302 Mineral Nutrition of Plants 



soil, was selected for the study of the influence of drainage upon quality. 

 In New Jersey this soil type is often planted with tomatoes, but seldom 

 produces a bumper crop due to water injury. Judging from the organic 

 matter content, this soil is in a state of high fertility for the type. How- 

 ever, as shown in Table IV, the yields were very poor. 



At this point, it is necessary to mention that the given analyses of 

 fruit are representative of those obtained, since a complete presentation 

 of the data would serve only to confuse rather than to clarify the sub- 

 ject. For comparison, typical data of the analyses of soil and of fruit 

 produced on a soil in a state of high fertility are given at the bottom 

 of the table in each case. 



The quality of the fruit from the Adelphia sandy loam was poor, 

 and the yield, as indicated in Table IV, was very low. Undoubtedly, 

 the high water table in the soil interfered with the soil processes and 

 the normal function of the plant. The color of the processed fruit was 

 abnormally poor, since it lacked the red coloring matter and was too 

 high in the yellow pigment. Of the minerals for which analyses were 

 made, calcium was the only one abnormally low, although the nitrogen 

 content was below average. 



TABLE III 

 Soil Conditions and Nutrients Applied 



*A — Poor drainage conditions, Adelphia sandy loam 

 B — Low organic matter content, Collington fine sand 

 C — Low pH value, Woodstown sandy loam 

 D — Low potassium content, Sassafras sandy loam 

 E — Low magnesium content, Sassafras sandy loam 

 F— Low manganese content, Sassafras sandy loam 

 G — Low fertility field, Sassafras sandy loam 

 H — Fertile field, Sassafras sandy loam 



tpH on a 1:2 soil-water ratio (glass electrode) 



