i A ciitiea September 17, ‘A914.
ur cap hl, oe
0 AGR JL URAL EXPERIMENT STATION,
MAY, ‘Special Agent i in eheande,!
. | Mayaguez, Ps Re ‘
‘RICO
:
~P. L. GILE,
Be Chemiat, <-
Es A AND
‘C. N. AGETON,
Assistant Chemist.
ss WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFTIOE.
Wiese > TOs .
— Memograph ees ee & a F
Issued September 17, 1914.
PORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION,
D. W. MAY, Special Agent in Charge,
Mayaguez, P. R.
Bulletin No. 16.
THE EFFECT OF STRONGLY CALCAREOUS SOILS
ON THE GROWTH AND ASH COMPOSI-
TION OF CERTAIN PLANTS.
“BY
P. L. GILE,
Chemist,
AND
’. N. AGETON,
Assistant Chemist.
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS,
U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOE.
1914,
PORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.
(Under the supervision of A. C. TRUE, Director of the Office of Experiment Stations, United States
Department of Agriculture.]
Wa ter H. Evans, Chief of Division of Insular Stations, Office of Experiment Stations.
STATION STAFF.
D. W. May, Special Agent in Charge.
P. L. Giz, Chemist.
G. L. Fawcert, Plant Pathologist.
C. F. Kinman, Horticulturist.
R. H. Van ZwaLuwenbura, Entomologist.
T. B. McCLeLLanD, Assistant Horticulturist.
C.N. Acrton, Assistant Chemist.
W.E. Hess, Expert Gardener.
C, ALEMAR, Jr., Clerk.
(2)
3, Ok
oct 3
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
Porto Rico AGRicuULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION,
Mayaguez, P. R., February 13, 1914.
Sm: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript by P. L.
Gile and C. N. Ageton on The Effect of Strongly Caleareous Soils on
the Growth and Ash Composition of Certain Plants. In plant pro-
duction we have tried and measured and weighed many results
obtained by methods more or less uncertain and inexact. It is
becoming increasingly evident that we must go farther back and
seek for principles in order that our efforts may lead to more exact
and concordant returns. This bulletin throws some light on the
relation of certain elements in plant growth and will prove of value
in further researches.
I recommend that this manuscript be published as Bulletin 16 of
this station.
Respectfully,
D. W. May,
Special Agent in Charge.
Dr. A. C. TRUE,
Director Office of Experiment Stations,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.
Recommended for publicatiqn. "
A. C. True, Director. a eee Of,
o i=) co © oO bea 1
ma ma oo a a 5A a : Fi A oA
—Q o A ic) & i” faa} io} (=) real ica Be
= 5 5 S| & | 2 s|/s|e/ |] 3
~ i] & i“) i] BR i=] bw La ~
c 15) iS) iS) 1S) a 16) 15) 1S) 1S) ‘s “4
P.ct. | Gms. |Gms.| Gms. |Gms.|Gms.| Gms.
Tn sie ares oe None. 2,086] 455 753 | 670 | 777 | 4,741 100 100} 100} 100) 100} 100
Th teates 5 1,913 | 510] 1,035 740 776 | 4,974] 92 112] 138 110 | 100} 11043
inh Nee 18 | 2,112| 557 953 | 690 | 695) 5,007} 101 123 | 127 103 90) 109+5
IV 35 2,855 | 660 954} 615 | 637) 5,721 137 | 145 127 92 82 117+8
It can be seen that the growth of the bush beans averaged, with
allowance for the probable error, at least 5 per cent better on the
soils containing carbonate of lime.
Crop B from the four plats was analyzed alone, crops D and F were
analyzed together, using a composite sample made up of equal parts
of the two crops. The whole plant above ground was used for
analysis, stems, flowers, and leaves being finely ground up together.
In Table VI are given the percentages of the elements in the carbon-
free ash and in the dry substance of the plants from the four plats.
Taste VI.—Analyses of bush beans from plats with different amounts of CaCOs.
CROP B,
[Poul a 7 ae ee aL an Tc a a
Analyses of carbon-free ash. | Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
=| & at lice.
Plat | CaCOg & 8 5 ~~ = 2 ea & 3 a x = fan
No. |insoil.| © a ees ha fof 6 S ° [18s vy 3 Sy z
s 3 Koy || te o aA & 8 | so |] 3 o al =]
1S) ‘A a [ae na 7 iS) A | aon na 8
~(@leele lS /S/e1S] 2 ze ea (8) ele
e = av an =, 3 S 2 qd aw 4 = 3 °
| Ble le |S 1B l/e/e 1/8/22 |e) 818138
3 3} S $ =) = = Ra
| SU teal ieee Iisa oral) Si et tose Sey ec ||
= 7
lapel pBact af) eaChal iesCe Pschs| Pa ct.|) Pacts) Bcte| Peict.| Recta Pacts ache
| en None. | 10.84] + 32.98} 1.54 10.62] 3.77} 1.15) 0.8 0.164) 1.28) 4.03
1h ree | 5 12.31) 7.39) 32.38) 1.44] 12.85) 11.48} 3.44) 1.41 8 1.48) 3.62
Hi. 18 | 11.15} 7.16) 31.82] 1.22] 10.80] 11.63] 3.03} 1.30) a 1.26) 3.58
IV. 35 53, 10.03 7.02! 34.45] = .99) 8.63] 12.05) 3.44] 1.21 : 1.04) 3.76
CROPS D AND F.
1.28} 10.11] 11.20} 2.90} 0.86) 0.93 1.13) 3.77
-96} 10.08] 11.20} 3.00} .89] .94 1.13} 3.85
-88} 8.97] 10.82) 3.04] 79} 94 .97| 3.62
. 82 11.73) 3.00] .74| 93 .98| 3.76
17
While the content of ash, lime, phosphoric acid, potash, silica, and
nitrogen was practically the same for the two sets of samples analyzed,
the magnesia and iron content was higher in crop B than in crops D
and F, and it will be noticed that this difference holds for the plants
grown on all four soils. These results are rather striking when it is
considered that crop B and crops D and F were grown in different
years and that no magnesium was added in any fertilizer.
The extent to which the carbonate of lime in the soil influenced the
ash composition and amount of inorganic substances in the dry matter
of the plants is better shown in Table VII. Here the percentages of
the different elements present in the plants grown in Plat I are ex-
pressed as 100, and the percentages present in the plants grown in
Plats II, III, and IV are expressed relative to 100. Table VIF gives
only the average result of the three crops analyzed. In calculating
the average, twice the value was given to the analysis of the com-
posite sample of crops D and F that was given to the analysis of crop
B, so the average result gives an equal value to all three crops, B, D,
and F.
Taste VII.—Relative ash composition of bush beans from different plats.
