OATS CLIMATE, SOILS, TILLAGE, USES 287 



cooler months of the year, at which time the nitrifying 

 processes in the soil are relatively inactive, the nitrogen 

 should be applied in a quickly soluble form and preferably 

 as a top-dressing about two months before harvest. As a 

 source of nitrogen for oats the relative value of nitrate 

 of soda applied as a top-dressing in the spring, and cotton- 

 seed meal, cotton seed, nitrate of soda and manure "incor- 

 porated with the soil on the date of sowing the seed" has 

 been investigated by the Alabama Station. Approximately 

 equal amounts of nitrogen were added to all plots "in the 

 presence of uniform amounts of acid phosphate:" 



TABLE 30. ALABAMA STATION RESULTS, WITH DIFFERENT SOURCES 

 OF NITROGEN FOR OATS l 



On poor soils from 100 to 200 pounds of acid phosphate 

 to the acre should be applied in addition to the nitrogenous 

 fertilizer. Potash is usually not needed for oats except 

 on very sandy, poor soils. On such soils muriate of potash 

 at the rate from 40 to 60 pounds an acre should be included 

 in the fertilizer mixture. All commercial fertilizers, with 

 the exception of nitrate of soda, are best applied with a 



1 Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta., Bui. 173, p. 135. 



