ACTION OP MANGANESE IN SOILS. 5 



recent l work with pot experiments, manganese sulphate increased 

 the yield of peas, barley, and radish. Oats were increased 9.5 per 

 cent with 60 kilos per hectare. Rape, lupine, and alfalfa were also 

 stimulated. The best results were obtained by using 30 to 50 kilos 

 of the dried sulphate per hectare. Quantities as great as 100 kilos 

 gave less favorable results. 



The work of N. Strampelli, 2 G. Salomoni, 3 G. Bellini, 4 G. Paris, 5 

 and others, has demonstrated the beneficial action of the various 

 manganese compounds on wheat and other cereals when used, alone 

 and in combination with general fertilizers, in small amounts not 

 exceeding 50 kilos per hectare. Bernardini 6 showed that consider- 

 able increases were obtained in the yield of wheat and corn by the 

 use of manganese chloride. 



Sutherst 7 working with corn in pots secured beneficial results from 

 the use of manganese sulphate, chloride, and dioxide. The dioxide 

 was more stimulating than the other forms used. In v. Feilitzen's 8 

 work with oats on a poor moor soil, to which a general fertilizer was 

 added, manganese sulphate used at the rate of 10 kilos per hectare 

 had no beneficial effects. 



Rousset 9 reports some experiments made by Stoklasa, with beets, 

 who secured an increase in yield by an addition of manganese salts. 

 Gregoire, Hendrick, and Carpiaux 10 applying manganese sulphate 

 found a decrease in yield, but the sugar content of the beets was 

 higher. The amounts used varied from 10 to 50 kilos per hectare. 



Pfeiffer and Blanck " conducted some pot and field experiments 

 with oats and beets in which they secured an increased yield, using 

 manganese sulphate, carbonate, and nitrate. Andoward 12 found that 

 manganese carbonate applied at the rate of 270 pounds per acre 

 increased the yield of wheat and kidney beans and decreased the 

 yield of carrots and potatoes. 



A number of other experiments with manganese salts have been 

 made. Many of these tests have proved beneficial, while a great 

 many other experimenters have secured negative results. The 

 results seem to vary according to the circumstances. Not only the 

 mode of application but the manures used influence the results. 



i Bertrand, G., Manganese as a catalytic fertilizer. Orig. Com. 8th Intern. Congr. Appl. Chem., 15, 

 39(1912). 



s Atti del VI Congresso international di chimica applicata., 6, 14 (1907). 



8 Manganese elo voiluppo delle piante. Staz. sper. agr. Ital., 40, 97 (1907). 



« Agricoltura Senese, 31,14. (1907.) 



* Giornale di Viticollura edi Euologia, 14, No. 1 (1906). 



8 Bernardini, Funzione del manganese nella concimazione. Staz. sper. agr. Ital., 43, 217 (1910). 



7 Sutherst, M., Manganese compounds as fertilizer for maize. Transvaal Agr. Jour., 6, 437 (1908). 



8 v. Feilitzen, Stimulating effect of manganese salts on crops. Jour. Landw., 55, 289 (1907). 



9 Kousset, An. Sci. Agron., 3. Ser. 4. 11,81(1909). 



i° Gregoire, Hendrick and Carpiaux, Bui. Agr. (Brussels), 23, 388 and 764 (1907.) 

 11 Pfeiffer and Blanck, Beitrag zur Frage fiber die Wirkung des Mangans auf das Pflanzenwachstum. 

 Landw. Vers. Sta., 77, 33 (1912). 

 is Andoward, A. and P., Action des engrais de manganese sur la vegetation. L'Engrais, 26,915(1911). 