Relative composition of ash (percent- | Relative ash content of dry substance (percentages
| ages in plants from Plat I=100). in plants from Plat I=100).
| . oa a ~ =)
Plat | CaCO; | e\8 sek) ca ois a F
i il. | : 3 a ee 3 : a fe) = _ —~
eerie | S| ase | ta leg: |e he | Gol mee | ce fee
= Re | Ww | Qlo & 3 a |5a| ¥ Ss | = a
| Sala se els eS ie PS ie ee) ae | 2 8
= e|/e2/ 8) L] as 3 Oy Wig a) a ee fa cs 3
g 5 o.)6| 6S a | 2 7 8 & | o 5 Sg a= =]
B= s/a | 6 o | a a }/a]/g/a = 2 = a
| 4 a] am 4 n to) A a | rv fx] a A
a
| Per ct. |
Tees None. | 100} 100} 100 100, 100} 100] 100} 100} 100} 100] 100] 100] 100 100
DE Ree | 5 97 107 98 95 81} 102 103 | 99 110 100 98 85 105 98
TNE Sse.| 18) 97 98 99 | 105 72} 89] 101 97 99} 100] 105 73 90 94
a 35] 93] 86 93 | 104 64) 79 | 108 99 92] 100] 112 69 85 98
From Table VII it is apparent that the chief effect of the carbonate
of lime in the soil upon the ash constituents in the dry substance of
the bush beans or upon the composition of their ash lay in dimin-
ishing the content of iron. The silica content is also considerably
diminished in the plants grown on the fourth plat. The content of
lime, phosphoric acid, and nitrogen in the dry substance and in the
ash is remarkably constant for the plants grown on all four plats.
48882°—14——3
18
SOY BEANS.
Six crops of Mammoth Yellow soy beans were grown. The plants
were harvested in flower, while the leaves were still sound. The ab-
solute and relative growths made on the four plats are given in
Table VIII.
TaBLeE VIII.—Grrowth of soy beans on plats with different amounts of CaCO;.
= - Sat. . ad
v1 + Relative weights of crops from differ-
Green Weight of crops. ent plats (Plat 1=100).
Platt MCACOs| tae] Sel coal | co me [regan Soma eee 3
No. |insoil.| “3 ] ~< Wal Ws | Wa _ ea oy
Se) Re oe] Og Pal he | Fala la [ola lala | se
ee) 88 |)ee| pe | sal ea | Sei e)e)e|e)e| se] 8
= a a a a D4 3S a a a a Ba a o
oO o 16) 1S) 1S) 16) B SPU SINS MO Saeco i 15) <
Per ct. | Gms.| Gms. | Gms.} Gms. | Gms.| Gms. | Gms
Tere None..| 785 | 1,765 | 930 vi 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 100
10 eS ee 605 | 1,678 788 77) 95] 85 | 101 89} 93 | 9042
Ill 18 765 | 1,465 | 670 97 | 83 72) 78) 77| 79) 8142
IV 35 | 675 | 1,671 730 86 | 95 78 | 102 | 109 | 102 | 9543
The average results show that the best growth of soy beans was
made on the plat with no carbonate of lime; there was, allowing for
the probable error, an 8 to 12 per cent decrease on Plat II, a 17 to
21 per cent decrease on Plat III, and a 2 to 8 per cent decrease on
Plat IV.
Crops A, B, and C were analyzed together in a composite sample
containing equal parts of the three crops, and crops D, HE, and F
were analyzed in another composite sample. The results are shown
in Table IX.
TaBLe IX.—Analyses of soy beans from plats with different amounts of CaCOsg.
CROPS A, B, AND C,
| Analyses of carbon-free ash. Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
a us} a jaa = les | a Z
| Ont : a Cats A ; :
Plat |CaCO;} = | & | 8 . re |e eS eS |S Oa eae eesml ies
No. | insoil.} © S |e Qo|9 2 S ~ 12siy1Q/;/o]2
8 & | 890 o a a é & |sQ}~v 2 a FI
Oo} 3 | a> eIl2 lg |] eles) a} ae} ll] ea
es fa) = i) a 2! LS 50
@ qa aH Ss 2 io a a 3 s 2
£/ 23 Bos |e a ee Sees. | Saas
A} a |e Ala} o}Aa |] a [ak a) eR [ala
Betts PCPs Chat Pech es Cbs |bEvs Chy [lb xiCbal era Cbs | Poet | cera Cbs|| eam Coe
) ae None. 0.81 | 7.40 | 8.78 1.37 | 0.89 | 2.68 ]0.071 | 0.65 | 3.51
Tse 5 +78 | 9.84 | 9.05 1.36 | .89 ] 2.48 | .071 89] 3.65
Ill. 18 .55 | 8.21 | 8.70 1.28 | .93 | 2.48 | .048 71} 3.18
Ws 35 -58 | 8.34 | 9.11 1,25 | .87 | 2.61 | .053 76] 3.28
. CROPS D, E, AND F,
7 ; |
Teese 2 7 - 9,98 |34.63 | 1.24 | 6.32 | 9.41 | 1. . 3s L 3.26 [0.117 | 0.59 | 4.17
JO He 2 50 |-1.16 9.70 i 8 2 | 3.2 113 70 | 4.47
It 1.09 | 8.32 | 9.58 3.12 | .104 80} 4.13
Vieees! 83 | 6.47 | 9.95 3.16 | .083 64] 4.13
19
The two samples, composed of three crops each, analyzed very
nearly the same. The lime was a little higher and the potash and iron
a little lower in crops A, B, and C than in crops D, E, and F. These
differences hold for all four plats, so they can hardly be chance
variations. It seems probable that they are due to climatic influ-
ences which affect the plant directly or through the soil.
In Table X are given the relative ash compositions and the relative
amounts of ash constituents in the dry substance of the plants from
the different plats, the percentages of the different elements in the
plants from Plat I being taken as 100 in each case. The results are
an average of the two lots analyzed, given in Table IX.
TaBLE X.—Relative ash composition of soy beans from different plats.
Relative composition of ash (percent- | Relative amounts ash constituents in the dry sub-
ages in plants from Plat I=100). stance (amounts present in plants from Plat 1=100).
Plat |CaCO3| . || ~ ae fi 2 ' & = ee ; a
vi in soi = Ss | = = | = ZI Z > 2 z,
Ne Se ee a ts |G | Bo | ernie a s| &
5S a so LV a nm) a c AY ~ o - fon
2/8 las ale lf ale} ale|<|s
o q = a 3a | & oO q Q = 3 So
q oD 3° 5S =| |) oa g Go a) d oS 5
B= 8 a i) S = a 5 & ° 2 =| =
| a a a a Rn | iS) 4 a a 4 n Z
Ps ch.
Tea None. | 100] 100} 100] 100] 100] 100} 100} 100] 100} 100] 100] 100] 100 100
II 5 98 96 96 94 95 | 124] 103] 101 98 99 97 99 | 128 106
100 Gee 18 109 93 113 94 78 122 | 101 109 93 112 95 79 123 95
Vie Sar 35 107 87 100 93 70 108 | 105 111 91 104 97 73 113 96
: } |
The carbonate of lime in the soil had little more effect in varying
the ash content of soy beans than it had on bush beans. As with
bush beans, the most notable variation appeared in the regular
decrease in the iron content of the plant with increasing amounts of
carbonate of lime in the soil. The other variations that occurred
-are of lesser order, not exceeding 10 per cent except in the case of
silica. There was a small but regular increase in the amount of lime
in the dry substance of the plant with increasing amounts of lime in
the soil; in Plat IJ, however, the increase was not greater than the
probable error. Proportionate to the increase in lime, there was a
decrease in the amount of magnesia in the dry substance of the plant
with increasing amounts of carbonate of lime in the plats. The
remaining constituents in the plants showed no parallelism with the
lime content of the soils. The greater amount of silica in the plants
grown in the calcareous soil appears anomalous.
SUNFLOWERS.
