LOSSES OF MOISTURE AXD PLANT FOOD BY PERCOLATION. 45 



The results here given show a high nitrification of the manure ac- 

 companied with a high percolation of the nitrates produced The 

 manure applied was dry, finely ground sheep excrement, and should not 

 nitrify as readily as ordinary barnyard manure, which has usually fer- 

 mented to some extent. 



LOSS OF NITRATES BY PERCOLATION. 



On March 15, 1912, and again on November 15, 1 gram nitrate of 

 soda containing 153 mg. nitrogen was added to four cultivated pots, 

 Xos. 2, 8, 14 and 20, and two grams were added to four others of 

 different soils, Xos. 26, 32, 38 and 44. The object of the application 

 was to ascertain how rapidly the nitrates would percolate. The addi- 

 tions made were at the rate of 122 and 244 pounds nitrate of soda 

 per acre. 



Table Xo. 17 shows a comparison in parts per million of nitric nitro- 

 gen of these pots and the soils receiving no additions. With two of the 

 soils, an increase in the proportion of nitrates is seen at once, hut with 

 the other six the nitrates had no effect on the percolating water until 

 the collection of April 6th or April llth, the third or fourth percola- 

 tion since the nitrates were added. The loss of nitrogen in milligrams 

 per month for the year is shown in Table Xo. 18. 



TABLE NO. 18. 

 Milligrams Nitric Nitrogen Removed Per Pot, 1912. 



The difference in the nitrates from these pots is due, however, not 

 only to the addition of nitrates, but also to the cultivation, the pots 

 to which the nitrates were added being cultivated, and the pots to which 

 no addition was made not being cultivated. It is difficult to allow for 

 this difference. The cultivation caused a greater percolation through 

 a number of the pots, and consequently a greater removal of the nitrates. 

 There appears to be little danger of loss of nitrates during the growing 

 reason. 



