?tatB QIaUcge of AgrituUurg At QJorttell ImBECBltH ICibtary Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003370115 THE PROFITS FROM THE USE OF FERTILIZERS. s A MINOR THESIS Submitted to the Faculty of the GRADUATE SCHOOL Of CORNELL UNIVERSITY for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by JOHN EDWIN TURLINGTON, B. Agr. M.S. J U N E f 9 1 3. The author wiahea to ac- knowledge his obligation and appreciation to Dr. G. F. Warren under whose direction the work was done, for help- ful suggeations and en- couragefflent in the work. CONTENTS. Page. I Introduction-— — — — — — — .-- .-— —i II Method used — — ~ .-3 III Results of the investigations-——— — 9 1. Results at Wooster, Ohio.- — — .. — -10 a Gom— — -10 c Wheat— —17 d Hay 30 e Results of complete rotation— —33 f Conolusiona of Ohio Results—— — 35 3. Results at Pennsylvania Station— —36 Wheat— -— *0 d Hay— — — 34 e Results of the rotation-^ — -34 t Conclusions of Pennsylvania Stn.— 37 3. Results at North Carolina Station— -38 b Cotton— ■ — 41 General Conclusions— —- — 44 1. Introduction. The use of conimesclal fertilizers hae increased at the rate of about t^n per cent annually for a niiciber of years; and the fanaers of the United States row spend more than ^100,000,000.00 for these materials every year. This indicates that some far- mers, at least, think that it pays to use chemical manures. There is w doubt that on certain soils and with some crops fertilizer does pay. But it is also true that its use is not profitable on all soils and all crops. We must recognize the individuality of the soil as of great importance and as a factor that must rot be lost sight of. ^ile it is true that some soils will respond more readily to certain fertili- zers than others, it may also be true that the indi- viduality of the plant and its food requirements axe as well marJced as those of soil. In preparing the material for this paper I have taken results from some of the oldest and moat reliable fertilizer experiments in this coun- try. I have endeavored to find out^ as far as pos- sible^ if certain of tlxe major crops respond more readily to fertilizers than others, suid also what combination, or combinations, of fertilizers more generally give good results. II, Method Used. To determine if a fertilizer is profita- ble it is necessary that we Icnow the cost of the materials used and the value of the increased crop. But this is not allf for weahould know the cost of hauling and of applying these materials, and of still more importeuace, perhaps, the cost of harvest- ing the increased crop. Practically all experiment' stations give as profits the value of the increase less the cost of titie fertilizer, yet it is easy to see that if a larger crop is grown it will cost more to harvest it. For example we pay as much per pound for harvesting cotton and it is the same whether the yield is two hundred or two thousand pounds p&x acre. Suppose we apply acid phosphate costing |3.00 and get an Increased yield of 300 pounds, which at 4^1^ pex pound amounts to $9. 00. It coat one-half a cent a pound to harrest this cot- ton, or $1.00, therefore the gain ie not |7.00, but $6.00 per acre. Should we apply a complete ferti- lizer costing $6.00 and get a gain of 3O0 pounds, the value would be $13«50 subatracting the cost of fertilizer we have $7.50, which ie greater than that for phoaporic acid, but when we auba tract the coat of harvest we have $6.00 which is the aame value above coat of fertilizer and coat of harvest aa that produced by phosphoric acid alone. This meana that the farmer would receive the aame amount above the cost of fertilizer and harvest for an expenditure of $2.00 that he does for an expenditure of $6.00. In a case of this kind, it looks reasonable to suppose that the farmer should put the small amount of money which he has to invest in fertilizers where it will count for moat, and would therefore purchase only phosphoric acid in case the results were similar to the arbitrary example above. It is also easy to see that if the 'price of the crop decreased to say .036 per pound, (other factors remaining cdnstant) the net gain above the cost would be much in favor of the phosphoric acid. Similarly, if the price of the crop increases say to .054 per poimd, we will have a greater net gain from the use of the oompXete fertilizer, affloimting to ninety cents more than that of phosphoric aoid* But even here there is an extra expenditi:ire of ^.00 to obtai-8 only ninety cents above the expenditture of $2.00 for phosphoric acid alone; and it is exceed'- ingly doubtful if many farmers can afford to use this extra money to so small advantage* They certainly could not if a