EFFECT OF SULFATE OF AMMONIA ON SOIL. 



85 



Comparing the results plot by plot the first difference noted is in the 

 amount of total solids removed. More soluble salts are removed from 

 the two sulfate plots 6 and 8 than from any of the others. The same is 

 true of the calcium removed, the ammonium sulfate evidently reacting 

 with the calcium in the soil to form calcium sulfate. This is borne out by 

 the increase in the amount of sulfates removed from these two plots. 

 These results are similar to those obtained by Lawes and Gilbert at Roth- 

 amstead, in their study of the drainage waters from ammoniiim-sulfate- 

 treated plots in comparison with those differently fertilized. The protec- 

 tive action of sodium nitrate for calcium is again shown, as the amount of 

 calcium removed from the niti'ate plot 1 is smaller than that removed from 

 the other plots. The increase in the amomit of sodium and potassium 

 chlorides removed from this plot is due to the sodium nitrate. While the 

 above table would lead one to think that the drainage waters from the 

 different plots had a radically different composition from one another, this 

 is not true, as a stud}^ of the average percentage composition of the fixed 

 solids will show. 



