Show ATOMS AND AGRICULTURE Isotope To Help Farm Income Not only did the atomic bomb fX- fX ex explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki reveal the presence of a new and terrible war weapon but they also may have ushered in an era of greater progress and prosperity for forthe forthe forthe the American farmer Researchers at Oregon State col col- college college college lege in Corvallis currently are con con- conducting conducting conducting ducting experiments which they be be- believe believe believe lieve may add millions of dollars I worth of produce to t the nations nation's yield In agricultural products Key to that expanded production is the radioactive isotope a prod by byproduct of nuclear fission which Is be be- being being being ing used in experiments that reach into every field of natural science But at Oregon State college and I Washington State college at Pullman Pull Pull- Pullman Pullman man major experimental emphasis is placed on agriculture Investigation of the application of the atom to agriculture has been given impetus by the estimate of William W. W Waymack member of the atomic energy commission and Des Moines Iowa newspaper publisher pub pub- publisher publisher lisher that radioactive isotopes may may maybe maybe be instrumental in increasing farm production in the U. U S. S by mil mul- million million mullion lion dollars in one year Over a period pe pe- period period of 10 years such an increase would pay for the two billion dol dol- dollars dollars dollars lars spent on developing atomic energy during the war I Value of the isotope to agricultural a agricultural gri cul- cul tural research is similar to that I i in other fields of research Its radio radio- radioactivity radioactivity radioactivity activity permits its use as a tracer through the organisms of plants and animals Applied in fertilizers to t the soil its progress can be traced tx ced inthe in inthe inthe the living plant providing a me me- medium medium medium for the understanding of plant life ati an an nutrition never before avail avail- able Several Isotopes are being used to study soil chemistry of potash in the hope of finding more effective effective effective tive ways of furnishing nutrition to crops Another is being utilized to study the effects of application of lime to the soil Still other areas of research may yield important knowledge on on absorption by grain of phosphate and chlorine from the earth I |