part of the crop were wholly with- out fertilizer. Furthes^ore, an increase in phos- phoric aoid might be better thstn to add other ele- ments. This is one thing we would like to know« The cost of fertilizers varies depend- ing upon the distance from the seaboard, the amount pur- chased in the community and the form in which it is bought. In bulletin 160 of the Vt. Ea^periment Sta- tion, we have given the average seaboard price for a number of years for nitrogen, potash and phospho- ric aoid, and ale:> the average price paid by the farm- ers of that state for these materials as mixed fer- tilizer, a have used approximately these figures as ^!,. extremes for the cost of fertilizers together with an intermediate cost which we believe will rep- resent fairly well the price paid by the farmer who bujs hie raw material in comparatively large amounts. It is practically certain that they vill not get it at seaboard prices* The price of the crop also varies with the locality as well as from year to year. We have therefore taken the average fam price for ten yeara on December let, for cozn, wheat, oats and hay, (as given in the 1910 year book for the North Atlantic, South Atlantic and North Central States East of the Miss. River) • This approximately represents the middle selling price with the extremes about twenty per cent above and below this figure* The price of straw, stover and cotton have been estimated as no exact figures could be obtained* In calculating the results I have taken the average increased yields for a number of years as given by the various stations. The fertilizer com- binations considered are, Phosphotic Aoid» Nitrogen and Potash^ used separately and in the following combinations: Nitrogen and phosphoric Acid^ Ni- trogen and Potash^ Phosphoric Acid and Potash^'and Nitrogen, Phosphoric Acid and Potash* 7h@ value of the increased yield has been determined according to the three arbitrary sale standards. The cost of Kc the fertilizer has been determined in like manner and an estimated cost of harvest has been made. In the absence of the facts, we have itemized a part of the extra expense of some of the crops, which we believe will come near the average on a good farm. In doing this only the grain has been considered for the cereals, but could we make al- lowance for the straw or stover it would not affect the results appreciably. Extimated cost of harvest per bushel of "^eat:- — Twine .015 per bu. Help and teams for hauling from field. .05 " " BDard for help and thrashers-— .01 * " Help at threshing machine .03 " » Pay to threshers, .03 * * Total Cost |7l35 * ^ Oats for same items—————— .075 Com,- husking, cribbing extra work with stover .10 Cotton— .05 per Lb. Hay 1.00 " Ton It will be aeen that I have not^made any extra charge for increased draft in cutting com, oats, vi^eat or hay. These figures may seem hi^ to some and low to others, but the various items will differ in different sections. For instance, in the South Atlantic states for wheat in would cost fr<^ 4.5i^ to 8.0^ per bushel to pay the threshers but the help 4nd the teams to draw the grain from the field would undoubtedly cost less than 5^ per bushel. I have included these cost items not so much because of their accuracy as for the fact that they are as much a part of the sjqpenee as is the original cost of the fertiliser. Of course, there are other cost items not mentioned such as hauling the fertilizers to the farm, mixing, applying and so on, but with the range in cost of fertilizer and selling price I have given, it would be comparatively easy for any one to pick out a combination in the tables to include these. In the tables which follow I have fig- ured that for every increased bushel of wheat it cost 12. 5# to get it threshed and into the bam. The sale prices used for the wheat are 73{(, 90^ and |i.08 pel bushel. The same result© would have be est obtained had I valued the grain at 59^^ 77|-# and 95if per buahel and said nothing about the cost of harveet. But I have included it in thia work in order that the importance of it may be more clearly seen. If the cost of harvest is less it means "Uiat the sale price of the graj^a should be less to give the sajne results. On the other handf if the cost of harvest is »ore it means that the sale price must be increased in oMer to give the same results. This will hold for all the crops. It will be noticed that the same valu- ation on the fertilizing elements is given whether they are used einglty or in combination. This may be Justifiable since the cost of applying would be less for a combined application of the three fertilising constituents than to apply them sepa- rately. If we buy them separately