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Show Jfeed Fertilizer? 3ave Soil Tested ?or Correct Info - interest rates and re-'i re-'i findings point up the iiKe of regular soil sum- : xl testing. SOIL scientists say orus and potassium arc - nents that will stay in until used by the crop. : oo'l leach out with the I Putting more on than - rent crop needs is like money in the bank, but :it drawing interest. d out if you needtofer-rst," needtofer-rst," advises Reuel E. m. director, Utah State sity Soils and Crop ; Laboratory. '"There's buying more and put-on put-on just for insurance, tcost on money is too r that." B FARMERS have long ized the value of ap-phosophrus, ap-phosophrus, especially on their altalfa. Studies indicate indi-cate returns of from S20 to $50 per acre in added hay production produc-tion are achieved from applying ap-plying $5 worth of phosphate to soil deficient in this nutrient. Recent L'SU experiments on L'tah soils that tested low in potassium and were irrigated with low potassium water also revealed economic value in adding this nutrient. AS THE LAND is cropped, Lamborn expects to find more soils becoming deficient in potassium. This deficiency is seen now with more sandy soils and land irrigated from mountain streams. He advises that you regularly regular-ly have your soil tested to determine de-termine what the fertilizer needs are. In that way, greatest immediate benefit can be obtained from dollars spent for fertilizer. LAMBORN cautions those wanting their soil tested to first obtain instructions from the county extension office on taking tak-ing a proper soil sample. Following Fol-lowing those instructions will help assure that the sample will be representative of all the soil in the field. "Too many people," he said, "just grab a handful or shovelful of soil, put it in a plastic bag and take or send it in." It may only be representative representa-tive of one spot or of the sur-fact sur-fact two inches of soil where manure was put on last year. "IF VOL' want maximum value from your soil testing, you must try to take the samples sam-ples according to the instructions instruc-tions provided by the county agent and heed recommendations recommenda-tions from the soils laboratory," labora-tory," Lamborn added, kj |