Show Here Is Down Boiled-Down Education in Correct Use of All fill Fertilizers Soil Salt fertility Is ia the cornerstone on which profitable agriculture Is built It depends largely on the wise use of fertilizers Fertilizers are used to supplement the plan nutrients In the soil and to restore restore re red store the nutrients removed by cropping They are not however a substitute for tor other sound farm tarn farming farming ing practices There la is no relIable reliable reli rell able evidence to indicate that proper proper proper pro pro- per use of chemical fertilizers present present pre pre- sent Bent a hazard haunt to man or animal Many factors In addition to plant nutrients affect the growth of ot crops These Include varieties of ot cro crops grown Irrigation weed ired and Insect control crop rotation and timeliness of operations Proper Proper Pro Pro- per timing often otten makes makee the difference difference dif dlf dif dif- ference between n success and fall fait ure tire Farmers derive maximum benefits from fertilizers rs when they follow v good soil soli management practices I Good flood Soil Soli Practices 1 I Plants need 16 nutrients for I normal growth carbon hydrogen and oxygen are supplies by the theair theair theair air and make up 95 per pent cent nt of the theiry dry iry weight of plants The remaining remaining remaining remain remain- ing 13 elements come from the soil soli potassium calcium magnes magnel magnesium ium lum sulphur boron chlorine copper and molybdenum occur In Insufficient insufficient sufficient amounts in most Utah soils colls and in many Irrigation wa wad waters tern tera to satisfy crop needs Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitro Nitro- gen phosphorous Iron ron manganese mangan mangan- ese eso and zinc are deficient in many soils or when present exist in informs informs informs forms not available to plants Nitrogen Nitrogen Most Most crops require nitrogen fertilizer for high yields When they lack nitrogen crops grow slowly and have a a. light green color Low yield and poor quality result Legumes such as alfalfa and clover do not usually need nitrogen fertilizer because nitrogen Is obtained from the air through the bacteria in the nodules nodules no no- dules Jules on the roots Soil Soli recently plowed out of alfalfa or frequently probably has an adequate adequate adequate ate am amount of nitrogen and may not require nitrogen fertilizer Phosphorous Repeated Phosphorous Repeated applications lions of phosphorous fertilizer on alfalfa pasture sugar beets and vegetable crops have increased the phosphorous content of many soils In Utah There are still numerous numerous numerous num num- erous fields that need rather frequent frequent frequent fre fre- quent or heavy applications of phosphate Most Moot soils producing high yielding crops need applications applications applications high phosphate fertilizer at least once in each rotation The symptoms of phosphate deficiency delci- delci deficiency ency are a dark green color wl with purpling on the under side of the I leaves eaves in some crops Plants are stunted and arid yields are materially reduced Crop Requirements Phosphate deficiency In alfalfa is often mistaken for drought or damage from tram high salinity Crop yields are often otten reduced materi ma materially teri- teri ally before deficiency symptoms I 1 appear Phosphorous does not Improve improve improve im Im- prove with the soil moisture It tends to remain where it is is placed Many soils contain large amounts I of phosphorous which are in a aI I form not available to plants pants I I Crop requirements for for 1 ate differ Grasses some grains j i jand and corn require less phosphate Ithan I than other crops The requIre require 1 I ments of sugar beets potatoes vegetables alfalfa and other legumes le le- legumes gumes are high Potassium The Potassium The potassium content content content con con- tent of Utah soils Bolls is generally adequate for the requirements of at most crops In addition most moot atthe of at the tho irrigation waters contain large amounts Few instances of ot a definite deficiency have been found in the state It Is possible that some of at the sandy sons soils or orS S soils irrigated with water low in potassium may become deficient as the potassium is used by the crops When this occurs the deficiency deficiency de de- deficiency may be bo detected by soil or plant analysis Trace elements Iron elements Iron caused by a shortage of at supply of at available iron in the soil Is prevalent prevalent prevalent pre pre- valent in berries fruit truit trees and ornamentals throughout the state Usually iron appears only In perennials however other crops may be when grown crown under cold wet conditions Control methods for tor iron are meager and give only limited control or they are expensive and time consuming to apply Hound Found Manganese deficiencies are not common but they have been found sound in orchards s a scattered c cat a t t e ere r e d throughout the state In most moat ta- ta in instances n- n stances the trees have responded to applications of ot 2 to 4 pounds of manganese sulphate dug into soil under unde the spread of at branches No have been noted in infield infield field crops crop ZIno Zinc deficiencies have been found in about ten per cent of the orchards in Utah Field crops have shown no benefits from tram zinc applications even in to areas close to the orchards with severe vere deficiency de de- y symptoms It usually occurs in is sandy soils IOU low la lQ Ume lime and uel high ia iQ soluble phosphorous The deficiency can be corrected with the application of ot a dormant I I i I I spray consisting of 2 pounds of t tine zinc sulphate per one hundt hundred d gallons of water I IA A large number of high high- high duality fertilizers are available to the grower He Jie can purchase them as J single carriers or as mixed fer fer- j I t The law requires that any I fertilizer offered for eale sale In the i state must be labeled to show the percentages of total nitrogen I available phosphorous and water water- soluble potassium in the product In that tbt order I IThe The grower should consider the l I analysts analysis printed on the label and should buy fertilizer containing the plant nutrients needed by his crops traps Before Defore purchasing I fet er or make sure of at what is In the bag hag and the cost per pound of or I I plant nutrients Products vary I considerably in cost High analysis 1 i sis materials are usually the best beet I buy I I Nutrient Costs i iI I The cost per pound of available I nutrients can be calculated It if the j I price per pounds of fertilizer I I is is II divided by the per cent of the tho the nutrients In the bag For example 1 I It tr Treble Super Phosphate 45 0 I lis is per lbs Ibs divide divide 4 S by 45 The answer is nine cents centa Iper per pound of a available valla ble phosphate I i iThe I IThe i The decision on what fertilizer i ito I j to use can be based on past per per- j I experience the experience of of neighbors or recommendations I I I from flom fertilizer dealers agrIcultural agricultural agricultural I tural college personnel or farm I 1 I planners Every farm ia le a special cas case and the farmer must modify 1 I the genera recommendations to meet his conditions To decide what fertilizer to use uee consider 1 the crop grown during during dur- dur ing the past five years 2 amount of manure and the kind I and the amount of at commercial fertilizer applied during the past five years 3 crop to be grown 1 In the coming season I A laboratory soil test will give I further further Information on the I I or potash status of the soil It can also help identify I special problems related relaxed to salin salin- ity Information on procedures for collecting soil samples Is available available available avail avail- able from the county agent or at local daft conservation service personnel The most effective use of fertilizer I zero zer can be made if it the entire cropping system is taken into consideration con can and the fertilizer is le applied to the crops wf with the e highest highest high hIgh- est t needs |