LIGHT COLORED FINE SANDY LOAM SOILS 
41 
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MANAGEMENT OF LIGHT COLORED FINE 
SANDY LOAM SOILS. 
The chemical analysis of the soils of this group shows them to 
be intermediate in chemical composition as well as in texture and 
value between the light colored heavy upland soils and the light 
sandy soil group. The total amount of phosphorus in the sur¬ 
face 8 inches is about 800 pounds per acre, of potassium about 
20,000 pounds, and of nitrogen from 1200 to 1600 pounds. 
Varying degrees of acidity are found on these soils and where 
best results are not obtained with clover and alfalfa, it will be 
advisable to apply 1500 to 2000 pounds of ground limestone per 
acre. 
In improving these soils it is necessary first to see that the 
supply of organic matter is increased. This may be accomplished 
by growing green manuring crops of which the legumes are 
best—such as clover, the second crop of which should be plowed 
under before ripening. The supply of stable manure is often 
too limited and mineral fertilizers in addition to green manuring 
crops will be found to increase crops in such cases. Phosphorus 
in the form of acid phosphate applied at the rate of 300 pounds 
per acre once in 3 or 4 years will supply the plant food needed. 
By applying phosphorus and lime any trouble with clover or 
alfalfa should be overcome and when once these crops are suc¬ 
cessfully growing the greatest difficulty in building up soil has 
been overcome. 
These soils are adapted to a variety of crops. Corn and small 
grains do very well but dry weather often injures crops such as 
grass and clover on these soils more than on the deeper and 
heavier soils. They are also adapted to potatoes and other truck 
and garden crops. A rotation which gives good results con¬ 
sists of small grain, followed by clover—the first crop for hay and 
the second plowed under. Next year corn or potatoes are grown. 
When the organic matter content has been sufficiently increased 
or when there is plenty of manure, the second clover crop can 
be cut for hay or ripened for seed. 
