628 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. [VoL 87 



form; and (2) in an anaerobic environment in the presence of nitrate to the 

 assimilation of the latter, and also on the other hand to its denitrification. 



The nitrogen in barnyard manure is considered to be chiefly in an organic form 

 and its loss in the gaseous state is thought to be possible without its passing 

 into the nitric state, both in the aerobic and anaerobic environment. The organic 

 matter, contributing to the conversion of the protein nitrogen, indirectly pro- 

 motes the loss of nitrogen in further decomposition. A local retardation in 

 furrows, etc., of the nitrifying processes is also possible owing to the organic 

 matter, to the presence of which the nitrifying organisms are known to be very 

 sensitive. 



As to the question whether barnyard manure supplied to the soil in quantities 

 up to 28 tons per acre reduces nitrification or not, it is thought that a negative 

 conclusion can not be drawn. It is considered possible tliat the presence of 

 vegetable residues in the soil and the continuous conversion of nitrogen from 

 the soluble form into the organic form or vice versa may cause such heavy losses 

 of nitrogen (although compensated by its assimilation from the air) that the 

 effect of tlie additional organic matter In the form of barnyard manure Is rela- 

 tively unimportant. 



[Manure conservation experim.ents], G. D. Woods (Maine Sta. Bui. 260 

 (1917), pp. 9^-09). — An experiment on the storage of cow, horse, hog, and 

 sheep manure during the winter is reported, in which an account was kept 

 of all feed eaten and the manure was stored in a water-tight platform (which 

 is described) and kept worked by swine to prevent fire fanging. The compo- 

 sition of the mixture of cow, horse, and hog manure as removed from the pit 

 v?as nitrogen 0.457 per cent, phosphoric acid 0.19. and potash 0.5. The sheep 

 manure contained nitrogen 0.74 per cent, phosphoric acid 0.29, and potash 1.04. 

 " Seventy-nine per cent of the nitrogen, 87 per cent of the phosphoric acid, 

 and 87 per cent of the potash in the feeding stuffs used were found in the sheep 

 manure, and 61 per cent of the nitrogen, 56 per cent of the phosphoric add, and 

 67 per cent of the potash In the feed and bedding given the cows and horses 

 were found in the mixed manure." 



It is estimated that the sheep and swine manure was worth about $6 and 

 the mixed manure about ?3 per cord at the manure pit. 



The effect of phosphoric add upon the decomposition of sugar in the soil, 

 S. IIeuke (Kis&rlct. Kozlem., 18 (1915), No. 5-6, pp. S57-8S6; aba. in Internat. 

 Inst. Agr. [Ronie], internat. Rev. Sci. and I'rart. Agr., 7 (1916), No. 5, pp. 6'.}5, 

 646; Jour. Soc. Chem. Indus., S5 (1916). No. 21, p. 1125; Chcm. Abs., 11 (1911), 

 No. 10, p. 1511). — Experiments are reported which showed that the decora- 

 position of suj,'ar in a .'^oil, as Indicated by the liberation of carbon dioxid, 

 is Influenced by the chemical composition of the soil and by the pre.sence of 

 certain nutritive salts. In a soil to which phosphoric acid was added the sugar 

 decomposed more quickly than In the same soil without the addition of phos- 

 phoric acid. The difference between the amounts of carbon dioxid liberated 

 from the treated and untreated soils Increased for a certain time and then 

 decreased. 



A certain correlation was observed between the effect of tlie phosphoric acid 

 on the decomposition of the sugar and the increased yield produced by it in 

 fertilizer experiments. Thus, in a soil where the addition of 0.06 gm. of phos- 

 phoric acid per kilogram of soil Increased the yield of oats and mustard, the 

 same amount of phosphoric acid Increased the amount of carbon dioxid liberated 

 In the presence of 2 per cent of dextrose or saccharose. Increasing amounts of 

 phosphoric a£id also gradually Increased the liberation of the carbon dioxid 

 liberated. 



