NITROGEN, NITRIFICATION, NITROGENOUS MANURES 153 



Some of the organic forms of nitrogen readily undergo 

 nitrification and become available as plant food, while 

 other forms are inactive. Vegetation tests show that 

 from 60 to 75 per cent of the nitrogen of dried blood, 

 tankage, cottonseed meal, and fish meal are available as 

 plant food the year they are used as fertilizer. The 

 available nitrogen of fertilizers includes nitrates and 

 ammonium salts and such forms of organic matter as 

 readily undergo nitrification. Potassium permanganate 

 with and without sodium hydroxide is also employed 

 as a solvent for available nitrogen. 52 



171. Peat' and Muck. Peat and muck are rich in 

 nitrogen which is in an insoluble form and is with diffi- 

 culty nitrified. When mixed with lime and stable 

 manure, particularly liquid manure, fermentation is 

 induced and a valuable manure produced. Muck and 

 peat should be dried and sun-cured, and then used as 

 absorbents in stables. Peat differs from muck in being 

 fibrous. If the muck is acid, lime (not quicklime) should 

 be used with it in the stable, as directed under farm 

 manures. When easily obtained, muck is one of the 

 cheapest forms of nitrogen. 



COMPOSITION OF DRY MUCK SAMPLES 9 



