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MAIN LIBRARY.AGRiCULTURE

DEPT.

t^'

Are Soils Containing Less than 0.02 % SO3 Benefited
by Special Manuring with Sulphates?

BY

G. DAIKUHARA.

Soils containing less than 0.02 % SO3 are rather frequent and since
such soils occur in Japan, it has some value to decide whether sulphates
would considerably increase the yields by furnishing easily assimilable
sulphur for protein formation. I selected for my test three soils which gave
the following numbers on analysis^^ :

CaO.

MgO.

P3O.V

SOj.

I.

0.153 %

0.092 %

0.025 %

0.016 %

II.

0.028 „

0.118 „

C.022 „

0.013 „

III.

C-093 ,.

0.035 "

0.017 '•

0.010 „

No. I came .from Sakamura in Hiroshima Prefecture and was a sandy
loam ; No. II came also from Heira-Mura in the same Prefecture and was
a clayey soil ; and No. Ill came from Hirono-Mura in Fukushima Prefecture
and was also of a clayey nature.

Seventy-two zinc pots containing 13, 14 and 11 Kg soils resp. served
for this experiment, three pots for each trial. The general manure per pot
for these three soils was :

Sodium nitrate 6 g, in two fractions.

Double superphosphate2) 3g

Potassium carbonate 2.5 g

i). The analysis was carried out accwding Ulbrichl's method with a hydrochloric acid of
10 %, a little modified by T. Katayama.

2). Only the soluble portion of this preparation served for this experiment and contained
36.76 % P2O5, 0.81 % CaO and 0.83 % SO3 in the original sample.

420045

y y

136

O. Uaiktiliara..

In every case also an experiment without general manure was made in
order to observe principally the effects of the sulphates added on the condi-
tion of the soil, since, e.specially with clayey and humus soils, the effects
on the soils have to be well distinguished from the effects on the plants.
Gypsum, magnesium sulphate and sodium sulphate may be able to liberate
potassa from hydrous silicates and render it more available to the plants.

. With the soil No. I and No. Ill the lime content was larger than the
magnesia content and since barley was to be grown the manuring with
magnesia might benefit the barley. In these cases the sulphate was
applied in the form of crystallized magnesium sulphate. Further for sake of
comparison, magnesia was also applied as inagnesite with and without
sodium sulphate (equivalent to MgSOJ.

In the case of the soil No. II there was more magnesia present
than lime, hence the sulphate applied was CaS04.2H._,0. Control pots
contained either limestone or limestone and sodium sulphate. The following
table will show the quantities applied per pot :

Kind of Manures.

Soil No. I.

' Soil No. II.

Soil No. III.

MgSOi.yHsO

Magnesite

CaS04.2H.O -

CaCOg

Na2SO4.10H.1O

1.61 gl)
16.51 „

1-30 gl>
13-29 ..

9.68 g2i
16.88 „^)
22.50 „^)
18.13 „

2.II g

1.70 g

Thirty-one seeds p. pot were sown Nov. 29, 1904 and the young plants
of about 6 cm. height were reduced to 22, 17 and 21 resp. in the three different
soils. The height of plants measured April 8 may be .seen in the following
table :

i). The MgO plied as sulphate corresponds to 1/30 of the calculated amount of MgO as
magnesite.

2). These amounts were applied to the second series of soil No. II pot (2), r/4 of the
calculated amount of CaO being applied as CaS04.2H20 (cf. this Bulletin Vol. I, No. i, p. 28).

3). This amount was applied to the third series of the soil II.

Ar« Soils Poor in SO3 Benefited by Sulpiiat4>a '.'

137

Soil No. I.

Kinds of manure.

A). Without general manure. B). With general manure

Height of plants.

of each pot.
cm.

average,
cm.

Height of plants.

of each pot.

cm.

average
on.

1) No special manure

5^-5
56.5
51.6

53-1

66.0
66.6
64.5

65.7

2) MgS04.7H40

3) Magnesite

492

58.5
4S0

51-9

...;b.

531
531
52-5

52.9

4) Magnesite + NavS04ioH.j0.^b.

55-2

52-5
46.5

514

690
67.5
63.6

63-9
6S.1

67-5

66.7

66.5

639

Soil No. 11.

Kinds of manure.

A'. Without general manure. B). With genera! manure.

Height of plants.

Height of plants.

of each pot.
cm.

average,
cm.

of each pot.
cm.

average.

cm.

i) No syecial manure

2) Gypsum + Li mt-stone

3-9

4-5
48

4-4

96
9.9
63

86

325

48.6

138

G, DaikiiUara..

Kinds of manure.

3) Limestone

f

imestone + Na2S04.icH«0.y I

4) Limestone

A). VVimout general manure.

Height of plants.

of each pot.
cm.

II. I
11.4
135

8.1
10.2

10.5

average,
cm.

