FERTILIZER TESTS ON AN IMPORTANT PASTURE SOIL 



TYPEi 



By A. B. Beaumont, Professor of Agronomy 



Introduction 



In a previous bulletin(l) there were reported results of top-dressing permanent 

 upland pastures with chemical fertilizers. Those experiments, conducted at or 

 near the Experiment Station in Amherst, showed that the upland pasture soils 

 tested responded to applications of lime, phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen. 

 Nitrogen produced the greatest absolute and relative increases in yield, and was 

 more effective when used with the other materials than when used alone. The 

 character of the vegetation was changed by the fertilizer. Weeds were eliminated 

 or markedly reduced. The presence of white clover was encouraged by the mineral 

 treatment, particular!}- lime and potash, and the grasses by nitrogen. 



In the present bulletin are given results of pasture experiments previously 

 unreported. The purpose was to ascertain to what extent results obtained at 

 Amherst were applicable to other soil types in the state. Inasmuch as nitrogen 

 fertilizers did not figure prominently in the original experimental plan on account 

 of the then comparatively high cost of nitrogen, it was decided to give this nu- 

 trient a more prominent place in the plan of these experiments. Accordingly, 

 treatments of a nitrogen fertilizer alone and in certain combinations were included. 

 As in the earlier experiments, Chilean nitrate of soda was the carrier of nitrogen 

 used. 



Location, Soil Types, and Flora of Experimental Fields 



In the fall of 1929 ten experimental fields were selected^ on Gloucester 

 stony fine sandy loam, on typical dairy farms of Worcester County. The areas 

 selected for the experiments had not been fertilized within recent years, so far 

 as the records of the owners or operators of the farms indicated. The experimental 

 fields were fairly well distributed over the county from north to south. Thus 

 the experiments were located on the most extensive pasture soil type in the most 

 extensive dairy district in Massachusetts. 



The soils of the Gloucester series are important as pasture soils in the State 

 as a whole, and together comprise 29 per cent of the land area of Worcester 

 County. These soils consist of glacial till derived from granitic rocks, have a 

 rolling to rough topography, good to excessive drainage, and good texture and 

 structure, but usually contain so many large stones and boulders as to make 

 tillage difficult. They are best adapted to pastures, orchards, or forests. See 

 Tables 1, 2, and 7 for physical and chemical characteristics, and Figure 1 for 



'Financial support of these experiments was given by the Chilean Nitrate of Soda Educational 

 Bureau, whose co-operation is here gratefully acknowledged. 



^Professor Ralph W. Donaldson, Extension Agronomist, assisted in selecting the sites of the 

 experimental fields. His co-operation in the execution of the field work and the interpretation of 

 results has been most helpful. 