we must mix them. In most cases where a complete fertilizer is used it is bought already mixed^^ and if so a good price is paid for the mixing and the elements cost more than if bought separately. III. Results of the ZnTestlgations* Before taking tip the results of the ex- perimenter let it be understood that it Is not my purpose to critisize the works of the different expexinenters, but rather to take the results as published and try to see under what conditions it would pay the farmer to use fertilizer and what fertilizer he should use, assuming that tibie soil and the climatic conditions were such as to approximate the results shown in the experiments, ^e oonolu- 8 ions reached will not be influenced by -Uiose of the original investigators, and hence may or may not coincide with theirs* The studies in this paper are limited to the effects of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash, applied separately and in combina- tion, on increased yield, value, value over cost of fertilizer and cost of harvest, and percentage of increase on fertilizer investment* The following outline shows the ferti- lizer combinations which are used in this paper: 1. Nitrogen ai^lied alone. 3. Phosphoric acid applied alone. 3. Potash applied alone. 4, Nitrogen and Phosphorio acid in oom- bination. 5« Nitrogen and |>otash in combination* 6. Phosphoric aoid and potaah in combi- nation. 7. Nitrogen, phosphoric aoid and potash in combination. 1. Results at Wooster, Ohio. In this experiment a five year rotation was followed in which com, oats^ wheat, clover and timotiiy were grown. The cereals were all ferti- lized while the hay received no fertilizer, ij&y in- crease in the yield of hay may be taken as a result of the residual effect of the fertilizer. The re- sults are for an average of seventeen years and are published in Circular 114 of the Ohio Agricultural Saperiment Station. Table 1 shows the increased yield per acre of grain and straw due to fertilizer treatment. The value of this increase is also given, with three different prices for grain and stover. All fertili«jL zer treatments increased the yield and hence the Table 1. Fertilizera on Com grown in five years rotation at Wooster, Ohio. Average increase per A. for seventeen years. Value of increase. Lb8. per A. :Ino. :Inc. :Value:Value : Total : in : in : - : ^f rValue : bu. :Lbs.^: : : of H :P205 :K?>0 :per A: per A: Rrain: stover: increase When Oom brings 47# per Bu., Stover *4.00 per ton 25-1/3: :11.2 25-i/3ill,2 25-1/3: :11.2 25-1/3211.2 • • : 4.67: 180 : 2.20: .36 : : : 7.36: 195 ; 3.46: .39 : : 40 : 4,25: 268 < 5 2.00: .54 : • • :13.76: 342 . ! 6.47: .68 : : 40 : 6.28: 333 ! ! 2.95: .67 : : «0 •13.37: 545 i : 6.34:1.09 : : 40 :17.49: 6?4 ; ; 8.22:1.35 : 2.56 3.85 2.54 7.15 3.62 7.33 9.57 When Corn brings 59# per bu.. Stover ^5.00 per ton 25-1/3: :11.2 * 25-1/3:11.3 25-1/3: , :11.2 25-1/3:11.2 40 40 40 40 : 4.67 : 7.36 : 4.25 :13.76 : 6.28 :13.27 :17.49 : 180 . t 2.76: : 195 ; : 4.34: : 268 ! ; 2.51: : 342 : 8.12: : 333 : • 3.70: : 545 ' 1 7.83: : 674 ; : 10.32: .45 • 49 .67 .85 .83 1.36 1.68 3.21 4.83 3.18 8.97 4.53 9.19 12.00 When Corn brings 71^ per bu.. Stover |6.00 per ton 25-1/3: :11.2 • 35-1/3:11.3 25-1/3: ill. 2 25-1/3:11.2 • 4.67! 180 ! t 3.32: .54 : ! 7.36J : 195 . : 5.23: .58 : : 40 . : 4.25i ! 268 ' 3.03: .80 : : 13.761 ; 342 : 9.76:1.03 : : 40 ' I 6.28; • 333 ; : 4.46:1.00 : : 40 5 ! 13.27: - 545 ' > 9.42:1.63 : : 40 : •17.49! 674 ! i 12. 42:2.22 : 3.86 5.81 3.83 10.79 5.46 11.05 14.64 value of the oxop* The order of inoreaso In value was—*"— H P K, P K, N P, P, N K, N and K, If we consider thia table alone we would say that a coraplete fertilizer should be used, but Table 3 lesde us to a different oonolusion. Take the oolumn marked gain over coat of fertilizer and harvest, and in every case we find a lose from the use of N applied singly and also from N and Potash in coa- bination without phosphorus. The greatest gains over oost oame from the use of phosphoru^ and pot- asixm oonibined. The single application of phosphor- ic acid, in general, gave the second largest gain* If, however, we take the highest prices for crop and lowest ooets for fertilizer, the coraplete ferti- lizer gave a greater gain than phosphoric acid alone. liyi^also note that if the value of the crop is low and cost of fertilizer high there is an actual loss from the use of complete fertilizer. • Single appli- cations of phosphoric acid under all circumstanoes gave the greatest per cent increase over the ferti- lizer investment. Phosphoric acid and potash in combination was nedtt best in this respect* With these conditions the conclusion is: Missing Page Apply phosphoric aoid to com, and perhaps a s nailer application of potash thar. waa used in this ex- porisaent. The potash becomes raore and more justi- fiable as the oDst of fertilizer decreases, or as the talue of the crop increases, I do not see that it is a paying proposition to apply nitrogen to corn under these oiroumstanofea either alone or in combination. b. Oats : As with com I find the greatest increase from a complete fertilizer containing N P K, (see table 3) Ihia was followed by N P, P K, P, N K, and Sf in the order given. In table 4, we see that N and H K did rot pay the cost in either case. Only in one instance did th6 Single application of potash show a s^j^?