Six crops of large Russian sunflowers were grown. The plants
were harvested when the heads had formed, but before the seeds were
fully developed. At this stage the leaves were sound, except a few
of the lower ones, which were not included in the sample for analysis.
20
The absolute and relative growths made on the four plats are given
in Table XI. The various parts of the plant were weighed sepa-
rately, but as no one part appeared to be affected by the lime in the
soil more than another, only the weight of the whole plant, except
roots, 1s given in Table XT.
TaBLe XI.—Growth of sunflowers on plats with different cmounts of CaCOs.
|
| s er , Relative weights of crops from different
Green weight of crops. plats (Plat I=100).
| “@ ° ° ° iS a | oa
Plat | CaCOs| ~ a a) al a = eh | 3.
No. | in soil. a al oa 3 Z 4 "ee | oF
| a a t iN a
| 12} mae joe) ag jag |ag s : : -| a
| B| ei 8 8] 8! 8) Felaia@islalsa lal fe
aA, aA, | aa | aa | aA | ea] SO Q a Q Q Q a a6
is} 9 3) i=) ° is} ois ° ° ° is) ° i=) bo
a iB » & m 7 7 bu » oO
S) 'S) o 1S) 'S) Oo a oO iS) Oo | oOo iS) o <
Bich Kgs. | Kgs
1 ee None. | 17.84 | 22.51 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100} 100} 160
WT. . 5 | 14.45 | 21.11 81 94 | 106 | 101 | 118 |} 121 10444
Ill. 14.98 | 22.26 S4 99} 68} S8| 90} 95 8743
IV 35 | 15.38 | 23.02 86 | 102 89 73 97 96 9143
The averages of the relative growths show, with allowance for
probable error, a possible increase of 0 to 8 per cent in Plat TH, a
decrease of 10 to 16 per cent in Plat III, and a decrease of 6 to 12
per cent in Plat IV. The total green weights of the six crops give
nearly the same results, except that in Plat IT there is a slight decrease
instead of an inerease over Plat I. The average of the relative
growths is probably more accurate than the total weight of the six
crops, since the former gives an equal value to each crop grown.
Crop A was analyzed alone, and crops D, E, and F were analyzed
together in a composite sample. In each ease the leaves and stalks
were analyzed separately. The results are given in Table XII.
Taste XIT.—Analyses of sunflowers from plats with different amounts of CaCO,
LEAVES—CROP A.
Analyses of carbon-free ash. Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
~ =a lie snl | g
21% | « zg | eee We a
Pla CaCO. 4 = 3 a po pe po) {o) => =~ i
Plat |CaCOs) = | G |S ./ Q = S 2 S en se | 6 | ea
No. /insoil.}] OQ | & | 2a] YZ ) 2 2 3 ES | 2 = p=
| a = gx I = = a 3 fo) 2 Th
af 3 30 7 a oa 2) = = n g
oO PA a= n D 1S} am & o
Lc 6 |} ae} a a) = A = (ele | a bo
7 a at | @ - 3 2 2 a-| @ me 3 <¢
q wo |S | 8 ee eta ere 5 8 g a | 2 B=
| Siege. i bo ° = a 5 a a 5 FI Z
S| slaae 9) cy 4 a iS) 4 my a A aa A
Pich ret
Tieeea | None. - 70}
Witsee? 5 38. 06)
lil... 18 | 36.93
Vie S35 ile zee
LEAVES—CROP
I.....| None. | 25.92] 12.18) 7.32 1.08} 3.78
TI2e2 5 | 29.37) 11.71| 8.79 1.44] 3.51
TI. 3: 18 | 29.37] 10.95 8.72} 1.37] 3.75
7.46] 1.10} 3.88
TViccs | 35 | 30.30) 10.37
21
TaBLeE XII.—Analyses of sunflowers from plats with different amounts of CaCO,—Con.
STALKS—CROP A.
Analyses of carbon-free ash. | Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
~ | : ees | |
ra a| ae 3 |
OT ise ales : _| 2 ols x ; Be ie:
ZT so |] el eS ec es il meee Hh fad esc em ec ac
Plat | CaCO;| Q SS lee| yw | ojo Fy g © |ee] Seo c
No. |insoil.| 5 cs} eo, y o al = fey i es sO | & od a =|
Es ian) a & S a a) 2/65) 2 ee oF o.
o E, BS 2 = 3 & ° sf BS a = 3 °
q & | 8 £ g | 2 = gq 3 $ a | g is
-_ PI So 2 = a pa S | =} ° 3 =
A a | & 4 a oO A a] Be a 4 a a
Si ecbaeCoem teen Cel toss tacos lias Cla| Lenichs |tereiChs | Chs | Fo Cbs)| eviCla| ers Coa Pasha | ean Ct “(GPs Che
1 Se None. | 14.74) 8.84) 7.68) 49. 06 B 10.36) 1,53) 0.92) 0.80) 5.08) 0.016 1. 58
10 ere 5 | 14.66) 8.27) 7.25) 52.90 12.31] 1.80) 1.02 +89] 6.51) .026). 74
10 tees 18 | 15.03) 8.28) 6.77) 50. 86 11.28) 1.70) .93) .76) 5.74) .015)......| 1.29
Vise: 35 | 15,22) 8.07) 6.83) 50.14 10.77} 1.64) .87) .74) 5.40) .015)...... 1.33
STALKS—CROPS D, E, AND F.
I....-| None. | 13.11} 12.90) 6.25] 48.60) 0.51) 1.68) 10.31) 1.35) 1.34) 0.64) 5.01) 0.053) 0.17) 0.93
DD? 22 5 | 10.94) 10.59) 4.82) 44.29 . 33} 1.48) 11.81) 1.29) 1.25) .57) 5. 23). 039 1%, 92
100 per 18 | 11.34) 10.80) 6,71) 55.63). 41) 1. 90} 10.22} 1.16) 1.10) 69) 5.69) . 042 -20) . 66
TViizee 35 | 9.71) 8.66) -4.88) 50.51] .34) 1.52) 10.89) 1.06) .94/ .53) 5.50| .037) .17| .7%
The percentage of lime in the ash and in the dry substance of the
plant was somewhat higher in crop A than in crops D, E, and F,
in all four plats. The ash content was about 50 per cent higher in
the leaves than in the stalks. There was about three times as much
lime in the leaves as in the stalks, twice as much magnesia, about
six times as much silica, and two and a half times as much nitrogen.
The potash was some 20 per cent higher in the stalks than in the
leaves.
The relative ash compositions and relative amounts of asn con-
stituents in the dry substance of the plants from the different plats
are given in Table XIII, the percentages of the different elements
in the plants from Plat I being taken as 100 in each case. In Table
XIII the results are an average of crops A, D, E, and F.
TaBLe XIII.—Relative ash composition of sunflowers from different plats.
LEAVES.
