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Show MORE FROM YOUR FERTILIZER DOLLAR THROUGH SOIL TESTING by PROSPER PLENTY Watch Out for Soil "Cure Alls by Dr. Paul Christensen Utah State University Extension Soil Conservationist Be wary of soil and crop "cure alls". They're expensive and don't work the way the sellers would lead you to believe. Fortunately, the needs of Utah field crops normally nor-mally can be satisfied with nitrogen nitro-gen and phosphate. Trace elements iron and zinc are needed in some areas of the state, particularly on some fruit trees and ornamentals. These require specific chemicals and treatments. Wholesale application applica-tion of trace elements in fertilizer isn't recommended. Various soil amendments, organic organ-ic products, and "soil conditioners'' are frequently offered the farmer. They come and go with each season. sea-son. We have investigated more than fifteen questionable products of this type in the past fv.-w years. How can you recognize such products pro-ducts of questionable value? Here are the main points to look for: 1. Promoters usually cl :m the product contains a secret, unknown un-known ingredient with almost magical powers. 2. They proclaim that their product pro-duct results come from a newly new-ly discovered secret principle some "mysterious force" like magnetism, catalytic action, ac-tion, enzymatic process, activation, acti-vation, or the like. 3. The sales talk is often filled with scientific terms taken out of context. A scientist may be quoted to give the product a legitimate sound, but the statement is entirely out of context and uses half truths to present a false story. Tests by expeiiment stations are played down as impractical impracti-cal or promoters say the product pro-duct is so new that researchers research-ers have not had time to work on it. Often research people are described as biased and unwilling to work on the product. pro-duct. Testimonials occupy a major part of thd sales program. (Remember, it's possible to obtain testimonial.; on almost any product.) The product is first sold to a 4. erfilize Your Rotation Lands by Dr. Paul D. Christensen Fertilizers will return more dollars dol-lars to you if you fit them into a well managed crop rotation plan The following are some common; practices used in Utah and fertili zer recommendations to fit them ALFALFA, CASH CHOP ROTATION Do you rotate alfalfa, small grain and cash crops? If so. the rule to follow is fertilize the cash crops to satisfy their needs. Cash crops usually require high levels of both nitrogen and phosphate, If you adequately meet the ferti lizer needs of your cash crops, then the grain and the alfalfa that fol low will need little or no extra fertilizer. For example, on sugar beets we usually recommend approximately 75 to 100 pounds of nitrogen and 75 to 100 pounds of available phos phate per acre. The beet crop will not use all of this fertilizer. Rela tively large amounts of fertilizer will be left in the soil for the grain that follows in the rotation. Therefore, There-fore, no fertilizer will need to be applied on the grain and likely little or none will be required on the alfalfa. For this reason, concentrate con-centrate your fertilizer applications on your cash crops. ALFALFA. CORN, AND SMALL GRAIN ROTATION If your rotation involves alfalfa corn, and a small grain, remember that the alfalfa has the greatest need for phosphate. Maintain an adequate supply for the alfalfa by adding 75 to 100 pounds of avail able phosphate once every three or four years. If corn follows the alfalfa, al-falfa, you will have an adequate carry-over level of phosphate in the soil for the corn. Following auaita, the nitrogen supply in the few reputable dealers and far mers. They are "used" by the promoters to convey an idea; of importance and value (This technique has been used by unscrupulous persons for years.) Such products are seldom entire ly worthless, but they are often worth very little, certainly nowhere near what they cost. by for Soil Sampling Suggestions: Here are five suggestions County Agent Marven Ogden taking accurate soil samples which can mean better use of fertilizer and more profits per acre for you: (1) Divide each field into uni form areas, paying special atten tion to differences in slope, erosion, crop growth and yield. The soil in each area should have the same texture, cropping history and ferti lizer treatment. (2) When you sample an area, scrape away the surface litter and take a core six inches deep from the surface soil. (3) On permanent pastures and! sod areas, sample only three inches deep. (4) Repeat this procedure in 1C to 15 places in the uniform area. Mix the soil in the pail and fill a pint container with the mixture. (5) Don't sample unusual areas such as dead furrows, low spots or terraces. Such a procedure will give you a composite sample representing all sections of the field. This wil help the soil testing laboratory give you an accurate report on MILLARD COUNTY CHRONICLE FARM SECTION. THURS.. MAR. 25 your land's needs for nutrients. Soil samples can be taken any time the ground isn't frozen. To take a soil sample, you need a container and information sheet. a sampling tube or space and a clean pail. You can get the container con-tainer and information from your county agent, fertilizer dealer or the vocational agriculture teacher. SHOP AT HOME SHOP THE ADVERTISERS WITH ADVERTISING HELPS YOU UYI BETTER fob IESS FARMERS . . . SPECIAL . . . ! ! Western White o n Paint $3.75 a gallon QkuAclt & San soil will be fairly high. Whether or not it will pay to apply more on the corn will depend on the soil and moisture situation. If you have adequate moisture conditions, we generally recommend that you ap ply approximately 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre on the corn. The small grain that follows will need no extra fertilizer. NITROGEN & MOISTURE RELATIONSHIPS The benefit you get from nitro gen on corn and small grains is related directly to the adequacy of the moisture supply in the soil throughout the growing season. Corn responds especially well. If you maintain a high level of moiS' ture throughout the growing sea son, you may get large yield increases in-creases by applying nitrogen ferti lizer. In this situation you can be nefit by using large amounts to good advantage as high as 100 to 200 pounds per acre on years not immediately following alfalfa. On the other hand, if your moisture mois-ture supply varies and is limited you will be better off financially' if you apply lesser amounts of nit rogen fertilizer. If your corn follows alfalfa where moisture is quite limited, li-mited, don't plan to apply much, if any, nitrogen fertilizer on it. Small grains present another problem. If you use too much fertl lizer, your grain may lodge. Therefore, There-fore, we advise: apply nitrogen moderately. If small grains follow highly fertilized row crops or il- falfa in your rotation, we generally don't advise adding any nitrogen fertilizer. Stated briefly in conclusion here are the three rules for you In fer tilizing your rotation: 1. Consider your entire rotation when applying fertilizer and satis fy first the fertilizer needs of the crops which have the highest re quirements. 2. Consider your moisture supply when fertilizing corn. If you have adequate moisture throughout the growing season, you can apply large amounts of nitrogen to good advantage. But, if moisture levels are low or irrigations are infre quent, use less nitrogen. 3. Finally, remember: nitrogen is for grasses, small grains, corn, and fn:h frnnQ" nhftsnhat is fnr alfalfa ( i il if A Winning) Combination! 1. YOUR FERTILIZER DEALER 2. SOIL ANALYSIS 3. ANCHOR FERTILIZERS Your bulk blending fertilizer dealer . . . soil analysis . . . and Anchor Brand Fertilizers are a winning combination com-bination when it comes to greater crop yields. "Actual field testing" has proved that a baianced fertility program boosts yields . . . that soil sampling and testing are necessary for balanced soil fertility . . . and that for best yield results, fertilizer, like medicine, must be properly blended. See your Anchor Fertilizer dealer socn for the fertilizer combination best suited to YOUR soil and YOUR crop requirements. Fertilizers SOLD BY STAUFFER CHEMICAL COVPANy. JtRTlLiZER DIVISION MORRISON & COMPANY DELTA PHONE S691 lnrf'iiil'Wfli J (Clovers and cash crops. m, 1 I r |