^* which waa only 15|^. Where phosphoric acid alone was applied there was the largest noney return over cost of fertilizer and cost of harvest. The only exception was where we figured the maximum price of crop and minimum coat of fertilizer. Here there seems to be a slight difference in favor of the combinations of phospho- ric with nitrogen and potash. In case of H P the gain over P alone was 3^ for an expenditure of C;4.05. Table 3. Fertilizers on Oats grown in five years rotation at Wooster, Ohio. Average increase per A. for seventeen years and value of increase. rts . per A. lino. :Ino. s Value i Value : Total !Bu-Px:Lbs, : of : of : Value : Straw: Inc, tine. : of H ilaS^ • Kpfi : . It. tPer-A: Orair .: Straw : Increase. Ifben Oats bring ZQ^ per Bu. and Straw |4. per Ton. 2$-l/Ss • 1 i ^.m 1W1 i$l.44H; .30 1 rf i.n 11.3: i \ 8.40: 357 ; ; 3.03* .71 1 : 3.73 • • 40 i 1 3.45i 118 1 I 1.34: .34 : ; 1.48 35-1/3: 11.3: 1 {15.07: 683 : : 5.43: 1.37 i ! 6.79 35-1/3: : 40 1 i 5.90: 380 - ! 3,13: .76 i ; 3.83 ll.St 40 i ai.73: 576 ! ! 4.33: 1.15 ! I 5.37 35-1/3: 11.3: 40 ; as. 10: 933 : ! 6.53: 1.86 : ! 8.38 When Oat a brlQg 45fl^ smd Straw $5.oo per Ton. 35-1/3: 11.2: 35-1/3* ll.Si 35-1/3: i , : 11.3: 35-1/3: 11.3: 40 40 40 40 3.99: 8.40: 3.45: 15.07 5.90 11.73 18.10 148 357 118 683 380 576 933 When Oats bring 54^ per bu. 35-1/3: 35-1/3 35-1/3 35-1/3 ! 3.99; ; 148 : 11.3 ; 8.40; ! 357 : 40 I ' 3.45; ; 118 t 11.2; ! 15.07: ! 683 : 40 ; ' 5.90; t 380 : 11.3: i 40 1 >11.73; I 576 : 11.2; : 40 : 1 18, 10: I 933 : l.»0: .37 ; \ 3.17 : 3. 78* .89 ; \ 4.67 : 1.55: .30 • : 1.85 : 6.78: 1.71 ; \ 8.49 : 3.65: .95 ; : 3.60 : 5.37: 1.44 ; : 6.71 : 8.14: 3.33 ; 1 10.47 and Straw |6. per Ton. : 3.15: .44 ; 1 2.59 : 4.54: 1.07 : ! 5.61 i 1.86: .35 : ! 2.21 : 8.14: 2.05 ; : 10,19 : 3.19: 1.14 ; ; 4,33 : 6.33: 1.73 ; 1 8.06 : 9.78: 3.80 ; ! 13,58 Missing Page P K gave an increase of 50fa com, but this, no doubt, was due to the fact that the phos- phoric acid application was doubled that for com or oats. Table 6 shows the net gain over coat of fertilizer and of harvest to be greatest, in four cases out of nine for the single application of phosphoric acid. In five cases the complete ferti- lizer gave the greater gain over cost thajn did phos- Table 5. Fextilizers on Wheat grown in five year rotation at Wooater, Ohio, Average increase per A* for seventeen years. Valtte of increase Lbs. per A :Inc. :Inc. : Value :¥alue:: Total :Bu. :Lbe, : of : of : Value sper : Straw: Inc. :Ino. : of .K ,;P30n;J%o ■ ; ,Ar „. :per A,: Grain: Straw :Ino. When Wheat sells for 72^ pex Bu,, Straw i ^3. per ton 25-1/3! 25-1/3 < 25-1/3; I I :"2.W $n : ^1.4^:1 .55 ; 22.4: : 8.03: 749 : 5.75: 1.13 : 50 : 1.35: 178 : .97: .37 • 22.4: : 13.43: 1389 : 9.67: 2.08 : : 50 r 2.78: 369 : 3.90: .55 • 33.4: 50 : 9.07: 783 : 6.53: 1.17 . 23.4: 50 : 16.39: 1800 :11.73: 3.70 :| 1.9§ : 6.90 : 1.34 : 11.75 : 3.55 : 7.70 : 14.43 When Wheat sells for 90# per Bu., Straw ^3.75 per ton 25-1/3 33.4 35-l/3i 33.4 35-1/3: : 33.4 25-1/3: 33.4 : 50 50 50 50 3.07 8.03 1.35 13.43 3.78 9.07 16.39 7?hen Wheat sells for 331 749 178 1389 369 783 1800 ..§4 1.36: 7.23: 1.33: 12.09: 2.50: 8.16: 14.66: .63 1.40 .33 3.60 .69 1.47 3.37 3.48 0.63 1.55 14.69 3.19 9.63 13.03 per Bu., Straw $4.50 per tdn 35-1/3 25-1/3 25-1/3 25-1/3 23.4 : 50 23.4: 50 50 23.4 : 3.07: 331 : 8.03: 749 : 1.35: 178 : 13. 43: 1389 : 3.78: 369 : 9.07: 782 33.4: 50 : 16. 