Relative composition of ash (percent- | Relative amount ash constituents in dry substance
ages in plants from Plat I=100). (amounts present in plants from Plat I=100).
als : a 6 |s
Plat |Caco;| . | & |8 a Ora) || eealliea .| @ 18 rae te cea RA BS
No. jinsoil.| G |S [es|S)/E6/S8)e/s]2lesal el ele| 2
S | iw] 2. ° o ~ | 2a] Mw ° {o) LS
3 a 506 ma = & a * ES = = =
| 1S) a ese oe io na D is) sata eciects | wes, re n 8
= o aet) = a = a 7 g eo a = bo
} ro) 8 nw a a S oO qd nw g = a io}
8 3 S g = = g eb ° s a 2 Ss
| a a 1g 5 ° a FI _ s | 4 Io) S | =
| H a |e a 4 7a) io) A a | om i= n a
Picks
| ae None. 100 100 | 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 106
IL 5 113 94 88 110 134 120 112 127 106 100 123 149 135 98
Ill 18 112 94 92 104 145 119 104 117 97 97 108 148 127 97
lV 35 117 85 78 102 123 102 106 117 85 78 102 122 102 18
STALKS
Tift 2 None 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 108
10 ee 5 87 85 81 95 84 88 116 102 98 95 110 | 97 100 102
Tit 18 90 87 102 112 82 113 102 92 87 105 ll4 85 118 74
AVies se 35 | 81 73 81 104 74 90 106 86 76 86 109 94 100 &9
99
The leaves from Plat II contained 27 per cent more lime, 23 per
cent more potash, 49 per cent more iron, and 35 per cent more silica
than the leaves from Plat I, and an equal amount of magnesia,
phosphoric acid, and nitrogen. The leaves from Plat II differed from
those of Plat I in containing 17 per cent more lime, 48 per cent more
iron, 27 per cent more silica, and 8 per cent more potash; the leaves
from Plat IV differed in containing 17 per cent more lime, 15 per cent
less magnesia, 22 per cent less phosphoric acid, and 22 per cent more
iron.
The stalks from Plat II differed from those of Plat I only in con-
taining 10 per cent more potash; the stalks from Plat III differed in
containing 8 per cent less lime, 13 per cent less magnesia, 14 per cent
more potash, 15 per cent less iron, 18 per cent more silica, and 26 per
cent less nitrogen; the stalks from Plat IV differed in containing 14
per cent less lime, 24 per cent less magnesia, 14 per cent less phos-
phorie acid, 9 per cent more potash, and 20 per cent less nitrogen.
As the green weight of the stalks averaged twice the green weight
of the leaves, it can be seen that the lime content of the combined
leaves and stalks from Plat IT was a little higher than that from Plat
I, while the lime content of the leaves and stalks from Plats III and
IV varied little from the lime content of those from Plat I. The ash
constituents of the combined leaves and stalks of Plat II differed
from the ash constituents of the leaves and stalks of Plat I in contain-
ing about 10 per cent more lime, 15 per cent more potash, 20 per cent
more iron, and 15 per cent more silica; the combined leaves and stalks
from Plat III differed in containing some 8 per cent less magnesia, 10
per cent more potash, 20 per cent more iron, 20 per cent more silica,
and 20 per cent less nitrogen; the leaves and stalks from Plat IV
differed in containing about 20 per cent less magnesia, 17 per cent
less phosphoric acid, and 13 per cent less nitrogen.
RADISHES.
Long Scarlet Short Top radishes were grown to the marketable
size, which took about 30 days. Roots and tops were weighed
separately, but as the proportion of root to top was unaffected by
the different soils only the weights of the whole plants are given in
Table XIV.
23
TaBLe XIV.—Growth of radishes on plats with different amounts of CaCOs.
7 Relative weight of crops from differ-
Green weight of crops. ent plats (Plat ‘1—100).
Plat |caco;| 3 | 8 | 8 | el) Ss cae
me he ae |-aa le ieee | 2) ets | a |e de tae
42 | 88 )°8 | RE/SE/FE | FS |< lalolalala | &
es |}/asSi}/ eas} as | eS) eas | Ssaljalaljal alealal] se
PEO Re ee seed | Feet (eRe oes eR ieee S132 lpia
15) 1S) GS | 90 o 1S) BOF EO | OOo. | iO a 2 it 8 i.) ° Re} g ast te
A; | ° ° fol a 4 Ss a ° ° = Ral
| ak Ss A na 's) A am a | a A
Perehas| eb aiCha|eesiGis| seiCle| raiCr all Es Cle gh eiCls| | etCbal see Cle be Che| atch ericta| Fee Chs| J. Chs|\ Paces
Meise None. | 5.13 | 3.90 | 7.02 /23.78 | 0.43 [56.02 | 9.32 | 0.48 | 0.36 | 0.65 | 2.22 [0.040 | 5.22] 1.46
We. = -| 5 | 5.99 | 3.82 | 6.60 [22.92 36 [52.71 | 9.33 . 56 36 62 | 2.14 034 | 4.92 1.38
1b AUS eA 18 | 5.50 | 4.03 | 8.87 |26.80 25 {53.75 | 7.90 43 | .32 70 | 2.12 | .019 | 4.25 | 1.22
Ves: 35 | 5.36 | 3.15 | 6.94 |22. 20 32 153.67 | 9.46 51 -30 | .66 | 2.10 | .030 | 5.08 | 1.5%
| —
CROPS B,C, AND D
© 7 an wes =
Tees: None. | 7.10 | 4.25 | 7.04 |22.95 | 0.36 49.71 | 7.86 | 0.56 | 0.33 | 0.55 | 1.80 /0.028 |} 3.91 1.34
Il. 7.77 | 4.41 | 7.91 [26.42 .38 (47.27 | 7.78 60 34 .62 | 2.06 030 | 3.68 1.40
II. 18 | 7.97 | 5.39 | 8.89 {26.86 | .58 |45.51 | 7.26 59 | .40]/ .65] 1.98 | .043 | 3.35 | 1.40
TVies-:| 35 | 6.76 | 5.72 | 8.24 |21.71 -39 150.32 | 8.10 55 | .46] .67/] 1.76) .032 44.08] 1.43
| | | ! | | |
26
Crop Aran somewhat higher in silica and total ash than the combined
crops B, C, and D, otherwise there was little difference between the
two analyses in respect to the amount of ash constituents in the dry
substance of the leaves. Considering the pereentage composition of
the ash, crop A ran higher in silica, while the combined crops B, C,
and D, were higher in lime and magnesia.
The average relative composition of the leaves from the different
plats is given in Table XIX. In calculating the average of the two
analyses given in Table XVIII three times the value was given to
analysis B, C, and D, that was given to analysis A, so Table XIX
represents the average relative composition of four crops from the
different plats.
TasBLE XIX.—Relative ash composition of sugar cane leaves from different plats.
| | : 2 3
jumelatic siti ‘ent. | Relative amounts ash constituents in dry sub-
| | Relate yompos en sbercen Sane (amounts present in plants from Plat
| 2 L _ . =100).
|
see eS oe es oy hes a
Plat | CaCO, Q\s a | 3 = ~ :
No. |insoil.| = S Ss ° a 2 | @ ae A 5 Bi sie a
5 a a) Sa ae = 2 5S a [Bae oo s a
e aP Se Clelipe ee erseul cer wi¢cg|s|¢
| < $14 a & 2} g Lv 2 = om hee es
| @ a a R = 3 S © q Z a = ES
eee lke oR ee) eg 2 | S i ee (fe
[aS la [a | 4a )a@ fe ia |e) a |) & | a | 4
ae early ae aa | a rz san
Perch. | |
ase None. 100 | 100] 100} 100} 100] 100) 100] 100} 100} 100} 100} 100] 100 100
1th oa 5 {| 113 | 101 103 106 95 95 | 100 112 101 102 105 95 94 100
Ill. 18] 110} 115] 126) 115] 110 94 90 98} 105 | 114] 102] 101 84 94
TVic 35 100 | 108 | 108 94 91 99 | 103) 102} 111 112 97 95 | 101 106
| |
The amount of the different ash constituents in the dry substance
of the plant appears to be unaffected by the carbonate of lime in
the soil; only in the plants from Plat II is there an increase in the
amount of lime. The composition of the ash also appears to have
been influenced very little by the character of the soil. In Plats
II and III, but not in Plat IV, the percentage of lime in the ash of
the plants was increased by about 10 per cent. The ash of the
plants from Plat TII ran a little higher in all the elements except
silica. On the whole the carbonate of lime in the soil does not appear
to have altered the ash composition of cane leaves in any regular way.
