18 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



stances umlei'soin}; cixidatioii. Experinionts with soils showed that this induced 

 oxidation may, under certain rather artificial circumstances, come into play 

 as a factor in i)ro(lucin,!; nitrates; hut it must he rememhered that at the low 

 partial pressures of ammonia ohtaininj; in nature, l)acterial nitrification would 

 he more prominent than in our experiments. Taking this point into considera- 

 tion, the induced oxidation of ammonia can not he regarded as an important 

 source of nitrates under natural conditions." 



The fixation of atmospheric nitrogen during the decomposition of forest 

 leaves, L. Montemartini (Htaz. Sijer. Arjr. ItiiL. 3S (UXir,), No. 10-12, pp. 

 1 060-1 065 ).—CixvefuUy conducted experiments with 50 to 60 gm. lots of plane- 

 iree, alder, hornheam, and oak leaves sterilized and inoculated with extracts of 

 decomposing leaves showed a considerahle gain of nitrogen in the course of 

 decomposition during the period from ahout the end of November to the last of 

 March, thus confirming Henry's claim (E. S. R., 9, p. 1041; 15, p. 764) that 

 timing the process of decon)position of the leaves of trees there is a fixing of 

 atmospheric nitrogen and that such fixation does not take place when the 

 material studied is sterilized, thus signifying that the phenomenon is due, to the 

 [)resence of micro-organisms. 



Investigations relative to the use of nitrogenous materials, E. B. Voor- 

 iiEES and J. G. Lipman (New Jersei,' i^tas. Rpt. 1905, pp. /JS-2iJ).— The experi- 

 ments of previous years (E. S. R., 17, p. 344) were continued during 1904 and 

 1905, the crop gi'own in this year being oats. "The two oat crops of the first 

 rotation added to those of the second rotation furnish an abundance of experi- 

 mental material, which may he used to demonstrate how a one-sided system of 

 fertilization affects the crop-producing power of the soil. It becomes clear here 

 what the comparative value of nitrate, ammonia, or organic nitrogen may 

 be and to what extent they may he used as a source of nitrogen when applied 

 alone or together with animal manures." 



The relative availability of the nitrogen of the nitrogenous materials, as 

 shown by the four crops of oats, is given in the following table: 



The (intiluhUilii of nitn>(/ni in (Jifferciit iiitrouriKJiix waierial!^ irith oats. 



Sodium nitrate 



Ammonium sulpliate 



Dried blood 



Solid manure, fresh 



Solid manure, leaehed 



Solid and licjuid manure, fresh ... 

 Solid and licjuid manure, leaehed 



18S9. 



100.0 

 77.9 

 61.3 

 43.1 



4(1.4 

 88.4 

 33.0 



100.0 

 87.7 

 73.1 

 26.4 

 •22. 

 51..') 

 3.5. 9 



100.0 

 64.7 

 6.'S.2 

 48.6 

 40.3 

 71.0 

 52.9 



100.0 

 78.1 

 P>-i. 5 

 33.2 

 42.7 

 37.8 

 42.3 



On the direct utilization of the nitrogen of the air for the preparation 

 of fertilizers and other chemical products, A. Erank (Ztschr. Angcw. Cliciii., 

 If) (1006). Ao. ID. pp. S:35-S.'i0: Vhein. Ztg., 30 (1906), No. 3S. p. i'/.O).— A paper 

 before the Sixth International Congress of Applied Chemistry at Rome, 1906. 

 which reviews the history of investig.-ition and invention in relation to this sub- 

 ject, the progress made in establishment of manufacturing enteri)rises, as well 

 as experiments to test the value of the product for industrial and .-igricultural 

 purposes. 



Comparative fertilizer tests of lime nitrogen and nitrate of soda on oats, 

 R. Otto (Dciit. Laiidir. yVcs-.sc, 33 (1906), No. 32, p. 275). — The two materials 

 were applied on light soils in amounts furnishing equal rations of nitrogen. 

 The lime nitrogen was applied about one week before the seeding of the oats. 



