PLANT FOOD 53 



many more bushels per acre than corn grown on the 

 same land not fertilized by soy beans. 



Alfalfa is a crop which is widely grown in west- 

 ern states. In Kansas and Nebraska corn grown on 

 alfalfa land gives splendid returns. The alfalfa roots 

 penetrating the soil to a great depth, loosen the subsoil, 

 and bring the soil fertility to the surface, where the 

 corn plants can make use of it. Further, it adds to 

 the supply of soil nitrogen and in this way prepares 

 the soil for the corn crop. 



The only difficulty with alfalfa as a crop to be 

 introduced into a corn rotation is that there is con- 

 siderable trouble in securing a stand. Moreover the 

 crop does not reach its full producing capacity until 

 about the third year after seeding. This being the 

 case, the alfalfa crop is usually allowed to stand for 

 several years, in some cases as long as fifteen to twenty 

 years. As many as four crops are frequently harvested 

 each year. If these are taken off the soil and no 

 manure returned, the land will eventually be drained 

 of its fertility. As it is desirable to have something 

 which can be seeded and a crop obtained the first year, 

 alfalfa is not likely to come into general use as a part 

 of a corn rotation. 



BARNYARD MANURE 



For enriching a soil for corn, barnyard manure 

 is a most valuable fertilizer. The application of barn- 

 yard manure increases the amount of available fertility 

 in the soil, adds to the humus content, and improves 

 the mechanical condition of the soil. 



Therefore, the preservation and application of 

 manure is an important problem with the corn grower. 



The conditions affecting the saving and preserva- 

 tion of the elements of value in manure, have largely 

 to do with the value of manures. An effort should 