SWEET CASSAVA.
Sweet cassava, when harvested at the end of 122 days, was growing
vigorously and had formed some fleshy roots. Six crops were grown
at different seasons of different years. While the plants in Plat IV
were never chlorotic, at times their leaves were noticeably lighter
in color than those of the plants in Plats I and II. (Pl. IL)
Roots, leaves, and stalks were weighed separately, but only the
total weight of the crop is given in Table XX, as the relative propor-
tions of roots, stalks, and leaves did not vary with the different soils.
27
TaBLeE XX.—Growth of sweet cassava on plats with different amounts of CaCoy.
' s Relative weight of crops from different
Green weight of crops. plats (Plat I=100).
| a eee qs |
CaCO3| © 2 2 = 2 2 =I | Se
Plat No.) in soil. es Zs a ie) m= a | Be | &
a8 | me |oe laa |aeiqe| ea). aries o-
gq] 8) 8] 8] nd] fl aa la |2ie alee | x
BE | Se) S6| 84) 88) Se) 25) 5) 5) 8) S| S| S| se
| = q a= = = = 25 |/5 | a £ | 25
| 1S) 1S) ec o vo S) = vo Co Oo /e oe ee) q
} - —}
| |
Perct.| Kgs. | Kgs. | Kgs. | Kgs. | Kgs. |
None. | 10.39 | 12.98 | 9.71 | 8.22 | 3.08 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 100
ke | Bs Sa | ca | 2a am) 8) SLR] | ess
at ~50 | 5. 7 8 2)|| 25 87) 7
35 | 5.76 | 7.28 | 3.30 2.72 | 2.44 55] 56] 34] 33] 79 | 78 | 5646
The amount of growth made varied greatly with the seasonal con-
ditions; crops E and F, which only made about half the growth of
crops A to D, showed a corresponding smaller depression in Plats
Wf and IV. (Pl. III.) From the average of the relative growths
it appears that the growth of sweet cassava has been quite markedly
depressed by the larger amounts of carbonate of lime and slightly
depressed by the smaller amount.
The analyses of the leaves, stalks, and roots of crops A, C, and F
are given in Table XXI.
TaBLE XXI.—Analyses of sweet cassava from plats with different amounts of CaCOs.
LEAVES—CROP A.
Analyses of carbon-free ash. Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
Soles | es 4 Stee |
Plat | CaCO3} A psf oll bt eal 3 ~~ s a = ee) 3 4s z
No. jinsoll.| 0 | - |Se/y19!lo]3s!12\/82 123i yy /ala/e¢
§ 3 | 60 Sum | ere ee ees Si/so/C0 1s] a
io) = roll) eer s n 7 5) 3 a na
na 2) ae) id eo a = BS |) 28) a & Nor 2
2 a BO = ax 3 S 2 5 [eS Q = 3 3
Se yber iheise. leeelees lecg ee ice Gaal sei Bet peas
Sl I) eh |e eS |e | a | o | a | Ss la S| A | al] 2
SPOT Chat |teanCe ||| Feaithal| banCba| bea Chal eon Cbal|EPritta [onthe | bre Chal eaCha | enChe| 22eCls| Pale | Pols |skathe
eee None.| 30. 68) 10.10) 12, 89} 30.33) 0.80 ...... 8.37) 2.57] 0.85] 1.08] 2.54) 0.067|...... 4.14
Tie 5] 32.14] 10.79} 11.40} 30. 67 -93} 6.85) 8.79) 2.83 -95| 1.00) 2.70) .082} 0.60) 4.37
TU 2s. 18] 32.95] 11.67) 11. 63} 26.36} .82) 8.06) 9.12) 2.97) 1.06] 1.06} 2.40) .075 ~ 74) 4.18
DM, w=: 35) 33.37) 11.16] 12.51) 27.88) .81) 7.98) 9.41) 3.14) 1.05) 1.18) 2.62] .076 - 75) 4.37
LEAVES—CROPS C AND F.
Diesma2 None.} 29.27} 6.66) 14.01) 30.60) 0.68) 7.16) 9.22) 2.70) 0.61) 1.29) 2.82] 0.063} 0.66} 4.04
10 ae 5] 29.92) 6.04) 13.09) 27.16) .49} 7. 00) 9.02} 2.70) .54/ 1.18) 2.45) .044) .63) 3.94
100 ee 18) 31.52) 6.58} 14.22) 29.41) .46) 6. 22) 9.46) 2.98) 62) 1.35) 2.78) .044) .59) 4.08
1 ee 35) 33.67) 6.55) 13.89 30.80) . 46 6. 67) 8.44) 2.84) .55) 1.17) 2.60) .039) .56) 3.93
STALKS—CROP A
hPa None.} 25. 02] 12,35) 16.47] 36.13) 0.74] 0.87] 6.61) 1.65; 0.82) 1.09) 2. 39] 0.049) 0.06) 1.88
3 Ue eae 5] 27. 30) 11. 14] 16.83] 32.91) . 73) 1.06) 7.31) 2.00) .81] 1.23} 2.41) .053) 08] 1.66
TIE <2: 18} 26.98] 11.73) 17.01) 35.73] .73] 1.14] 8.12) 2.19) .95] 1.38) 2.90} .059) .09}) 1.56
Vive 5:2 35] 27,10) 12.33} 16.53] 34.01) .63) 1.26} 8.53) 2.31) 1.05) 1.41] 2.90) .054) .11) 1,52
28
TasLeE XXI.—Analyses of sweet cassava from plats with different amounts of CaCO,—
Continued.
STALKS—CROPS C AND F.
*
| Analyses of carbon-free ash. Ash constituents in dry substance of plant.