9.6

B). With general manure.
Height of plants.

of each pot.
cm.

51.0
52-5
49-5

46-5

52.5
50.1

average,
cm.

51-0

49 7

Soil No. III.

Kinds of manure.

i) No special manure

2) MgSOi.jHaO

A). Without general manure.

Height of plants.

of each pot,
cm.

24.9
28.8
24.6

24.6
22.5
24.6

average,
cm.

26.1

B). With general manure.

Height of plants.

23-9

of each pot.
cm.

576
56.1
63.0

62.1

57-0

average,
cm.

58.9

596

3) Magnesite

^b.

18.6
27.9
20.7

20.4

4) Magnesite4-Na2S04.ioH«O.Jb.

25-5
26.1
27.9

26.5

57;0
594
60.0

61.8

58.5
54-6

58-8

58.3

Are Soil* Poor in SO3 Beiiefitpd by Sulphates:

139

Plants were cut on June lo and the harvest was weighed in the air-dry
state with the following result :

No. I. Hiroshima soil (a).

(A.) Without general manure.

No. of
stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight

p. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

ChafF
g

Total
g

Grains
g

Total
g

a.

32

930

28.88

50.25

3-00

82.13

i) No special \,
manure) '

39

97.8

25-50

59-25

2.63

87-38

26.9 1

8554

(c.

33

94-5

26.36

49-13

2.63

78.12

("

28

96.0

22.05

48.75

1.50

72-30

2) MgSO4.7H2O.Jb.

22

96.0

16.58

35-63

1-13

5334

21.13

66.51 •

L

25

88.2

24-75

46.50

2.63

73.88

r

26

88.2

20.25

4688

2.63

69.76

3) Magnesite ...<b.

29

95-1

19- 1 3

56.25

3.C0

78.38

22.13

76.38

L

30

960

27.00

5100

3.00

Si.oo

c

33

98.4

26.63

57.00

3-38

87.01

4) Magnesite + ),
Na.,S04.ioH..O)''-

29

98.1

24-75

53-25

3-38

81.38

27.63

86.51

^c.

35

90.0

31-50

55-50

4-13

9M3

(B.) With general manure.

No. of
stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight p. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains Stalks
g g

Chaff
g

Toul
g

Grains
g

Total
g

a. 6,

I) No special 1 g,
manure j

^c 64

IC0.8
H4.0

IIJ.O

68.25
63.38
62.63

106.88
104.25
104.63

675
6.38

5-25

181.88
174.01
172.51

64-75

176.13

a.

2) MgS04.7H20..<b.

59
59
61

106.2
1 1 2.5
101.4

69-75
60.75
69.38

114.00
106.50
105.38

6.00

525
6.00

189.75
172.50
180.76

66.63

181.00

I40

G. Dalkiiiiat-a.

No. of
stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight

p. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

Chaff
g

Total
8

Grains
g

Total
g

p

63

101.7

69.00

iir.38

6-75

187.13

3) Magnesiie ...<b.

60

105.6

68.25

1 11.00

7-13

186.38

69.13

187.13

^c.

64

108. 1

70-13

1 1 1.38

6.38

187.89

a.

4) Magnesite+ ),
Na..S04.ioH.,0)°-

66

60

109.5

10C.4

59-25
69.38

100.13
107.25

563

6.38

165.01
183.01

6388

173-51

^c.

5S

107. 1

63.00

103.50

6.00

172.50

No. II. Hiroshima soil (b).
(A). Without general manure.

No. of
stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight p. pot of Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

Chaff Total

g t g

Grains
g

Total
g

i) No special 1 ,
manure J '

13

15
16

14.4
17.1
17.4

0
0
0

0.3S

075
4.88

0 0.38

0 i 075
0 4.88

0

2.00

1)
.a.

2) Gypsum + 1,
Limestone^ '

^c.

IS
18

273
264

0.15

0.3S

3-00
2.63

0.05
0.18

3.20
5.8 r

0.27

4.51

f

3) Limestone ...<b.

22
21
19

26.0

33-3
36.2

1. 13
I-I3
I-13

5-25
4.8S

5-25

0.38 6.76
0.38 6.39

0.3S i 6.76'

i

I-13

6.64

4) Limestone + ) ,
Na...S04.ioH..,0] "•

^c.

16
H

32.1

31-5
29.1

0.38

0.75
0.38

4.13

4.S8
3.00

o.i8
0.38
0.18

469
6.01
3-56

0.50

4-75

i). Plants in this pot were attacked by fungus.

Are Soils Poor iu SO3 Benefited by Sulphates :'

(B). With general manure..

141

No. of

stalks.

Length

of
stalks

Weight

1. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains

Stalks

Chaflf

Total

Grains

Total

cm.

g

g

g

g

g

g

c

29

57-9

113

31.88

0-75

33-76

i) No special \,
manurej '

30

79-5

1.88

35-25

0-75

37-88

1-25

35-»3

^c.

