PRODUCTION AND AGRICULTURAL USE OF SODIUM NITRATE H 

 PROPER USE OF SODIUM NITRATE 



In dealing with a plant food, such as sodium nitrate, it must be 

 realized that there is also a certain amount of risk involved. Too 

 much nitrogen frequently delays maturity and also may force leaf 

 growth when a larger quantity of fruit is desirable. There is also the 

 danger of injuriDg the carrying qualities of certain fruits and vegetables. 

 This indicates that agriculture is an art as well as a science and that 

 the farmer and gardener should make a study of his own conditions 

 carefully before applying fertilizers. In handling concentrated 

 fertilizer salts, such as sodium nitrate, certain precautions are essential. 

 For example, in top dressing partly grown garden vegetables with 

 sodium nitrate, it is often desirable that it be mixed or diluted with 

 some inert material, such as dry sand or earth. In top dressing 

 lawns, a mixture of 1 part of sodium nitrate with 3 parts of cotton- 

 seed meal may be used. The cottonseed meal not only acts as a 

 diluent for the sodium nitrate but also contains slowly available 

 nitrogen in organic form which continues growth stimulation begun by 

 the sodium nitrate. 



USE IN SMALL GARDENS 



In making surface applications, sodium nitrate should not be 

 applied too near the growing plant, and it should not be allowed to 

 touch the foliage nor stems of the plant, especially when wet, as serious 

 burning of the tissue may result. After applying sodium nitrate, it is 

 advisable to work it in lightly. When the first rainfall comes the 

 material will be dissolved and distributed throughout the soil. Gen- 

 erally, it will be better to make several small applications than one 

 heavy dressing. Sodium nitrate is especially useful for early spring 

 applications to crops that need a prompt early start. It should seldom 

 be applied late in the growing season since maturing of the crop may 

 be delayed. Crops, such as lettuce, early cabbage, spinach, kale, 

 early tomatoes, and others are benefited by early applications of 

 sodium nitrate, especially those crops that are eaten raw or as salads, 

 and in general when rapid growth insuring succulence is desirable. It 

 is well to consider that sodium nitrate furnishes nitrogen alone, and it 

 may be desirable to use some phosphoric acid and potash in addition 

 for garden or truck crops. As a rule complete fertilizers for these 

 crops contain some sodium nitrate. 



METHODS OF APPLYING 



Often sodium nitrate is applied by hand, especially in small gardens, 

 but to treat large areas fertilizer distributors make application easier. 

 Special attachments to planters and cultivators are sometimes used. 

 Probably the use of nitrate in solutions or in irrigation water insures 

 the most even distribution. At present, this last method is largely 

 limited to greenhouse culture, although if desirable its use could be 

 extended. 



As the use of sodium nitrate varies so widely with the soil, the local- 

 ity, and the crop, it is advisable to write to the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture and to consult the county agent and the State 

 agricultural experiment station for specific information in special 

 cases. 