—— es - —
6/3 | a ale :
to S = : a bo = = b 2
Plat |CaCOs} ~ | 3. /.| 9] a).4/8 |als {8 O 7) sacl) aan
No. | insoil. | © © |Be/ 4 ° ° 2 2° © )eel yw 3° fo) cS
= 3 12) 7 By a a Ss 3 ee) a7 By A] qd
is) "A < n o Ss) A = n
BS ct ea
2 8 |a>-| 3 g | 5 2 B|a-| 8 g )
e|/212 |#/s/S)/e21/8 |} P18 |S] e)8i18
SE Aree ere le eB) eh ie Mell lerete lacy a7
Per ct.)|.P. ct. |\P. ct. a | PriCha| Pesi0b. | F2.iCl. | eaChs| bre Cbs | LeiChal eowiCba
eer e. ahd 1.89} 0.62) 1.31) 2.59] 0.052} 0.05) 1.23
1 ae 6.79 2.05} .54) 1.57) 2.32] .051 -09) 1.35
TT . 7.06 2.27) .57| 1.37] 2.37) .054) .08) 1.16
IV . 8.12 2.2 .64, 1.52] 2.56] . 043) 05| 1.14
ROOTS—CROP A
eee None.} 12.51} 8.82} 17.86] 45.28} 1.42] 1.85) 3.30) 0.41) 0.29) 0.59) 1.49) 0.047) 0.06) 1.48
Il 15.00} 7.99) 15.91} 48.60} 1.0: 1.30) 3.48) .52 28 55) 1.69]. 036 05) 1.49
Ill 18} 14.94} 8.44] 17.42] 47.99} 1.72) 1.56) 3.53 53 30 61} 1.69) .061 06) 1.05
IV 35| 18.20} 8.89) 16. 88) 42. 04 1.47) 3.55 65 32 60) 1.49) .034 05) 1.04
| Sona None.| 16,48) 7 0.29) 0.62) 1.33) 0.033] 0.07) 0.78
Tie 5] 19.61] 7 31 - 71) 1.39) 036) =. 07 74
gute 18] 18.20} 7.8 29) .59) 1.25] .032) .08| 73
Ives 35) 21.00) 8.71 33 -59} 1.25 033, a} 70
In the leaves and stalks there is a great variation im the magnesia
content of crops A and C and I. This difference, which holds for
all four plats, may be due either to different climatic conditions exist-
ing at the time of growth, or to the crops being cut at different stages
of growth, since this plant was grown for a certain number of days.
With bush beans similar differences were obtained between the mag-
nesia content of crop B and the combined crops D and F. In this
case the difference in the magnesia could not have been due to the
crops being cut at different stages of development, since all the
crops of bush beans were harvested in flower.
The average relative compositions of the three crops from the dif-
ferent plats are given in Table XXII.
29
TasLe XXII.—Relative ash composition cf sweet cassava from the different plats.
LEAVES.
= eee
Relative composition ofash (percent- | Relative amount ash constituents in dry substance
ages in plants from Plat I=100). (amounts present in plants from Plat I=100).
| = le ] : (Paes
o/s : a Oo |% : |
Plat ticacOs| . lee |S fesc|s. |. | Sy nee Ss | al i. | wt a
No. Jinsol.| G | dler| 21S) 2!1e/o!]2/enl|S1e)/214
co bas yi fo) fo} 3 7 ES Z fol fo) or
Sel se eC og |r et | Sy se Peo i te S | ae q
eH Eat lireyece |e et |) seal Maseeal i a= pe ahaa mes) aul US|) Gl yn 9
2 a }|o~| 3 g s Of ea oe = eee
Se eles ee ec ee |e ee Woe ee
Selec Generelt eae ipoul se fete die Vee lee eed ||)
Per ct..| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.| P.ct.
Drsce38 None. 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 | 100 100 100 100 100 100
1 ese 5 104 99 91 95 94 98 102 105 101 92 97 96 95 102
Il -: -| 18 108 108 96 92 85 87 106 113 14 102 97 91 89 101
Ves yes 35 | 112] 104 98 97 85 93 | 102} 114} 107] 100 98 88 85 102
STALKS
| | | |
100} 100} 100} 100; 100; 100} 100! 100} 100; 100} 100} 100} 100] 100
109 89 111 91 100 153 106 | 115 93 117 96 103 157 99
113 93 | 103 94} 101) 138] 113] 126] 104] 116] 107] 112] 155] 89
115 103 109 97 85 127 114; 130 116 123 110 97 142 | 387
- | — =
ROOTS
dae None. 100 100 100 100 100 100 | 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 | 100
10 Loe, 5 120 94 96 101 86 S4 109 130 102 104 109 93 92 | 98
100 eee 18 115 98 96 | 100 110 99 | 104 120 102 99 104 1l4 107 | 83
Vacs} 35 | 136} 106 95 | 94 84] 136] 105) 145) 112 99 97 86) 135 80
| J | | | | |
The amount of total ash in the leaves, stalks, and roots increased
in all the lime plats by percentages varying between 2 and 14 per cent
The amount of lime in the dry substance of the plant increased with
the amount of lime in the soil in contradistinction to bush beans.
Magnesia increased with the lime, although in smaller proportion.
Phosphoric acid and potash remained practically constant in the
plants from all the plats, but in the stalks from Plats IL and IV there
was an appreciable increase in the phosphoric acid. In the case of
the leaves there seemed to be a tendency for the iron content to
diminish with the increase of carbonate of lime in the soil, but in the
stalks and roots the iron content, though a little irregular, tended to
be constant. For the plant as a whole, the iron content was little
affected by the different soils, except for a small depression in the
plants from Plat IV. The nitrogen content of the leaves was con-
stant for all four plats. The nitrogen contents of the stalks and
roots from Plat II were the same as the check, while there was a
depression in the nitrogen contents of the stalks and roots from
Plats III and IV.
UPLAND RICE.
Of the seven crops of rice grown, six were grown for periods ranging
from 84 to 129 days and one for only 25 days. The crop grown for
30
25 days was not included in the average of relative growths. At 84
days heads were just appearing, and at 129 days the heads were well
filled out in the check plat. The data on the relative growths are
given in Table XXIII.
Taste XXIII.—Growth of rice on plats with different amounts of CaCOs.
| Relative weights of crops from dif-
Green weight of crops. ferent plats (Plat I=100).
- ~ =e ed n
A~|) or | wo AE) ro¥
“oo. G2 | ae | as a4 5
Plat | CaCOa| 25 | BE | BE | 5 5
No. |insoil.| Aso | a5 | ae ao 3 af
‘| Bo] Se | Be =o ‘Bp ay
| ~n |, ch Se,
No. |insoil.| © a 33 wy oy } 3 ° ra 23) a } 3 | a
Step Sa. eee Sales he Cn esa | 1a | og
cz a | a i ner 4 ~ 8 laa] a om all ee
o 9 aw | @ nan 3 S 2 a~| 8 = 3 °
ie ls 8 q 8 2 g & | 3 8 qd S|
a 3 a 5S e ro a a-| 8 aS is} S | =
4 Ss [A AY 4 a iS) =) a | AY 4 mn Zz
Per iCbs| Peels |(tPaCbs,| Erb ales Cle: Pe Cle lita chs| yeniCls
Teese None 3.22} 2.96) 6.14) 17. 50) 2.76) 60. 94] 22. 29
5| 7.43] 4.04) 4.98) 19.88} 2.11) 54.76) 17.69
18} 6.00) 3.42) 4.65) 20.40) 1.58) 60.49] 17.74
35] 7.10} 3.05, 8.05] 16,40) 1.98) 52.72} 17.10
CROP B (84 DAYS’ GROWTH).
| |
(ager None.) 3.07} 3.34) 4.84) 24.00 0.31) 61.92) 18. 18, 0.56 0.61) 0.88 4 1.87
Ses 5| 3.27) 4 00) 5.82) 15,89 34) 57.31 19.13) 63) 77) 11) 3 1.93
Tis. 18, 3.92] 4.06) 10.20) 23.46 - 27) 50.47 16.61) .65 -67) 1.69) 3 1.99
We. 35} 4.19} 3.70) 12.04) 12. Ol . 18) 50.75} 16.82) .70) .62) 2.03) 2. 1. 67
| |
CROPS C AND D (102 DAYS’ GROWTH).
