SOIL BUJI DING IN
ALASKA :
Carlonds of commercial fertilizer are ar
riving in Alaska during this time of the j
year rhich rill be added to the soil this
j'-oar to promote the grorth of various types
of plants. It is hoped that this ferti- I
lizer rill be used intelligently to imp move
the soil to rhich it is applied.
A for years ago a little pamphlet ras pub
lished by Don Irrin, then head of the Mat
a nuska Er"criment Station. A for copies
of these are available at the Extension
O'fice, but in case you are not able to
obtain one, here are somo pointers gleaned,
from its pages*
I
NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIOII—
THEIR FUNCTION IN PLANT JEVELOPHSNT -
Uitro en:(1) Stimulates plant grorth, (?)
A essential constituent of protcins.(3)
Used abundantly in green' parts of plants.
(4) An excess of its use causes rapid,soft
grorth of plants. (5) Delays florering,
fruiting and ripening. (6) It is excellent
for quick-groring, leafy crops.
Phosphorus: (1) F'und abundantly in pro
teins. (r'i Essential nart of buds, florersj
seeds and groring tips. (5) A~sists in
seed germination and root formation. (4) 1
Hastens plant development and food storage.
(.5) S'oeds up florering, seed formation one
maturity. (5) Aids in retaining nitrogen
and manures. (?) Abply on'grains, legumes,
vegetables, and root crops.
Potassium; (1) Assists in formation and
transportation of starches, sugars and
other carbohydrates in plants. (?) Produces
plump cells and stiff stalks in plants.
jf3) Promotes plant health and dis’ease re
resistance. (/) Ap excess in soil produces
v;oak, watery plants and causes late matur
Ity. (3) ripply on root crops to induce ^
food storage qualitites and hardening.
0-gdnic natter composed of carbon, hydro
gen, nitrogen, and oxygen constitutes 95/S
of all plant tissuo,, TThon plants are
burned these elemonts pass off as gaso§»
The ash remaining is comprdsod of soda,
iron, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium,cal
cium, and silicon.
In addition to the three principal elements
necessary for plant growth, scvcrll other
elements are reciuirod in small quantifies-.
None of these elements arc interchange-abj
and are usually found in soils in suffici
quantities for plant development.
Soil is the first essential in agriculturor
It is the most important nart of a fain .-3'
working capital. If a soil is too acid
too alkaline, crops will not grow noniv. . ./*
If tho soil lacks any one of the nocee .?■*
plant food elements the crop can nevoi ’ 1w
a maximum yield. A soil test is a sin.■ j
moans of determining the approximate ate 1 ‘ s
of tho principal plant food elements th h.
aro in the soil. It is crop insurance
and therefore good, business. Soils- 2 j.1pj
machinery, wear out and the deficient; parts
must be replaced if the soil is to porf> mi
at its best in crop production. A shortage
of one plant food elonent may loror the
crop yield as much as 50%, Test the coil;
add the elements that aro deficient; give
the soil an opportunity to yield at its
maximum.
Arrangements arc being made this year to
test soils for the farmers. Before you
apply your fertilizer, it is rise to have
your soil tostejd ;so that you will add the
right amount. The Eirtension -Service is
working ojS this project this year with the
farriers of the Valley.
o u
'\
ER
% OFF ON
DURING
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\
V )
—1
I
ALL
THE
r
C
THRU
A P R i L
WE ARE GRATEFUL F OR " YOUR PATRONAGE THIS YEAR
ANC WE LOOK FORWARD. TO A NEW YEAR OF
EVEN GREATER SERVICE TO YOU.