pxiLuuI-R» aLhSKa* . - - * - - i —.. .. ■ -- —
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matunusku Valley Farmers Coopci -
ting association, for the purpose of giving news of the Association's work, probl a
and accomplishments. And news of interest._
Subscription by mall &1.75 yearly. Box $1.00Single Copy lOg? _
WHY and HOW to MIX FERTILIZER
The aim of fertilizing is to add to the soil those elements in which it is
deficient. Plants grown on a soil containing large amounts of phosphorus and pot
ash but little nitrogen will make only as much growth as the small amount of nitro
gen allows. To fertilize with more phosphorus or potash is like trading five dollar
bills for nickels. This is true no mutter which of the fertilizing elements is de
ficient.
The best starting point for determining which fertilizers to use is a chemical
analysis of the soil. Since this is not available to most farmers, it is well to
remaciber that plants themselves carefully analyze the soil and in their growth, r -
fleet its chemical composition. In a general way, heavy vine growth and late aatuil
Ly indicate a high nitrogen content, and other things being normal, weak stems and
aeluy maturity indicate a phosphorus deficiency, and poor root or tuber development
indicate a potash shortage. The opposite conditions are also true. In fact, from
the standpoint of available fertility, under properly controlled conditions, pi nts
re more reliable than test tubes. ,
Since oil soils contain amounts of e-jch of the elements necessary to pi nt
growth, and since .» deficiency of one llmltsj the utilization of the rest, the best
practice Is to add balanced mixed fertilizers In proportions complementary to the
soil .s determined by Analysis, previous experience, or observation of previous p1 t
growth. ' ; • •• t.
i
The formula desired Is generally expressed us:5-6-8 or 4-10-10, which meant
that It cont-lns so many pounds per cwt. or percent, of Nltrpgen (as ammonia (NH3)
Phosphorus (as phosphoric pentoxldc (Pg05), and Potash (us potassium oxide (KgO) 3
th-. order. ;; v
j ■*
n.s an example of how ,*ny mixed fertilizer cun be built up, take the formula
1-10-5. ttmmonlua nitrate carries 34$ Nitrogen’^ Four thirty-fourths of a s.ck or
1.8 oounds will carry 4 pounds of Nitrogen. Treble superphosphate should carry at
-cast 40$ Phosphorus. Ten fortieths of a sack: ,01* 25 pounds will carry 10 pounds of
phosphorus. Llther potassium chloride (muriate) or sulfate will contain 50$ potash.
Five fiftieths of a s^ck, or 10 pounds will carry 5 pounds of potash. The resulting
46.8 pounds will contain exactly the same fertilizing value us a hundred pounds, or
a sack, of 4-10-5 commercial fertilizer. \ •
In practice, It Is customary to vary the:- desired formula slightly so that even
sack lots may be used. Thus s»lx sacks of ammonium nitrate, thirteen sacks of super
phosphate, and five sacks of potassium, a total weight of 2400# properly 'nixed wou*
have « slightly greater fertilizing value than. 5000# of 4-10-5.
* * * * + *
The Valley Roads at the present are in bad condition. Many mud holes are
causing lots of grief. Every day cars and trucks, are being pulled thru them.
Do not travel unless absolutely necessary.' Khen you corse to town, shop to
last you for a number of days and shop for your neighbor. The frost will soon be
thru doing its damags and then the Road Commission will be able to repulr the road
so that they are passable.