Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 186, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1911 — Profitable to Fertilize Clover [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Profitable to Fertilize Clover

By JOHN A ABBOTT

Unsvortity Extension

The fact that clover may need fertilization and that it can often be fertilized at a profit is quite generally overlooked, probably because clover is known to improve the fertility of the soli and is generally grown mainly for that purpose rather than as a money crop. As a matter of fact the use of mineral elements, phosphoric acid-and potash, and in some cases lime as well, often makes all the difference between success and failure. The experimental field in southern Indiana, part of which is shown in the accompanying cut,-is a case In point. This field bad been heavily cropped and rather poorly cared for for about 75 years when the experiment was started in the fall of 1905. Clover has been c seeded on parts of this field every spring since 1908, but has never made a satisfactory crop on the unfertilized parts of the field, the land remaining bare except for a few weeds as shown on the left-hand side of the cut. During the same period, clover had never been a complete failure on the limed and fertilized- plats, one of which _is shown in the right-hand side of the cut. These results are about what may be noted on naturally poor or badly worn soils in all parts of the country. Clover failures are of course sometimes due to unfavorable weather, or in the case of over-rich soils to smothering out by the nurse 6rop, but in very many cases it is simply a case of starvation. The soil has become too poor to raise clover. Such cases demand Immediate attention; for soils that fall to grow clover are pretty sure to run down in fertility very rapidly. It is generally recognized that the tubercle forming, nitrogen fixing bacteria, which after all are what makes clover valuable, will not tolerate an acid reaction of the soil, and this being the case the first step to success

with clover Is the correction of soil acidity by an application of about two tons per acre of finely ground limestone or slaked lime, which should be disked in before wheat is sown. It is to be noted, however, that not all soils which fall to grow clover are; acid, and limestone should be tried in an experimental way before going to> any great expense for liming, which 1 may not do any good. The next thing to be considered is the physical condition of the soil.: Clover is very tender as a seedling; plant, and must not be expected to thrive in a soil so devoid of decaying l organic matter that it puddles when 1 wet and bakes and cracks wide open when dryX No small tender plant* could stand such treatment. A goodcoat of manure will towards correcting this condition, or a vigorous, large-seeded legume such as the cow pea may be grown and plowed: under, after which it will be much; easier to get a stand of clover. Finally, after the physical condition of the soil has been made goodi enough so that clover can get a start,; and acidity has been corrected by the! use of lime so that clover can utilize 1 the atmospheric nitrogen, there remains the necessity of fertilization. Clover feeds upon the same elements that other crops do, and gets themfrom the soil in the same way with; the exception of nitrogen, and if the soil is too poor in the mineral elements to grow grain crops successfully, it is likewise too poor to grow clover. It is not necessary or adyis- r able to provide a special fertilizer' for clover. It is better practice to fertilize the preceding small grain crop liberally enough so that there will be some left over for the clover. The application of less than 200 pounds of fertilizer - per . acre for wheat certainly does not provide for a sufficient amount and it is probable that 300 pounds per acre is not at all excessive. - f

Weeds on Untreated Plot at Left. Clover on Limed, Fertilized Plot at Right