fertilizer experiments with sugar beets. 
21 
# 
Although nitrogen from nitrate of soda has been effective in in¬ 
creasing the yield, no sufficient comparaive tests have been made 
as to the effect of nitrogen from the less soluble organic fertilizers 
such as dried blood, tankage, or cottonseed meal. It is probable that 
the same amount of nitrogen from those sources would be less effective 
although this is offset to some extent by the fact that their cost is 
less and more could be used. 
WHERE AND HOW TO USE NITRATE OF SODA 
The Soil. —It is probable that nitrate of soda could not be used 
profitably on soil which is in condition to produce close to the maxi¬ 
mum yields of the particular locality without manures or fertilizers. 
It also must be understood that fertilizers, no matter how effective, 
will never take the place of proper preparation of the soil and care of 
the crop. It is absolutely necessary that the soil be in good physical 
condition in order to enable plants to use the plant food therein, or 
added to it. 
For our conditions the most satisfactory practice would probably 
be to use nitrate of soda along with a light coating of manure. The 
maximum effect of both would be secured in this way. 
Depending upon conditions it will require a yield of sugar beets 
of from six to ten tons or more to cover cost of production. No land 
is likely to be planted to sugar beets which will not produce that 
much. The high average yields are in the neighborhood of twenty 
tons per acre. The profitable application of nitrogenous fertilizers 
then will probably be on soils which, without manure or fertilizers, 
will range in yield from ten to fifteen tons per acre. 
ANY INJURIOUS EFFECTS OF NITRATE 
The Beet. —Our Colorado soils and climate have shown an ability 
to produce a high quality of beet under good average conditions. 
The quality of the beet is also largely controlled by the proper irri¬ 
gation. Manures are chiefly valuable for the large amount of nitrogen 
they contain, besides the humus, and it has been shown that even ex¬ 
cessive quantities of manure will lower the sugar content only from 
one to two per cent, and purity two to four per cent. Excessive 
quantities of nitrate of soda will do the same, but neither is recom¬ 
mended. The presence of more active nitrogen than the plants can 
use lessens the yield. 
It might be reasonable that as active nitrogen acts as a stimu¬ 
lant it will induce the plants to absorb so much of the other available 
elements in the increased crop, that there would be none left over 
for the next crop. Our soils contain ample supplies of both potash 
and phosphoric acid held in reserve, which are constantly being liber¬ 
ated or made available in the soil, and of lime we have something to 
spare. • 
It is claimed that nitrate of soda has a tendency to make the soil 
more compact or less easily workable. Even if such is the case, and 
it has not been observed in our experiments, it is difficult to see how 
