HOW FERTILIZERS ARE APPLIED 211 



(6) Determine the number of pounds of the materials required 

 to furnish these amounts of plant-food element. 



(c) Add the amounts of the materials required to make the 

 mixture, and, if the sum is less than 2000 pounds, or less than the 

 required amount, add enough fine, dry muck, or any other inert 

 material (filler) to make a ton, or the required amount of 

 the mixture. 



An illustration: Out of nitrate of soda (fifteen per cent N), 

 acid phosphate (seven per cent P) and muriate of potash (forty- 

 two per cent K) a complete 3-10-3 fertilizer is to be compounded, 

 or one containing three per cent nitrogen, 4.4 per cent phosphorus 

 and 2.5 per cent potassium. 



(a) One ton of the proposed fertilizer contains sixty pounds of 

 nitrogen, eighty-eight pounds of phosphorus and fifty pounds 

 of potassium. 



(6) Amounts of materials required per ton are: 400 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda, 1260 pounds of acid phosphate, and 120 pounds of 

 muriate of potash. 



(c) The total amount of materials required is 1780 pounds; 

 220 pounds of filler are required to make the mixture equivalent 

 to a ton. 



Materials Unsuitable for Mixing Together. Some mixtures 

 are to be avoided. These are shown here. 



Lime ] 



Wood ashes f should not be mixed with 



Basic slag j 



Acid phosphate 



pnospri 

 lived b( 



Dissolved bone 

 Sulfate of ammonia 

 Tankage, blood meal, etc. 

 Manure 



How Fertilizers are Applied. Fertilizers may be applied 

 broadcast, in the hill or drill, in the bottom of furrows, beside the 

 rows after the plants are well above ground, and mixed with 

 manure. In orchards and for crops whose roots are broadly dis- 

 tributed, the greatest part of the fertilizer, at least, should be 

 applied broadcast before the crop is planted or before harrowing. 

 When applied broadcast a much heavier application is usually 

 made than when applications are made in other ways. About 

 100 to 300 pounds are common applications for grain; 200 to 500 

 pounds for grass and corn; 500 to 1000 pounds for orchards; 300 

 to 1200 pounds for root crops and tubers; and 500 to 1200 pounds 

 for vegetables and truck crops. The fertilizers applied in the hill 

 or drill, and those used when heavy applications are made, are 

 generally mixed or complete fertilizers. 



