11 



To illustrate this, if we utilize the information presented in the appendix 

 under Guide for Determining Rate of Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer to 

 Produce Regular Hay, in determining the most profitable rate of nitrogen 

 application for each of the 7 ranches, we find these rates for each ranch to be: 



Ranch Pounds of Nitrogen 



1 50 



2 „ 



3 _ 66 



4 _ 



5 108 



6 78 



7- — - . 48 



These rates assume that hay is valued at $20. 00 per ton and the cost of 

 buying and applying the nitrogen is $0. 15 per pound. When the calculated 

 curve is analyzed with the same procedure used, its most profitable rate is 

 50 pounds of available nitrogen. Therefore, two of the ranches (1 and 7) have 

 responses similar to the average, while two ranches' responses - those from 

 2 and 4 were so low that it would be unprofitable to apply any nitrogen. 

 Ranches 3, 5, and 6 could apply more nitrogen than we find for the calculated 

 curve. Any analysis based on the calculated yield of table 2 will be applicable 

 only to meadows whose response curve is essentially the same. In our sub- 

 sequent analysis, we use this calculated yield, but the reader is reminded 

 that the response curve for any meadow will deviate somewhat from these 

 production responses. 



More hay is produced per pound of nitrogen at the lower rates of applica- 

 tion. The increased yield associated with the first application of nitrogen is 

 greater than that associated with any later application. That is, it takes a 

 greater anaount of nitrogen to obtain a given increase in yield as more and 

 more nitrogen is applied. For instance, the first 40 pounds of nitrogen 

 increased the calculated yield 0. 51 ton per acre, but it took 120 pounds 

 (160 pounds total) of nitrogen to increase the yield an additional 0. 52 ton per 

 acre. 



One qualification of the calculated yield is that the average production of 

 hay from mountain meadows of Colorado in 1952, as reported by the State 

 Statistician, was 1 ton per acre. This average includes a considerable 

 acreage of low -producing bottom or swampland on which the practices under 

 consideration are not applicable . The average production of lands amenable 

 to the improved management practices under consideration is undoubtedly 

 higher than 1 ton per acre but probably not as high as the 2. 11 tons average 

 for the experimental group. This means that, when fertilizer is applied to 



