Better harvests from soil tests

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Title: Better harvests from soil tests
extracted text: DECEMBER, 1952 27 Better Harvests from Soil Tests by Hadley Read From Farm Quarterly Courtesy of USIS Farmers in the United States, par ticularly those in the midwestern agricultural State of Illinois, are re ceiving more practical help ond are getting better horvests every year as a result of scientific soil tests carried out by soil specialists. Since the Illinois system of soil testing is one of the oldest and best in the United States, a description of how it funcions will illustrate how the procedure can be of help to formers every where. The State of Illinois now has soil testing laboratories, owned and fin anced by the farmers they serve, in more than four-fifths of its coun ties. Most of the remaining counties are served by the existing laboratories. The first country laboratory was es tablished in 1944. Before that time, soil scientists of the College of Agri culture of the University of Illinois had conducted extensive soil-testing experiments and had amassed infor mation for the use of farmers for mony years. Since 1944, some 4,000,000 acres of Illinois form land hove been tested to determine needs for limestone, phosphate, and potash. In addition, the University's laboiotory, which guides the soil-testing program, has tested on additional 500,000 acres. These tests have resulted in a wellrounded program which is recom mended to formers interested in in creasing the productivity of their land. This "Illinois System of Permanent Soil Fertility" emphasizes five steps, the first of which is the actual test ing of all fields to determine their needs for lime, phosphate, and potash. There has not yet been developed a soil test for nitrogen which can be interpreted practically. The second step, naturally, is the application of the minerals needed in the amounts indicated by results of the test. A third step is the growing of clover, alfolfa, or other legumes' ond legume-grass combinations on each field regularly to supply nitrogen ond organic matter ond to help con trol erosion. Returning to the land the fertility contained in manure, straw, cornstalks, and other crop rub bish to supply organic motter and to conserve plant food is the fourth step. The fifth step is erosion control on 28 THE CROSS sloping land by crop rototion, contour plowing, terracing, strip cropping, ond other practices designed to hold the fertility of the soil. In essence the Illinois program is designed to increase and maintain the fertility of the whole top soil. It is successful because it has been developed by practical reseorch men working directly with the farmer. Thus, the program is one which the former can use and of which he can readily determine the volue to his own lond. "No one person can take credit for the system in Illinois," soys Dr. W. L. Burlington of the University of Illinois. "Certainly the foundation was laid down by Cyril G. Hopkins at the beginning of the century. In those years Hopkins traveled all over the State of Illinois urging farmers to apply limestone and rock phosphate to their depleted soils. Since Hop kins' time we have emphasized the need for feeding the soil and letting the soil feed the crop." The experience of Merlin Shike, a young former who had his soil tested in 1946, shows how the soil fertility program functions. Mr. Shike hod been getting yields below what he thought he should from his fields. After the soil test was made and he had begun to put into use the pro gram recommended for his farm, his yields increased, some more than 100 percent. The first step in the test is for the farmer or a representative of the soil-testing laboratory to take samples of the earth. These samples are col lected from various spots so thot all areas of a field will be represented. The ground is scraped clean of sur face litter and several bits of earth are collected ond mixed thoroughly^ Usually 1 I samples are taken for 0 40-acre farm. Mr. Shike owns 167 acres, so 45 samples were token from his form. The samples of earth are tested by experienced and qualified soil tech nicians, and the results of the tests are checked. Then maps of the farm are prepared. Mr. Shike received three maps, each showing needs of his land for one of the fertilizing minerals. In accordance with the showings of his maps as to the amounts of each fertilizer needed he rearranged his farm into eight fields and established an eight-year rota tion plan. Under the rotation pion some of his fields are being planted to legumes each year and he has scheduled the application of lime stone, rock phosphate, and potash to the areas needing them so that the best results consistent with his needs con be obtained. In general, the application of limestone or rock phos phate provides the soil with material which it will use for a perod of 10 years. In making recommendations for the use of fertilizer the soil scientist, of course, takes into con sideration recent applications which may have been made. Cost of making soil tests is mode rate particularly in the county labora tories owned by the farmers them selves. Usually this cost is more than offset by the first year's in DECEMBER, 1952 29 creased yield when the recommenda tions of the soil tester ond the coun ty extension agent or farm advisor ore followed. Cost of the fertilizers is, of course, greater, but increased yields soon offset this cost also. The Illinois program has been out standingly successful. While much of the informational materiol collected by the University of Illinois would not be applicable to soils in other latitudes and countries, nevertheless the work done there con be used as a guide by agriculturists anywhere. The first necessity for a successful soil-testing program is the collection of information about soil types and histories in the area where such a program is to be started. Then test ing facilities must be installed. Some of the tests ore quite simple, but all need to be supervised by thoroughly competent and trained technicians who con turn the results of their testing into practical plans for soil improvement. The increasing use of soil-testing practices by farmers interested both in improving their crops ond in main taining the fertility of their farm londs is evidence that the tests, when fol lowed by constructive action, ore of great value. Pioneers of soil testing look forward to a day when every former, no matter where his land may be; will be able to have such service. SONG OF THE STUBBORN Christmas is a stable For shepherds ond their kin; We're wise ond rich and cultured— We won't go in. Christmas is a Saviour Fair of face ond limb. Whose end will be a gibbet— We don't need Him. Christmos is o doorway For oil who, bending low, Would find the happy kingdom— Heaven?—We won't go. L. F. Hyland
Date: 1952
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