39: 1800 2.34: .74 8.68: 1.68 1.46: .40 14.50: 3.13 3.00: .83 9.80: 1.76 17.60: 4,05 3.98 10.36 1.86 17.63 3.83 11.56 31.65 Missing Page phoric acid. This occurred with the relatively high values for the crop. In four instances nitrogen and phosphorus in combination gave slightly larger gain over cost than did phosphoric acid alone. If we consider the mean valtie of the crop and the mean cost of fertilizer, there is hardly any difference in value over coat between applications of P, N P, or N K P. The percent on investment is much greater in all cases from the use of phosphoric acid alone. Few farmers could afford to apply anything more than phosphoric acid. If, however, the price of grain was good an' fertilizer could be had at a reasonable price, small applications of nitrogen and potash might be combined with < hosphoric acid to good advantage, say, five pamds of each per acre. d. Hay ; Table 7 gives the increased yield of hay which occ\irred in two years due to the residiaal effect of the fertilizer. In every case the increase of clover hay was greater than the timo- thy except where nitrogen was applied singly I have taken the value of clover and timothy at the same figure, but if this were rot justifiable the pro- portion of the timothy to the total increase is close e trough in all treatments to off-set any great error Table 7. Residxial effect of fertilizers on Hay, (clover and timothy) grown in five year rota- tlon at Wooster. Ohio. Average for eeventeen years. Fert. Appld ilnoreaaed Yields: :Talue:CoBt ofjVal.of to com, oats: Lbs, : of :Harv. @:lno. over and wheat. ; Clover ; Timothy i Total sino. :il. prT;oo8t of Har. When Hay is worth |9.74 per Ton. K i i^& : 433 ! : ^SSj i.Ui .3d : 3.4S P i 536 : 373 ! '. 808: 3.94: ;40 : 3.54 K : 391 : 135 ! 1 436: 2.07: .31 : 1.86 NP ill53 : 811 j 1964: 9.56: .98 : 8.58 WS. : 434 : 366 i 800: 3.90* .40 : 3.50 PZ : 996 i 489 1 ; 1485: 7.23: .74 : 6.49 KPZ :1446 :1031 : I 3477:12.06: 1.24 : 10.82 When Hay is worth flS.lS per Ton. E : 355 : 433 ! \ 788: 4. 80 J .39 i ; 4.41 P : 536 : 373 ! t 808: 4.93* .40 j I 4.52 K : 291 : 135 ; t 426: 3.59: .21 ! I 2.38 NP tll53 i 811 ; 1964tll.96i .98 ! ; 10.98 NK t 434 i 366 ! I 800* 4.87* .40 i : 4.47 PK i 996 i 489 j ! 1486* 9.04* .74 J ! 8.30 NPK :1446 :1031 i i 3477:15.08: 1.24 i ; 13.84 When Hay ia worth $14.62 per Ton • N * 355 i 433 1 t 788: 5.76* .39 i i 5.37 P : 536 : 273 1 i 808$ 5.91* .40 i : 5.51 K : 291 : 135 : ! 436: 3.11: .21 i I 3.90 HP ill53 S 811 ! ; 1964*14.36* .98 ' ! 13. 38 M i 434 S 366 i i 800* 5.85* .40 ! 5.45 PK 1 996 : 489 < i 1485*10.85* .74 ! I 10.11 NPK :1446 :1031 ; t 2477:18/11: 1.24 ■ I 16.87 arising from thia. The 7alue of the increase due to the xeai- dual effect of fertilizer Is not far from the effect of the direct applioition to corn, generally slightly greatar than the increased value of oata and less than the increased value of wheat* Nitrogen applied singly, however, gave a greater increase on the hay than the direct effect on either of the cereals. This tfas most marked in timothy, indicating that ni** trogen may possibly be applied to timothy with profit. The residual effect of nitrogen on the hay was almoot equal to that of phosphoric acid. ®» Results of the Complete Rotation; Table- eight shows the total fertilizer materials and their cost, total cost of harvest, to- tal value of increase over cost and the per cent gain on the fertilizer investment for one rotation of five years. The results are the average of seventeen years and were obtained l^ suaaaing up the results of the individual crops. The total value of the increase was greatest for H P K the other fertilizers follow- ing in this order — - N P, P K, P, N K, N and K, thus showing that phosphorus was the most important single element. Missing Page The value of the increase over cost of pro- duction shows some interestimg figures. As in all oases this value increases with the increase in the price of the crop and decreases with the increase of cost of fertilizer. Single applications of nitrogen were able to pay the cost only where we figured the minijaum cost of fertilizer and the maximum value of crop* N K shows a loss in all cases* K applied alone shows a loss in three cases out of nine. All other treatments show some gain over cost* The treatment showing the greatest net gain over cost of fertilizer and cost of harvest was N P K in seven cases out of nine* The greatest gain was $40*32 and the smallest $7.60* Phosphoric acid applied singly shows the greatest gain over cost than any other treatment where the prices of the crops are low and the oost of fertilizers rela- tively high* The greatest gain from phosphoric acid as figtired is $28*91 and the smallest $13.62. This again shows that the price of the crop and fertilizer are not as important in the case of phosphoric acid as in the case of complete fertili- zers, or fertilizer containing N* The greatest net gain as figured from ooaaplete fertilizer ia |40.32 or fl7.41 more than that of P2 05. Tx- tra expenditure vas §18. 