Concentrated fertilizers for potatoes on three important soil types

Summary

Cooperative field studies to determine the comparative effectiveness of ordinary-, double-, and treble-strength fertilizer mixtures for potatoes were conducted in Maine, on Caribou loam; in Pennsylvania, on Berks shale loam, and in Virginia on Norfolk sandy loam. These are widely separated sections and afford a marked diversity of soil types and climatic conditions.

The general trend of the results shows very little difference in the matter of yields no matter whether ordinary-, double-, or treblestrength-fertilizer was applied.

It was found that the three fertilizer concentrations possessed a satisfactory mechanical condition after having stood for several months. It is recognized that in the present work the fertilizer batches were small and it by no means follows that a similar result would attend large-scale factory operations where large piles of fertilizer are involved. The results of investigational work and factory research during recent years have done a great deal to surmount the difficulties resulting from poor mechanical condition, so that it is now practicable to use concentrated fertilizers to better advantage than ever before.

One phase of the field work in Maine and Virginia involved the use of fertilizer distributors as found on the different farms. In all cases, but one, no difficulty was experienced in getting the machines properly set to apply the different rates of application in an even fashion. The exception was one of the older types of potato planters without sufficiently refined adjustments. A later type of the same make has been used with entire satisfaction, indicating that it is feasible to so modify potato fertilizer distributing machinery that even concentrated fertilizer may be applied uniformly and at the desired rates of application.