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Show FERTILIZING VALUE OF STRAW Although tho following observations observa-tions fcbout straw as a fertilizer were Intended for farmers of Nctcaska, tho great central truth they contain np-ply np-ply as woll to Utah or any other state. Read what this writer says about the subject: Straw has too much fertilizing valuoto allow It to rot down In piles and obstruction In fields and yardB, or to bo wantonly burned. It Is needed in tho boII to restore the disappearing dis-appearing organic matter In Nebraska Nebras-ka tho conditioning effect of straw on the soil Is probably of greater valuo than plant food It carries. This does not lessen tho Importance of returning straw and other crop residues resi-dues to tho Innd, however, for the soil cannot produco well when out ot condition, no matter how much plant food It may contain. It Is becoming common to attribute to straw a fertilizing value of $2.30 a ton. That figure Is based upon the amount of tho plant food elements It contains, calculated at market prices. Counting tho nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium In wheat straw at tho prices at which they sell In tho fertilizer fer-tilizer market, wheat straw Is worth $2.29 a ton tor the amount of thoso p'nnt food elements It carries. On the same basis a ton of oat straw 1b worth $3.45 a ton. Thnt Is not tho way Jthe fertilizing valuo of straw should bo figured In this state however. Nebraska agricultural agri-cultural Bolls aro well supplied with phosphorous. Purchasing thoso elements ele-ments at market prices and adding them to the soil does not bring profitable profit-able returns. This means that In Nebraska Ne-braska these plant foods are not worth what they sell for In tho fertilizer ferti-lizer market. The soils of the majority of Nebras ka farms need raoro nitrogen but It Is doubtful whether It should bo figured fig-ured at 15 cents a pound when wo can secure It from tho air for nothing noth-ing through nlfalfa and other legumes. le-gumes. I would not attempt to estimate esti-mate the vnluo of straw to Nebraska soils for tho amount of plant food elements It carries. As wo have all ready said, the greatest value of straw to Nebraska soils is as a, conditioner, a source of organic matter. Organic matter, aside from the plant"fobd It furnishes, has, two functions func-tions in tho soil The first physical. ICvery observing farmer knows that n soil well stocked with organic matter decaying vegetable mold, does) not be como bo sticky when wet or so hard and sione-llko when dry as tho, soil not so we'l supplied with organic mat tnr Tho effect of organic matter in making a soil friable and keeping It in good condition is very notlceab'e In new Innd a fow years from pralrlo sod, In fields that hrvo grown alfalfa clover cr other legumes, and where straw, mnnuro or other similar materials mater-ials havo been spread. A soil well stocked wlh organic matter Is more congenial homo for plants; and con sequently under averago conditions, produces better crops. Moro over, or-gan'c or-gan'c matter acts as a spongo and Increases In-creases the capacity of tho soil to hold water. Tho other function of organic matter mat-ter In the noil Is chomicnl. As organic organ-ic matter decay, acids aro formed and dissolve p'ant food from them. Without organic mntter tho mineral nttack tho rocky particles of tho soil plant food In the soil remains locked up. Organic matter Is tho key that unlocks tho reserves of mineral plant food In tho soil and makes them avail able to crops. It will bo seen from this that nny-thing nny-thing which ndds organic matter to the so'l, such as straw or manure, In creases tho ability of tho soil to produce pro-duce crops out of proportion to tho actual amount of plant food added. Tho orgnnlc matter makes tho soil a better homo for plants, and sets free plant food from tho soli Itself. Theso Indirect or conditioning effects are a good deal Uko tho effects of certain fru'.ts In tho human diet that aro eaten not so much for their food valuo as for tholr henlthfulness. Tho amount of plant food returned to tho soil In straw Is not to bo entirely en-tirely overlooked, but for Nobraska soils, wo bellove, Btraw has a much greater valuo ns a conditioner than as a source of plant food for crops. Very llke'y this conditioning value runs higher tlinn $2. GO a ton; wo do not know and It would bo hard to determine At all events overy observing ob-serving farmer knows that the soil on tho majority of Nebraska farms Is get ting to n point whero it needs more organic matter. With tho condition beforo us, It Is poor policy to wnBto or burn straw. It should bo converted Into mnnuro or spread directly back on tho Innd from which it enmo. S. D. Farmer. |