26. Or putting it differ- ently for $3.01 paid for P2 05, we got $33.91 over cost whereas an extra expenditure of !5l8.36 the returns were only 017.41 more. Glancing at the oolunrn headed per cent gain on fertilizer invest cent, we find the following order, P, P K, N P and N P K. P is much higher than any of the others being over 400^ in the case of lowest prices of crop and highest cost of fertilizer, and 114^ in case of maximum crop value and minimum fertilizer cost. With a complete fertilizer the miniraiira per cent is twenty-five and the maximum one-himdred and ninety nine, f . Conclusions of Ohio Results,: The following conclusions are reached rot only from the results of the complete rota- tions but "from the effect of the treat nents on the individual crops: 1. Apply phosphoric acid to all crops- corn, oats, wheat and hay. 3. If prices of crops are good increase the application of phosphoric acid to all crops, ani apply some H to timothy. 3. If more money is available^ apply a small application of potash to oorzi— -say, txventy potinds per acre. This potash may alao be applied to the hay crop. 4, Any further applications of fertilizers •vould depend on the availability of money to use for this purpose and also on the price of crop and fertilizer. But if prices are good and money is at hand nitrogen may be added to wheat to good profit* It, however, the prices of crops are very low^ this would not be justifiable. 3. • Rgaults at the l^ennsylvania Station; At this station the crops grovm were com, OatSf wheat and clover in four year rotations. The results are an average of twenty^five years. Fer- tilizer was applied to com and wheat, but no fer- tiliser was used for oats and hay. Axiy increase in oats and hay may be said to be due to the residual effect of the fertilizer. a. Corn: The results (table 9} show some increase in crop value from all treatments, except nitrogen applied alone, in which case there was Table 8. Fertiliaer on Corn grovm In four years rotation at the Pennsylvania Station. Average ixicreaa© par A. for twenty five years and val\iw of inoreaae. Ll>a. par A. jlno. jlno. tTalue: Value : Total :Bu. :Lb8. J of i ^ rvalue iStovor Inc.: "'' : of :per K :?3Q5 SKS Q ; A, :per A: grain: Stover: Inoreaae If Corn ia worth 47# per Bu. Stover $4. per Ton. 34 24 34 24 48 48 43 48 .^1.1 : 5.3 100 r-^l.O : 9.1 100 : ,3 100 til. 9 100 : 3.8 ' 51 346 346 353 355 846 830 --.52:^.10 2.73i .49 *-.47: .49 4,38: .70 ;09: .71 5.59: 1.69 4.14: 1.66 -.63 3.33 .03 4,98 .80 7.38 5.80 If Com is worth 59# per Bu. Stover |5. per Ton. 34 34 34 34 h s-1.1: I 48 X 5.8: » ! 100 :-l.O: : 48 : 9.1: I : 100 5 .3: : 48 : 100 ( 11.9: : 48 J 100 : 8.8: - 51 : -.65: 346 : 3.43: 346 :- .59: 5.37: 352 355 846 830 .12: %13 .62 .62 .88 .89 7.01: 3.13 5.19: 2.08 -.78 4.04 .03 6.25 1.01 9.13 7.37 If Com is worth 71# per Bu. Stover t6, per Ton. 24 24 24 24 48 48 48 48 :-l.l : 5.8 100 :-1.0 : 9,1 100 i ,% 100 s }^.9i 100 ! 8.8: : -51 : -T78: • 246 : 4.13: ! 246 : -.71: : 352 : 6.46: $ 355 : .14i J 846 ; 8.84: : 830 : 6.25: -.15 : -.93 .74 : 4.66 .74 : .03 l.o6 : 7.53 ^.07 : 1.21 2.54 •11.38 2.49 : 8.74 Missing Page an actual decrease in grain and stover. Potash applied alone increased the stover but decreased the grain. P K gave the largest increase in crop followed by H P K , N P, P, II K. In table 10 we see that in the nain the increase from the treatments was not sufficient to pay the cost of the fertilizer and harvest. Only two treatments gave a profit under any circumatances and these were the single applications of phosphoric acid and of phosphoric acid and potash combined. In two cases where the price of the crop is low ve fail to figure a profit from phosphoric acid. In four cases out of nine P K gave a profit, two of which were greater than that from phosphoric acid alone. It should be stated that the increase from the use of fertilizer is much greater now than at the beginning of the experiment and this is true for all the crops at this station. Under these conditions we would advise the use of a small application of phosphoric acid (say twenty-four pounds per acre). If the price of the crop be higher and fertilizer relatively cheap, we might apply a snail amount of potash, not over ten poiinds per acre. b« Oatfli Here the increase la due to the residual effect of fertilizer. We note that all treatments increased the crops save the single application of nitrogen which decreased the crop. The order of increase was H P K, P K, N P and P. Judging from the cost of the fertilizer and from the resulcts, I would aay that a small application of phosphoric acid might pay on oats, probably twelve pounds. Phosphorus is clearly the most important single element. c. Wheat! Table IS shows that both ni- trogen and potash when applied singly reduce the value of the wheat orop. When in combination they affect the yield very slightly. The great- est increase ia from N P K, followed by H P, P K, and fi} Aa to vr.lue of increase over cost it can hardly be said that there was any, ^ shown in table 13. If we take high values for orop and low prices for fertilizer we are able to figure a small profit from the use of phdsphorua. In no case wi^|t\^ phosphoric acid has the loss been very great. These results would not Justify applications of fertilizer to wheat. Very Table IX, Residual effect of fertilisers on Oats gro^m in four ^ear rotation at the PennsylTa- nia Station. Average of twenty-f iye jrears. ' Fert. :Ino. :Ino. : "^lue; Value: Total i Cost :Talue app. to:Bu. : Lbs.: of in: of ini val. :of bar: over com &:Graim: Straw: creasjoreas^ of :7. 