1a None.| 2.64) 3.63} 5.88) 19.76 0.51) 0.83 8. 89| 1.99
IDE 5] 3.96] 4.47) 6.85) 24.24 60) .92 7.61) 2.44
100 Re 18) 5.25) 5.36} 7.59 13 69]. 98 6.72} 3.03
TV):. 35} 4.51) 4.61) 6.8: . 26) 2 91 Tali Genie:
CROPS E AND F (129 DAYS’ GROWTH).
|
Tee - None.} 2.07) 3.77 8} 14.31) 0. 30 0.54! 0. 62] 1.54
plese: 5] 2.49} 4.72 3] 12.51) .31] 59]. 40 1,91
IIL... 18} 3.83) 4.37 | 10,91 . 42 48 34 1,83
Tiers 35] 3.35) 4.22) | 11.92! .40) .50) .41 1, 63
| | |
It is probable that of all the analyses that of crop G, grown 25 days,
gives the most accurate comparison of the effect of the carbonate of
lime on the mineral nutrition of the plant. As already mentioned,
the plants in the lime plats were somewhat slower in maturing than
those in the check. Accordingly the analyses of the 84, 102, and 129
day plants from the four plats would show variations in the ash com-
position that were induced parily by the chemical character of the
soil and partly by the stage of maturity. The analyses of crops B
and F also tend to show the ash composition of the normal or average
plant in Plat I and of the resistant individuals in Plats IT to TV, for
in the lime plats the greater portion of the sample was afforded by the
few resistant individuals which grew well; the plants which were
most affected died and did not appear in the sample. Sample G,
however, taken at 25 days, includes the less resistant plants and catches
them all at practically the same stage of maturity and yet at a time
when their nutrition has been sufficiently disturbed to be manifest.
32
As the different crops were grown at various seasons of different
years, as well as to different stages of maturity, one is hardly justified
in comparing the different analyses to see how the ash composition
of rice straw varies with its development. It appears, however,
that there is a constant decrease in the percentage of iron as the plant
approaches full maturity.
The relative composition of the different crops from the four plats
is shown in Table XXYV.
TABLE XXV.—Melative ash composition of rice straw from the different plats.
CROP G (25 DAYS’ GROWTBR).
| oe wee Relative amounts ash constituents in dry sub-
| Relative composition of ash (percent- z =
| ages in plants from Plat I=100). espe (amounts present in plants from Plat
Plat | CaCOz o |2 Fs 4 e138 st ;
No. |insoil.| =~ S 3 fo) 3s ~ Ses st 4 8) a] 0 3 4 zg
| ° Seems (eee (2) fo) 3 ° SC /}23) ° fa) —
6 | a [8o) 2) Sa) #) 8 | 4 | se). | sie ie
|} = Z an a & LY =| a 8 an) a & LV cr
le) 6 1a-| 8) eles So) 8] 6 183 | al sae
| 4 3 | 4 S S 3 E A 3 | 4 =) S = Rai
|e ties a) Silom eo Wa) js a OUP pene |
——= =e = | =
100 | 100} 100] 100} 100) 100} 100{ 100] 100] 100) 100} 100) 100}......
231 136 81 ll4 7o 90 79 | 182] 108 64 90 61 Al ey
186 116 76 117 57 99 80 147 92 61 93 46 19 esines
220} 103] 131 94 72 87 | 77) 168 79 | 101 72 55 66) |2cs4
- |
CROP B (84 DAYS’ GROWTH).
| | |
100} 100} 100} 100; 100 100) 100} 100; 100| 100] 100} 100} 100 100
107 120 120 66 | 110 93 | 105 113 126 126 70 114 97 103
128} 122) 211 98 87 82} 92 116 110 192 89 79 74 106
136 | lll | 249 53 58 82 93 | 125}; 102 | 231 49 | 53 76 89
| | |
CROPS C AND D (102 DAYS’ GROWTH).
I....... None. 100| 100) 100! 100} 100/ 100] 100} 100} 100} 100| 100] 100] 100} 100
5 150 123 116 | 123 124 90 95 143 118 dit 116 17 86 123
18 | 199] 148] 129) 182 171 83 ot 181 135 | 118} 120] 154 76 152
35 | 171 127 | 116 | 128] 176 85 94 | 162] 122] 110} 120] 167 80 136
CROPS E AND F (129 DAYS’ GROWTH).
7 ; :
oe None 100; 100/ 100} 100} 100} 100} 100} 100) 100} 100} 100; 100] 100 100
ls 5] 120} 125 75 | 125) 110 93 | 88} 103} 109 65 | 109 | 100 81 124
TELS. 18 | 185 116 72 | 120) 120 95 | 76] 140 89 55 92 93 73 119
afr 35 | 162] 112 80} 119} 110 96 | 83} 133 93 66 | 100 93 80 106
| |
The youngest crop, G, seems to show more disturbance in its ash
composition than the other crops.
In this crop the most marked
effect of the carbonate of lime upon the plant ash has been in greatly
increasing the amount of lime and in diminishing
The same, although less
total ash, and silica.
occur in crop B as in crop G.
Crops C to F on
show in their ash composition a great increase in
the amount of iron,’
marked, variations
tion in total ash and silica, but no diminution in iron.
the lime plats also
lime and a diminu-
33
The percentage of magnesia in the ash is higher in the plants from
the lime plats than in the check plants in all the crops. The phos-
phoric acid, potash, and nitrogen show great irregularity, the plants
from the lime plats being sometimes much higher and sometimes much
lower in these elements than the check plants.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS.
THE EFFECT OF CARBONATE OF LIME ON THE GROWTH OF PLANTS.
The average relative growths of all the plants on the four plats are
shown in Table X XVI.
TaBLE XXVI.—Average relative growths made on the plats by the different plants.
[Growth made on Plat I=100.]
> 7 CaCO3in} Bush | Soy Sun- [pagscnac Sugar Sweet Fa
Plat No. soil. beans. | beans. | flowers. fSsneibitusy cane. cassava, Rice
Per cent. | |
None. 100 100 | 100 100 100 100 100
5] 10043] 9042] 104+4| 9645] 9748) 8944 6245
18 | 10945 8142] 8743] 10045 7643) 7446 3846
85 11748 9543 | 9143 11546 8949 | 5646 5345
| |
After making allowance for the probable error of the average results,
it appears that the growth of bush beans and radishes was certainly
not depressed on-the calcareous sous, but possibly slightly increased.
Soy beans, sunflowers, and sugar cane were little affected in their
growth by the calcareous soils of Plats IT and TV, but on Plat TIT
their growth was unmistakably diminished, the decreases being four
to nine times the probable error. The growth of sweet cassava was
slightly decreased on the moderately caleareous soil of Plat II (PL.
II, fig. 2) and strongly decreased on the more limy soils of Plats II
and IV (Pl. IIT). The growth of rice was greatly depressed on all
the lime plats (Pl. IV). In brief then, the tolerance of the plants
for the different amounts of carbonate of lime was as follows: Bush
beans and radishes were unaffected even by 35 per cent of CaCO,;
sunflowers, soy beans, and sugar cane were somewhat affected by 18
per cent of CaCO,; sweet cassava was somewhat affected by 5 per
cent of CaCO, and markedly by 35 per cent; rice and pineapples
were greatly affected by 5, 18, and 35 per cent of CaCQ,.
