Notes on a i^’ariuriai Trial of well 
rottui compost as against fresh 
green umtttT. 
1. A 4 ?riculturi 8 ts agree that incorporation of green 
material is a a luna principle for tiiaintaining the soil’s stock 
of organic rnatter. Howevez', in another aspect there is a 
controversy because it is also nrioryn thr.t the rotting of pure 
green manure in the soil oeliiom proceeds under favourable 
oondltione due to the ratio of carbon -nitrogen of plants in 
favour of the former, eo that the direct Incorporation may 
actually result in a shor'^age of nvaiiabie nitrogen. Very little 
Is known about this subject, aapecially in the tropics. 
2. This experiment was conducted with a view to deter- 
mining: 
(a) whether direct incorporation of fresh vegetable 
matter is manurially as useful as the well- 
preps'^od and decayed ma'^e^’ial in garden compost; 
(b) the behaviour and comparative vigour of plants in 
different treatments. 
3* The exf:ieri»aeii tal site fairly open and ^he soil 
texture of a sandy loam. In its past histoi’y it had carried 
a crop of Sweet Potatoes and had been manured with Christmas 
Island^ phosphate. During the exneriment drainage ..im not quite 
satisfactory, because of the high-water table, and on certain 
occasions, particularly after heavy ralno, the beds suffered 
from wet conditions. The pathways remained flooded for a^xne 
hours. It should be noted that in Maize culture wetneas is a 
limitiXig factor, noted tin causing lo// vigour, yellowing, dwarf- 
ing aiid soiaetiuiea the complete destruction of the plants. 
U. Three high beds to facilitate drainage ana separated 
by wivie paths were formed. ij*r>ch bed measured epproxiiuctely 
22* long and 3* wide. Tney were prepr^red, m^jnured and seeds 
immediately sown on the satae day. Vor nn experiiaent of this 
nature it was considered desirable to select a crop that would 
thrive rapidly and mature between 2^-3 months (the estimated 
length of tirae a ccxnpost heap is reatly for use after prepHration). 
Maize was chosen as an ideal crop. The assortment of fresh 
seeds were sown in pockets alternately throughout. The proved 
optimum planting distaxice for thiis crop was adopted (24** apart 
in the row and 18^* between rows). There were originally 17 
plants in each bed after thinning and selection. There were a 
few casualties in each bed; these occurred In the advanced 
stage of the plants’ develoixaent . All succumbed to a disease 
of rotting- of the growing tip, 
5. Hereunder tabulated is the scheme of manurial treat- 
This bed received 30 large garden 
baskets of well prepared and decayed 
garden oevnpost. It should be mentioned 
that in the nlariufac‘^ure of this oojripost, 
application of prawj* sweepings and a 
small quantity of ash was necessary 
to accelerate microbiolor!;ical decom- 
position. 
This bed I'coclvod direct application 
of 10 bas.iets of fresh green vegetable 
natter. I'or experif.iental purposes here, 
it was convenient to use fresh green 
grass clippings. Grass ulipplx^s are 
lino an to bo faii-ly rich in nitrogen. 
^ ••• 
Bed No. 1 'i’reatment A: 
Bed No. 2 Treatment B; 
prt?/ 2 > 
f.' 