5^ toost of Wheat ;per Atper A: Grain: Straw: inc. :per BUiHarvest. If Oats are worth 36^ per Bu. Straw $4. per Ton. P K HP m PK :-l.l : ^13 : : 3.1 ; : 162 : : .6 : { 73 : : 7.1 < I 297 : : 1.3 I 139 : : 7.7 J I 359 : : 8.3 : 360 : -.40S -.03* -.43: -.08 1.12* .33: 1.441, .22 .22: .15: .37: .05 2.56: .59: 3.15: .53 .47: .38: .75: .10 3.77: .73: 3.49: .58 2.99: .73: 3.71: .62 -.35 1.22 .32 3.63 .65 2,91 3.09 If Oats aare worth 45^ per Bu., Straw >5, per Ton N j fl.l - ; -13 : P i t 3.1 : : 162 : K ! I .6 < : 73 : NP ' : 7.1 : 297 : NK ! : 1.3 t 139 : PK ■ t 7.7 ' : 359 : WK J ! 8.3 : ; 360 : -13 : -.50: -.03: -.53: -^08 162 : 1.J139 .41: 1.80: .27: 3.30: .58: 3.47: 3.74: .18: .45: .74: 3.94: .35: .93: .90: 4.37: .90: 4.84: .22 .05 .53 .10 .58 .63 -.45 1.58 .40 3.41 .83 3.79 4.02 If Oats are worth 54^ per Bu^, Straw 06. per Ton N P K WP m pz WK -1.1 -13 : -.59: -.04: -*63: -.08 :--.55 3.1 ! 162 I 1.67: .49: 2.16: .23 : 1.94 .6 ! I 73 J t .32: ,32z .54: .05 : .49 7.1 ! ! 397 I ' 3.83: .89: 4.71: .53 : 4.18 1.3 ! t 139 : .70: .43: 1.13: .10 : 1.03 7.7 l 359 i ; 4.16: 1.08: 5.24: .58 : 4.66 8.3 ! i 360 ; t 4.48: 1.08: 5.56: -6;: : 4.94 Table 13. Fertilizers on wheat grown in four year rotation at the PenneylvaEia station, ^vexage increase per A. fox twenty five years and value of increase. Lba. pQX A. ^ ;?30a tW 24 34 24 24 24 24 34 24 iTnc. : inc. ' : Value : Yalue : Total :Bu. :Lbs. : of : of : Value : Grain: strawMnu. :Ino. : of ; : : Qrain; Straw; Increaoe If Wheat Js worth 72 ->.01 < : --.08 PK ! : 1355 J ! 6.60 J .68 ! 5.92 NPK : ! 1215 ! : 5.92 ; .61 ! : 5.31 If Ha: f ie worth $12.18 pe3 f Ton N ; ! ^ 453 - r -2.76 ! : ^.33 1-3.53 P : 437 I 3.60 : .21 : 3.39 K ! — 394 : t -1.79 : : -.15 j-1.64 HP : 800 . : 4.88 : .40 . 1 4.48 m t - 19 : : —.13 . : —01 . : -.11 PK : 1355 ! 8.26 ! .68 r 7.58 NPK ! : 1215 ; 7.40 ! .61 : 6.79 If Ha: ^ is worth ^14.62 pe3 r Ton H I -« 453 : —3,31 ! -.33 t~3.08 p : 427 I 3.13 : .31 : 2.91 K I ; ^294 : ; -3.15 : ^.15 : -3.00 HP ! 800 ! I 5.85 . i .40 : 5.45 NK 5 -^19 : --.14 : -..01 : — .13 PK : 1355 r 9.90 , ! .68 : 9.22 WK : 1215 J 8.88 : .61 : 8.27 Missing Page instances, the increaee over oost waa greater for phosphoric acid and potaah than for phosphoric aoid alone. The per cent gain on the fertilizer investment waa always greatest from phosphoric aoid applied singly. The complete fertilizer gave a profit only in three cases which were high price orops and loc price fertilizer. It aight be men- tioned in this connection that those who use a oomplete fertilizer are the ones who buy it already mixedand therefore pay more for it. f . Conoluaions ££ Penni>ylvania station ; Our conclusions from the results at the Pennsylvania Station, influenced somewhat by the size of the application used and by the results at the North Carolina and Ohio Stations, would be about as follows: i. Apply phosphoric acid in small amounts- 10 to 30 pounds per acre to all crops of oom, oata, wheat and clover hay. 3. Apply potash 5 to 10 poiinds per acre to corn and hay. If 3. If prices of wheat are good aj^ly 5 to 10 poujads of nitrogen pex acre. This would probably oost, on the average. about $1.50 per aore^ and might be Increased aa the price of the crop increased or as the cost of the fertilizer decreased* J . Results at the North Carolina Station. We have result a for only seven years and for cotton and for oom whioh were planted on the same land but not in any systematic rotation. (See Bul- letin Hos. 139 and 140) a Corri; %e increase in yield and value of crop are shown in Table 16, Potash and nitrogen used singly t^ave a decreased yield of stover and only slightly inci^eased the yield of grain. 1^6 value of the crop was greatest from the use of com- plete fertiliaer followed by N P , P K , P, and N !