Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 February 1912 — NOTES ON CHEMICAL LABORATORY WORK IN SOILS AND CROPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NOTES ON CHEMICAL LABORATORY WORK IN SOILS AND CROPS

hE R. SMALLEY, Asst. Chemist, Soils sad Crops Department. Pardee Experiment Starts*, Purdue University Agricultural Extension

Chemistry, as It la applied to agriculture, is ]ierhaps the least understood by the public of all subjects related to farm practice. Many Incorrect ideaß are prevalent even among our most progressive farmers. We often hear fanners say: “If 1 could only have my soil analyzed. I’d know what kind of fertilizer to use." Now this, according to the best authorities, is a wrong conception. Soil analysis still holds an important place in agriculture, but must be used with judgment and not practiced promiscuously. It is of great value in determining soil types and In the study of special problems related to soil fertility, but It must be considered In connection with the various other factors Influencing soil fertility, namely: climatic and seasonal conditions, rotation of crops, physical character of the soil, plant diseases, and Insect pests and other factors of more or less local application. The fertilizer requirements of a particular Boil can best be determined by a field plot fertilizer test such as has been recommended soy several years past In bulletins, circulars, letters and lectures which have gone out from the experiment station. In connection with the soil improvement studies on the various experiment fields of the station chemical soil analyses and various other chemical work is carried on. Soils which are sent to the laboratory by farmers and which are accompanied by a full description, are tested for lime requirements and advice as to methods of handling is given free of charge. A half-pound of soil Is sufficient for such an examination. The use of lime on soils Is increasing in the state and the department of soils and crops is being called upon more frequently to determine the value of the various grades of agricultural lime now on the market. For

such an analysis the sample must be carefully taken so as to fairly represent the bulk of the material. This is especially true of ground limestone where the state of fineness is of much importance and the finer material Is apt to sift toward the bottom. In connection with crop rotation and soil fertilization experiments with wheat, In which the different elements are used alone and in various combinations, chemical studies .of the composition of the grain are carried on, with particular reference to the effects of the fertilization on the protein content. - A somewhat similar investigation has been carried on with Irish potatoes for the past five years. Potatoes are grown on different soil types, each receiving various fertilizers and manunal treatments. Chemical analysis ana cooking tests of samples from field plats and pot cultures are annually made to determine the effect of soli and fertilizer upon composition and quality. Along with leguminous crop studies of various kinds, the nitrogen in the tops ana roots of say beans and cow peas grown as catch crops after wheat is determined each year and a study is being made of the variation in the nitrogen content of soy beans grown on Inoculated and uninocuiated soils. Another interesting line of chemical work is that In connection with the selective breeding of corn for higher protein content in which analysis of large numbers of seed ears are made and the selection of ears for planting based upon the composition. 4? Many miscellaneous materials come into the laboratory for analysis, such as marl, Band, waste from canneries, sugar beets, iron ore, water, etc., which are either analyzed or referred to the proper authorities for examp lnatlon and report

Purdue Chemical Laboratory.