518 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



fertilization for inoculation is probably most advantageous in cases where the 

 inoculating substance is difficult to obtain or use at the proper time. Inocula- 

 tion in every case noted v^as cheaper than nitrogen fertilization. The advan- 

 tage of niti'ogen fertilization was greater the shorter the time since the soil 

 had been broken. 



The influence of the distribution of nitrogenous fertilizers and straw in 

 soil on plant production, B. Niklewski {Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsw. Osterr., 

 18 (1915), No. 12, pp. 674-690). — Pot experiments with oats on a sandy loess 

 soil deficient in plant food to determine the influence of distribution in the soil 

 on the action of sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, liquid manure, peptone, 

 and straw are reported. 



The influence of nitrogen fertilization on plant production was found to be 

 determined, next to total amount, by its concentration. A greater increase 

 in crop yield was obtained by distributing ammonium sulphate in the soil in 

 a layer than by mixing generally a double quantity with the soil. The favor- 

 able influence of distribution in a layer was especially marked when using the 

 smaller amounts, a saving being thereby obtained. 



The influence of distribution was found to vary with the speed of diffusion 

 of the different fertilizers in the soil, the greatest influence being evident for 

 peptone and the least by sodium nitrate. The effectiveness of a fertilizer was 

 also found to depend not only on its physiological value but also on its speed 

 of diffusion in soil. The influence of the speed of diffusion of a fertilizer could 

 be diminished by distribution in the soil and the value of the fertilizer thereby 

 altered. 



By intermixing with soil in lower concentrations the best results were 

 obtained with sodium nitrate, followed in order by ammonium sulphate and 

 peptone. By placing in the soil in a layer in higher concentrations the best 

 results were obtained with peptone, followed in order by ammonium sulphate 

 and sodium nitrate. 



The concentration of the fertilizers appeared to influence strongly the 

 microbiological processes of the soil and also plant development. 



The straw had an unfavorable influence on the utilization of ammonium 

 sulphate in lower concentrations and a favorable influence in higher concen- 

 trations. This result is considered an important factor in determining the 

 proper use of liquid manure and the availability of nitrogen in stable manure. 

 Straw had a favorable influence on the utilization of sodium nitrate in lower 

 concentrations, but was without influence in higher concentrations. Straw 

 hastened the diffusion of sodium nitrate in soil, especially in lower con- 

 centrations. 



Pot fertilizer experiments with new nitrogenous fertilizers, M. Popp (Mitt. 

 Deut. Landw. Gesell., SI (1916), No. 4, PP- 54-57). — Pot experiments with oats 

 on a sandy soil deficient in humus to determine the relative fertilizing values 

 of ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, sodium-ammonium 

 sulphate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium chlorid, two kinds of urea, urea 

 nitrate, lime nitrogen, and granulated lime nitrogen when added in amounts 

 equivalent to 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 gm. of nitrogen per 10 kg. of soil are reported. 



With reference to crop yield the best results, not considering lime nitrogen, 

 were given by sodium nitrate, followed in order by ammonium chlorid, am- 

 monium sulphate, urea nitrate, ammonium bicarbonate, ammonium nitrate, 

 urea, and sodium-ammonium sulphate. With reference to both crop yield and 

 nitrogen utilization sodium nitrate again gave the best results, followed in order 

 by ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chlorid, urea nitrate, 

 urea, sodium-ammonium sulphate, and ammonium bicarbonate. Urea obtained 

 by synthetic process gave the poorest results in both cases. 