(• In Table 17 we see that Nitrogen and potash applied singly «» or in combination did not in any Instance pay the cost of fertilizer and harvest. Phosphorus, then, was the most important single ele- ment, but the addition of a saiall amount of i>otash greatly increased the net vvlue^and this treatment in all cases gave the highest net returns and also the highest per cent on the investment. N P K gave the next best returns, but the pax cent on the Table 16. Fertilizers on Corn grown on Ceollfc clay loam (H.C.Sta.) Average of seven years, show ing increase Bu. of grain and lbs. of etover and their value at different sale pricea. Lbs. per A. ; incline. tValue:7alue tTotal :in Bujin Lb: : rvalue : p*5r : : of ' of :of K tPaOR : KaO t A. fStov.t Grains Stover: Increase When CoiTS bringB 47fJ per Bu, Stover $4, psr Ton. 9 9 9 9 31 31 31 32 i : .6 •-'73 j \ ,-iHi --.15 : : : 3.3 J : 391 J I 3.91: .50 : : 4.5: .1 ', t~li3 ; ! .05: -.33 : : :13.8 : : 901 ! • 8.84: 1.80 : : 4.5: 1.5 J 1 151 ' : .70: .30 t : 4.5tl9.1 i {1039 i I 8.98: 3.14 : : 4,5:26.5 i ;1015 ! 7.76: 3.03 : .13 3.49 --.18 10.64 1.00 11.13 9.79 When Corn brings 59^ per Bu, and Stover ^5, per Ton, 9 9 9 31 31 31 31 J .6 : 6,i? 4.5: .1 :i8.a 4.5: 1.5 4.5:19.1 4, 5: 16, 5 — 73: .35:— ',18 291: 3.66: ,73 -►113: .06:^.38 901:11.09: 151: ,88: 1069:11.37* 1035: 9.74: 3.33 .33 2, 67 2,59 When Corii brings 71^ per Bu, and Stover i 9 : : : .6 : ^^73: ,43t -.22 391 t 4.40: .87 ^113: .^:~,34 901: IS. 35: 3.70 151: 1.06: .45 1069:13.565 3.19 1035:11.71: 3.10 • • 31 h • 9 9 • • : 31 9 : 31 • • 31 ,6 : ; 6, >B : : 4. 5: ,1 : 18, 8 : : 4. 5: 1, 5 ; : 4. 5: 19, .1 ': : 4. 5: 16, 5 : : .17 : 4.39 :-.33 :13.33 : 1,36 :15.94 : 13. 33 ;6. per Ton, .31 5.37 -.27 16.05 1.51 16.75 14.81 Missing Page InveatiBent was slightly greater from the use of N P than from N P K. These results show a very large gain In per cent on inveatnient from the use of P K la the oombination given here* The anallest per^ centage was 373 iwaai whi It th« highf^Qt was 1035, repypsenting |6«43 and |13,03 per acre respectively. From these results P and K are the ele- ments to be applied to corn In a combination in which the phosphoric aoicl is almost five tizaes that of the potash. F^irther results published in Bulletin 140 show these proportions to be about the best. b. Cotton ; The results with cotton were somewhat similar to those or corn although showing some marked diffsrenoes, Nitrogen alone reducad the yield. (Table 18) All other treatmsntH increased it in the following order: K P K, N P , P K, P, II K and K. As is sho^n in Table 19, th'j increase in these cases was more than enough to pay for the fertilizer and cost of harvest. A fertiliser containing N K P gave in the main the greatest net gr.ins over coat of harvest and Table 18, Fertilizers on Cotton gro vn on Cecil Clay Loam (iTorth Carolina Station) Average of seven yeara showing increase in l>ounde per A» ana yalue of inoi-ease. Poufads pei 'X Acre ilnorease in : iTalue of K^;^ ; Pounds per Acre! Increase When Seed-Cotton ia worth 3. 6f per Poimd, 16 : J ' 38 10 i : 28 10 i t 28 10 ! 1 28 ! '-i^s.f : -.53 419,3 : 15.09 : 10 ! \ 65.0 : 2.34 ; 667.4 : 24.03 : 10 ! : 125.0 : 4.50 : 10 : 637.5 : 33,95 I 10 ! ! 713.5 : 26.10 When seed-Cotton is worth 4.5^ per Poiand, 10 : 5 \ -35.7 : -1.16 • • 28 : 419.3 : 18,87 • 10 \ 65.0 \ 3.93 10 : 28 t 667,4 : 30.03 10 : : 10 ! ! 125.0 : 5.63 • • 23 i : 10 1 1 637.5 : 28g€©,^f 10 : 38 : \ 10 1 5 712.5 : 33.06 \ Then Seed-C< jtton ie worth 5.4^ per Pc 10 : , 1 1 1 \ — 25. 7 j -1.39 28 1 i 419.3 : 22.64 \ 10 i ( 65.0 : 3.51 10 i 28 > < ! 667/4 : 36.05 10 \ i 10 ! t 125.0 : 6. 75 28 i 10 : 637. 5 : 34.42 10 : 38:: - 10 J 712,5 : 38.47 Missing Page OOBt Of rertilizer. This, however, traa very little more JAand in a few oafiea not as great as P K. The greatest net gain from a oomplete fertiliser '.-raa fSl.SO which Wi-,0 t'l«68 more th^m that for P Z. The extra expenditure was pi*oo then for ^1.71 spent for P K we get a net gain of |29.52 and by addins N cooting :!^3,00 we only increase our net gain fl.71. P K gave the higheat per oent on investment. ?ho single application of phosphoric acid gave the roxt highest per cent on the invest- ment followed by N P, IT P K, K, and H Z. Under these oon(?ltiona we '.ould apply to cotton phospho- ric aoid and potash, and if the price of crop were good, probably a email application of nitrogen. 17. General Conclusions. a. Phosphoric aoid paid well on all orope except at the Pennsylvania station rhere ex- oeaaive amounts v^ere applied to corn and wheat. b. Potash added to phosphoric acid increased the yield of all crops over phosphoric acid alone. The indications are that one fifth to one third as much potash as phosphoric aoid be applied to cora, hay and cotton and possibly to wheat. c, Hitrogan aeldom gave aufjfiolont returns to justify its use, except poeaibly small uppllcations for vsheat^ timothy and cotton vmder favorable oiicum- atances. va Missing Page