
as rapidly as it is necessary. It is
clear then that an application of a fer
tilizer carrying this element would give
negative results. So wo see that while
a chemical analysis may give nn indica
tion of the soil needs, it is by no means
sure. Present methods of chemical
analysis do not give the amount of the
plant food in the soil that is available
t the plant. They give the totl
amount present,, so from a chemical
analysis it is possible to tell the soil
needs only in a general way, and then
tho results may not be what would be
expected.
Best Fertilizers to Use.
From the numbcT of analyses that
have been made of western Washington
soils it is possible to indicate in a gen
eral way what fertilizers will probably
give tho best results. Tho only way to
be positive as to what fertilizers will
pay is for a person to try them on his
own, or similar soils, under similar con
ditions. This fact is generally recog
nized, and in states where the most ex
tensive soil surveys have been made,
actual field experiments are being ear
ried on by the progressive farmers to
determine what fertilizers are paying
investments To get farmers and others
to carry on the same line of work ia
western Washington this station will
prepare simple plans for farmer,
grange, school or any interested organ
ization so that they can carry on useful
and instructive experiments with very
little trouble. These plans call for a
half to an acre or more of ground, indi
cate tho crops to be grown, and the
kinds and amounts of fertilizers to use.
There are two general plans; one is de
signed for a one-year test, and the other
for a test covering several years.
The one-year test will serve only to in
dicate what element if any is deficient
in the soil. The longer test will be of
greater valne. To be of great value a
fertility test should be continuous.
Opinion of an Expert.
An agricultural chemist ia authority
for the statement that 55 per cent or
more of fertilizer experiments give
negative results, so too. much must not
be expected. Many of the most valu
able experiments now being carried on
with fertilizers havo given poor, and
often negative, results for the first
year, and often for the first three or
tour years.
Tho results of properly eonducted ex
periments carried on in different parts
of western Washington would be of
great value to every district. We know
in a general way that lime ia needed in
most parts of western Washington, pot
ash is needed in the northern part,
phosphorus is the southern part, and
both in the middle western part. It is
not known, however, what amounts of
these different fertilizers will give
profitable returns. It is for this reason
that we favor the policy of the farmers
or some organizatioi carrying on leeal
demonstration experiments.
Full and complete plans for simple
experiments will be furnished to any
one making application. The only 13
turns we- ask is that results of the ex
periments be furnished us. We will be
glad te interpret results and to make
suggestions at any time called upon.
When it is desired that this station
furnish plans for fertilizer demonstra
tion experiments, tho conditions of the
soil and plant growth should bo fully
given. The amount of ground and the
length of time that can be devoted to
the experiment should also be given.
This will help us to formulate a plan
that wilt be best suited to the given
conditions.
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