Decomposition of Sweet Clover as a Green Manure 133 



Unlimed Slaked lime Ground limestone 



Fig. 1 1 . RESULTS from different soil treatments, on plants grown for 1 1 8 DAYS 



were large nodules formed. However, nodules were present in abundance, 

 as is shown by the fact that as many as sixty were counted on a single 

 root system. 



The plants removed from the various pots were allowed to dry in the 

 air and were weighed. They were then pulverized and bottled for later 

 analysis. Similarly the soil samples were sieved and bottled after drying. 

 These samples were analyzed for nitrates according to the methods 

 previously described. The crops harvested were examined for nitrogen 

 and crude fiber. The nitrogen was determined by the Gunning method, 

 with the addition of copper wire as a catalyst. The crude fiber was 

 determined according to the procedure outlined by the United States 

 Bureau of Chemistr>\^ This determination was deemed important 

 because the rate of decay of any plant material must be largely governed 

 by the amount of woody tissue present. Thus it is desirable to know 

 the percentage of crude fiber present at those stages when the plant 

 might be used as a green manure. 



5 Official and provisional methods of analysis, Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Bulletin 

 107, U. S. Bureau of Chemistry. 1908. 



