m EGYPTIAN AGRICULTURE. 



The salt as a manure. Sulphate of ammonia is the 

 most con cell tra ted nitrogenous manure on the market. 

 Compared with nitrate of soda it is not so rapid in its 

 action, chiefly for the reason that before it is available for 

 the plant it must undergo nitrification, which in well 

 aerated soils it very soon does under the influence of the 

 nitrifying bacteria. As ammonia can be "fixed" by 

 various of the soil constituents nitrogen in this form is 

 not so liable to be washed out the of soil as in the form of 

 nitrate. Of course after nitrification this no longer holds 

 true. Land to which sulphate is applied should be well 

 provided with lime, preferably as carbonate, as this serves 

 the double purpose of aiding nitrification and of combining 

 with the sulphuric acid set free on the decomposition of 

 the sulphate. As with nitrate of soda, the salt to give the 

 best results should be well supported in the soil by the 

 presence of good supplies of phosphate and potash. It 

 can safely be mixed with superphosphate, but care must 

 be taken to avoid mixing it with any basic substance such 

 as lime or basic slag as these readily drive off its ammonia. 

 As this takes place at ordinary temperatures the loss from 

 such mixing is much more serious than any likely to occur 

 from mixing nitrate and superphosphate. 



Sulphate of ammonia like nitrate of soda may be 

 applied with advantage to practically all except legumi- 

 nous crops. According to circumstances the quantity used 

 will vary from 75 to 1.50 kilograms per feddan. Its 

 nitrogen not being immediately available it should be put 

 on the land a littb before it is required by the crop so 

 it- time for nitrification 



