Paget Ttventy-stx 



Soil Fertility in 

 Orcharding 



{Contimud jrom fage 9) 

 methods of management, leaving the trees 

 with only a limited amount of this much 

 needed element. In fact, some remarkable 

 results in increased production as well as 

 growth have been secured in orchards of 

 the Northwest from the use of nitrate of 

 soda, unaccompanied by any effort to return 

 the burnt out organic matter. The larger 

 chart illustrates the orchard feeding prob- 

 lems. 



The paramount problem of the orchard 

 men today is that of finding an economical 

 means of retummg to their soils this dis- 

 sipated organic matter and then maintain- 

 ing it. The moisture holding capacity of 

 the soil, the number of minute organisms, 

 the availability of the other soil elements, 

 the physical handling of the soil, and the 

 productiveness of the soil are all dependent 

 upon this same organic matter. Indeed, it 

 is generally conceded that the supplying 

 of this one material, organic matter, in suf- 

 ficient amounts constitutes the first and 

 most fundamental step in rebuilding a worn 

 out soil or maintaing a fertile one. 



In order to comprehend fully the fer- 

 tility problem as related to orcharding, it 

 is well to consider the extent and sources 

 of losses of fertility from orchard soils: 



CHART II 



Losses by Crops Removed 

 Fertility removed annually per acre by 

 an apple orchard. 



Annual weight .. 



Nitrogen 



Phosphoric acid 

 Potash 



BETTER FRUIT 



that of nitrogen. This is the most deficient 

 of the three key elements in our soils, es- 

 pecially where clean cultivation without 

 annual cover-crops or manuring has been 

 practiced. It is also the most expensive to 

 supply, costing in commercial forms about 

 twenty cents a pound. 



Phosphorous lost by drainage is generally 

 conceded to be small, as little of it exists in 

 soluble form at any time. Potassium is lost 

 in greater amounts, although not equahng 

 the loss of nitrogen. The fruit soil contairis 

 large amounts of this element, but practi- 

 cally all of it exists in an insoluble form; 

 hence, the loss of even a part of the soluble 

 amount is of vital significance to the 

 grower. 



There is no investigation known to the 

 writer which indicates the total loss of 

 fertility in fruit growing and it is more or 

 less hazardous to make an estimate. Taking 

 everything into consideration, however, it 

 will certaintly be within the facts to assume 

 that where apples are grown under clean 

 cultivation, there is an average annual loss 

 of 200 pounds of nitrogen, 20 pounds of 

 phosphorous and 75 pounds of potassium, 

 equivalent to 1275 pounds of nitrate of 

 soda, 285 pounds of 16 percent super-phos- 

 phate and 190 pounds of high grade sul- 

 fate of potash. 



Counteracting Losses of Fertility — 

 Whenever practical it is far better to pre- 

 vent the loss of fertility than to replace 

 it after it has disappeared. A feasible and 



March, 1922 



economical means of preventing a part of 

 this annual waste is that of growing a cover- 

 crop. 



Many orchardists go to great trouble 

 and expense in hauling manure and buying 



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Totals 5 Annual weight, 

 53.1 lbs; phosphoric acid, 15.3 lbs; potash, 64 Ibe. 



The above table shows that an acre of 

 vigorous, producing apple trees removes 

 nitrogen equal to that carried by 340 

 pounds of nitrate of soda; phosphoric acid 

 equal to that carried by 95 pounds of 16 

 per cent super phosphate, and potash equal 

 to that carried by 135 pounds of sulfate 

 of potash. 



Losses by Drainage and Leaching — 

 If the fertility removed by the trees con- 

 stituted the total loss the problem would 

 not be so difficult, but there are losses 

 through other channels as well. Fertility 

 existing in a soluble form is liable to be lost 

 in drainage water or by leaching down 

 through the subsoil, beyond the feeding 

 roots. The amount lost in this way depends 

 upon the amount of soluble fertility, the 

 nature of the sub-soil and the amount of 

 rainfall. 



The heavy rainfall and the mild, open 

 winters in the Northwest are conditions 

 ideal for such losses, and undoubtedly con- 

 tribute greatly to the deterioration of these 

 soils. 



The most serious loss from this cause is 



NITRATE 



SODA 



[15 Per Cent Nitrogen im7nediately Az'ailable] 



"the ONE fertilizer element 

 that MUST be used! 



I>5 



Whatever other fertilizers you use this year, be sure you also use 

 Nitrate of Soda. 



One of the best known horticultural experts in the Northwest 

 (name sent on request) says, in referring to an exhaustive series 

 of fertilizer tests: 



"The only results obtained from complete fertilizers have been secured where 

 Nitrogen was used." 



The reason for this, as shown by numerous practical tests and chemical analyses, 

 is that the soils of this section are practically always deficrent m one soil 

 element — Nitrogen. 



The use of Nitrate of Soda NOW will be apparent this fdl in an increased 

 vield and in fruit of uniformly better color and size. 



For maximum returns this year use Nitrate of Soda. Cheap, clean and easy 

 to apply. 



For litercture, methods of a])plication and prices, write or wire, 



NITRATE AGENCIES CO. 



Hoge Building, Seattle 



