48 



T. Lyttleton Lyon and James A. Bizzell 



The removal of calcium is influenced by the application of sulfate 

 of potash fertilizer, as may be seen from table 29: 



TABLE 29. Average Annual Removal of Calcium from Soil Treated and from Soil 



Not Treated with Sulfate of Potash 



(In pounds per acre) 



Tanks 



3, 5, 6. 



11. . .. 

 7, 9, 10 

 12. ... 



Soil treatment 



No lime, no K2SO4 

 No lime, K2SO4 . . . 

 Lime, no K2SO4. . 

 Lime, K2SO4 



Calcium removed in 



Drainage 

 water 



177.1 

 213.1 

 169.6 

 199.7 



Crops 



13.2 

 10.2 

 13.2 

 11.5 



Total 

 calcium 

 removed 



190.3 

 223.3 

 182,8 

 211.2 



It is apparent that the application of sulfate of potash resulted in an 

 increase in the calcium, altho it did not increase the amount of potassium 

 in the drainage water. There was an absorption of potassium by the soil 

 and a liberation of calcium. The use of a potash fertilizer, in this form 

 at least, should not be greater than is necessary, because not only is it 

 an unnecessary expense, but also it causes a loss of calcium from the soil. 



Percentage of calcium in plants 



Altho the total removal of calcium in either the drainage water or 

 the crops was not greater from the limed soil than from the unlimed, 

 the percentage of calcium was, in the main, somewhat higher in the crops 

 raised on the limed soil. This is brought out by ta])le 30. There appears 



TABLE 30. Percentage of Calcium in Crops Raised on Limed and on Unlimed Soil 



48 



