OCR Text |
Show Makes Inquiries About Value of Sulphur on Land Lately there has been a number of farmers inquiring as to the value val-ue of sulphur to be applied to the land for the purpose of cutting down salt content as well as for getting rid of certain pests and inserts. There is no experimental data, so far as I know, that will show that sulphur is in any way useful as an insecticide. 1 have consulted entomologists regarding sulphur as an insecticide and they know of no bug or insect that it will kill, especially when applied to the land as it is reported to be done. There are certain beneficial values val-ues to be derived from the use of sulphur on the soil to aid in the removal of salt, but the chemical reactiion brought about by sulphur does in no way have any direct influence upon the soluable salt content of the soil. The process is rather long and in no case could any beneficial value be seen soon- ) er than 1 to 3 years. This office is interested essentially in seeing problems of the farmer solved but in experimental work thus far it would be difficult to recommend the uses of sulphur as a soil a-mendment a-mendment for removal of salt. Calcium Cal-cium sulphate (Ca S04) or what is know as common gypsum according ac-cording to experimental data has proven quite successful in treatment treat-ment of soil for removal of salt. It is suggested that any farmer desiring application of chemicals of this nature try gypsum. There is a large deposit of it west of Meadow at what is known as the White Mountain. It has been analyzed ana-lyzed and is 90 pure. Impurities are in no way harmful to the soil. Anyone desiring to use this material mat-erial can obtain it without any particular expense other than that of hauling it. It could be applied in varying amounts from 300 to 1000 lbs. per acre. It would be understood that gypsum, gyp-sum, sulphur and sulphuric acid are not of any direct value in the removal of salt from soil. These chemicals work to improve the soil structure thus enabling water to more easily penetrate the soil so that harmful salts will go into a solution and thus be carried off. Further information will be given upon request. Rodney G. Rickenback |