108 Barn and Field Experiments in 1916 



of a lighter seeding. In each year we have noted that the plots 

 with 20 pecks per acre were more likely to lodge than the others. 

 It is expected that these experiments will be repeated next 

 year since it is only from the average yields over a period of 

 years that definite conclusions can be drawn. 



EFFECT OF OMITTING POTASH FERTILIZATION 

 UPON THE OAT CROP. 



Owing to the shortage of potash caused by the war it is 

 very important to have as much information as possible re- 

 garding the value of this element for various crops. In 1915 

 the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station began a seties 

 of experiments at Aroostook Farm with the object of determin- 

 ing the value of potash for potatoes. In general these results 

 have shown that there is sufficient available potash in Aroos- 

 took soils to mature a profitable crop of potatoes. Neverthe- 

 less the addition of relatively small amounts of potash has re- 

 sulted in a marked increase in yield. 



In order to obtain some information relative to the value 

 of potash for oats two series of experiments were carried on at 

 A.roostook Farm this year. In each series duplicate 1-40 acre 

 plots of oats were grown with 5 different mixtures of fertilizer 

 varying in potash from to 8 per cent. Each mixture con- 

 tained 4 per cent of nitrogen and 8 per cent available phosphor- 

 ic acid. The fertilizer was broadcasted before seeding at the 

 rate of 500 pounds per acre. The seed used was of the variety 

 known as Maine 340, an oat bred by the Maine Agricultural 

 Experiment Station and regarded as one of the best varieties 

 so far obtained for Maine. Series No. 1 was grown on land 

 which was in potatoes without potash in 1915 and Series 2 

 was on land which had potatoes with 7 per cent potash in 1915. 



The yields are given in the tables that follow. 