32

60.6

0-75

32-63

0.38

33-76

a.

47

87.9

32.25

66.75

3-38

102.38 ,

2) Gypsunn- V
Limestone]

46

91.8

35-25

64.50

4-13

103.88

34-63

104.01

^c.

42

87.0

36.38

64.50

4.88

105.76

r

44

90.0

35-25

69.38

3-38

108.01

3) Lirnestontl) ...-^b.

45

99.0

36.75

67.50

4.50

108.75

38.63

112.51

c

46

94.2

43.88

70.88

6.00

12076

c

44

93.0

31-50

62.25

4-13

97.88

4) Limestone + J,
Na.,S04.ioH,OK"

55

94-5

48.75

76.50

5-25

130-50

41.63

116.38

^c.

49

90.0

44-63

71.25

4.88

120.76

No. III. Fukushima soil.
(A). Without general manure.

No. of

stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight p. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

ChafF
g

Total
g

Grains ! Total

g 1 g

I-) No special V
manure j '

22
21
21

57.0

59-4
62.1

10.13

10.13

9-75

14.63

15-75
14-25

1.50
1.50
1.50

26.26
27.38
25.50

10.00

26.38

f

2) MgS04.7H20..-jb.
^c.

21
22
24

56-4
57-9
46-5

7.88
8.63
6-75

13-88
15-38
16.13

I- 13

1.50
1.50

22.89
25.51
24.38

7-75

24.26

i). A part of this increase by limestone may be due to the improvement of the mechanical
]ition of the clay soil. Further communication on this effect will follow later on.

condition

142

6. Daikiihara.

No. of
stalks.

Length
nf

Weight p. pot of

Average of

Kinds of manure.

stalks
cm.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

Chaff
g

Total
g

Grains
g

Total
g

a.

3) Magnesite ...<b.

18
23

2t

56.4

60.0
57-3

7-13

10 50

7-13

12.75

15.00
14.63

1-50
I- '3
1.50

21.38
26.63
23.26

8.25

23.7C

c

4) Magnesite+ ),
Na.SOi.ioH.Oj''-

21
21

20

66.9

58.5
57-6

11.63

9-75
900

16.88

15-38
15.00

1.50
3-38
1.50

3001
28.51
2550

10.13

28.01

(B). With general manure.

No. of
stalks.

Length

of

stalks

cm.

Weight

p. pot of

Avera

ge of

Kinds of manure.

Grains
g

Stalks
g

Chaffs
g

Total
g

Grains
g

Total
g

c

i) No special ),
manured '

^c.

57
58
61

97.2
97-5
95-4

57.00
5213
49-13

97.88
85-50
95-25

7-13

4.88
4.88

126.01
142.51
149.26

52.75

138.26

2) MgS04.7H.,0..^b.

65
60

95.1
930

48-38
52-50

9525
91.50

5-25
5-25

148.88
149-25

5044

149.07

f

3) Magnesite ...<b.

62
60
56

87.0
90.0
97-5

53-63

4538
43-50

91.88
94.88
95-63

638
5-25
525

151.89

M5-5I
144.38

47-50

147.26

4) Magne8ite + ...3L
NasSOi.ioHsOl''-

73
64
58

954
97-5
99.0

49-13

50.25

49-13

99-75

87.00
86.25

7.88
6.38

4.50

156.76
14363
139.88

49.50

146.76

1). The plants in this pot were damaged by fungus.

Are Soils Poor in SOg Benefited by Sulpltate*. j^?

From these results we conclude :

i). An amount less than 0.02 % SO3 in the three soils was quite
sufficient to meet the requirements of the barley plants for sulphur.
The difference in the harvests was too small to admit any other
conclusion than this.

2). In the soil No. I and No. Ill the manuring with magnesia had no
decisive effect ; this may have been due to the small differences of
lime and magnesia contents in these soils.

3). Soil No. 11^' showed a very unfavorable mechanical condition being
a very stiff clay and was probably very poor in potassa-^ while the
amount of P.jOg was only 0.022%. Hence the addition of limestone
to the un-manured soil had very little effect although the mechanical
condition was improved, while with the manured soil the addition
of limestone produced a surprising increase of barley grains from
1.25 gto 38.63 g.

i). This soil was found afterwards to have a strong acid reaction on litmus, and since this soil
contains only a little humus, the acidity would probably be due to acid silicates. Enormous increase
of harvest by liming of this soil is therefore partly explained by the neutralization of the acidity.
Many such acid soils occur in Japan and the result of investigation of these soils will be published
later on.

2). A sample of soil taken from the same area contained only 0.088% KoO.

GaylordBros

Makers

Syracuse, N. Y.

PAT. JAN. 21, 1908

/

420045

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