Rice and pineapples were the only plants that became chlorotic
on the calcareous soils, although the other plants whose growth was
but little affected were often a somewhat lighter green on the lime
plats than on the check. In the case of soy beans, sunflowers, sugar
cane, and rice it will be noted that the greatest depression in growth
occurred on Plat III, with 18 per cent of CaCO, rather than on Plat
IV with 35 per cent of CaCO,. As mentioned on page 13, Plat IV,
34
although of good texture, was heavier than Plats I to III. This
heavier physical condition may have influenced the action of the car-
bonate of lime, or the lime and physical condition of the soil may have
affected the plant growth independently and oppositely. It seems
more probable, however, that the physical condition of the soil
influences the effect of the carbonate of lime upon the plant.
Hilgard observed that ‘‘the greater the clay percentage in a soil
the more lime carbonate it must contain in order to possess the
advantages of a calcareous soil.”’* And in the course of certain other
experiments with rice, not reported here, where rice was grown on
calcareous soils, we observed that on the heavier calcareous soils the
growth was not depressed so much as on the more sandy soils.
THE EFFECT OF CARBONATE OF LIME ON THE ASH COMPOSITION OF
PLANTS.
The extent to which the carbonate of lime in the soil influenced the
composition of the ash and the quantities of ash constituents in the
dry substance of the various plants is shown in Tables VII, X, XIII,
XVI, XIX, XXII, and XXYV.
In summarizing the effect of the carbonate of lime in the soil upon
the ash composition of the plant, it is assumed that the differences
in ash composition, which occur between the plants grown on the
check and calcareous soils, have been induced by the soil. This
assumption is justifiable in so far as other factors tending to induce
variations in the ash, such as differences in climate and differences
in maturity of the plant, have been equalized or eliminated. As
pointed out in the previous pages, it 1s believed that in growing the
plants and taking the samples these factors have-been equalized,
except in the case of the samples of rice grown 84, 102, and 129 days.
All the analyses of rice are given in Table XXYV, but in the following
summary only the analysis of the 25-day sample is considered, for
the reason given on page 30.
The carbonate of lime in the soil increased the percentage of lime
in the ash of rice very markedly. The percentage of lime in the ash
of sweet cassava from Plat IV was also markedly increased. Soy
beans, sunflowers (combined leaves and stalks), and sugar cane,
however, showed very slight increases in the lime of the ash. In
the radish plants from the plat with 5 per cent of CaCO, there was a
17 per cent increase of lime in the ash, while in the ashes of radish
plants from plats with 18 per cent and 35 per cent of CaCO, there
were progressively smaller increases of lime. This is analogous to
the results of Lemmerman et al. and Meyer (see p. 11) with oats.
The lime in the ash of bush beans slightly decreased rather than
increased with increasing amounts of CaCO, in the soil.
1 Hilgard, E. Soils. New York and London, 1906, p. 369.
aye
79)
The magnesia content of the ash of rice was considerably increased
on the calcareous plats, although the increase was not comparable
with that of lime. With sweet cassava and sugar cane the magnesia
in the ash was little if at all affected. With radishes, sunflowers, and
soy beans there was quite a marked depression in the magnesia con-
tent of the ash of the plants from Plat IV and slight depressions in
the ashes of plants from Plats I] and HI. Bush beans showed a
depression in the magnesia in the ash in Plat IV only.
The amount of phosphoric acid in the ash did not appear to be
affected in any constant manner, in any ot the plants tested, by the
carbonate of lime in the soil. Variations occurred, but they were
irregular, showing no correspondence with the lime content of the
soils.
The same tendency to constancy and lack of effect of the carbonate
of lime is apparent in the figures for potash.
In regard to the percentage of iron in the ash, bush beans, soy
beans, radishes, and rice showed a marked and fairly regular decrease
with increasing amounts of lime in the soil. The combined leaves,
stalks, and roots of sweet cassava showed a marked decrease in the
iron content of the ash in Plat IV only. With sugar cane and sun-
flower there was a tendency to a constant percentage of iron.
The percentages of silica are irregular, but on the whole they were
little affected by the carbonate of lime. Where large variations
occurred, the percentages of silica in the plant were very small.
The amounts of nitrogen in the dry substance were fairly constant
for all the plants, so it seems very probable that the lime had no effect
on the nitrogen. However, in the stalks of sunflowers from Plats III
and IV, and in the roots and stalks of sweet cassava from Plats ITI
and IV there were noticeable decreases in the nitrogen; but the
leaves of both plants from these plats showed no decrease in the
nitrogen.
The amount of total ash in the dry substance was slightly increased
in all the plants, except rice, by the calcareous soils. For the most
part these increases were only three or four per cent, but they occurred
with great regularity with bush beans, soy beans, sunflowers, radishes,
sugar cane, sweet cassava, and pineapples,! cane leaves from Plat IIL
being the only exception. It thus seems very probable that this is a
general effect of carbonate of lime on all these plants except rice.
Practically the same observations as were made on the quantity of
lime, magnesia, phosphoric acid, etc., in the ash, apply to the quanti-
ties of these elements in the dry substance of the plant. There were
some differences, however, between the relative ash compositions
and the relative amounts of the ash constituents in the dry substance,
1 See Porto Rico Sta. Bul. 11, p. 35.
36
due to the increase in total ash of the plants on the calcareous soils.
For instance, the amount of lime in the dry substance of sweet cassava
(combined leaves, stalks, and roots) increased in Plats II, III, and
IV, while the increase of lime in the ash was marked in the plants
from Plat IV only. There were also moderate increases in the
amounts ot lime in the dry substance of sunflowers (combined leaves
and stalks) and radishes (leaves and roots) on Plats II, III, and
IV. But it should be noted that these increases were of smaller
magnitude on the plats with 18 per cent and 35 per cent of CaCO,
than on the plat with 5 per cent; in fact, on the plat with 35 per cent
of CaCO, the combined leaves and stalks of sunflowers contained
little if any more lime than on the check plat. This would seem to
point to sunflowers and radishes having a certain regulatory power in
the absorption of lime from strongly calcareous soils.
What was true of the effect of the caleareous soils on the quan-
tity of magnesia in the ash of the plants holds also for the effect on
the quantity of magnesia in tne dry substance with slight modi-
fications. Bush beans and soy beans showed only slight decreases
in the quantity of magnesia in the dry substance on Plat IV. With
sunflowers and radishes there were slight decreases ia the magnesia
on Plat IIT and marked decreases on Plat ITV. Sugar cane and sweet
cassava on all the calcareous soils contained slightly more magnesia
than on the check soil.
The quantities of potash and phosphoric acid in the dry substance
of the plants did not seem at alt affected by the carbonate of lime.
As a whole, the results were fairly constant and where variations
did occur they were irregular, pointing to neither an increasing nor
depressing effect.
With regard to the amount of silica in the dry substance there was
a marked and significant decease with rice only.
The regular variations in ash composition and in quantity of the
mineral constituents ia the dry substance of the plants that were
induced by the carbonate of lime are summarized below:
3ush beans. Decrease in Fe,O, in the ash and dry substance.
Soy beans. Slight increase in CaO, slight increase in MgO, and
marked decrease in Fe,O, in the ash and dry substance.
Sunflowers (combined analyses of leaves and stalks). Decrease
in MgO and slight decrease in P,O, in the ash. Slight decrease in
MgO in the dry substance.
Radishes (combined analyses of leaves and roots). Small increase
in CaO, decrease in MgO, and marked decrease in Fe,O, in the ash
and dry substance.
Sweet cassava (combined analyses of leaves, stalks, and roots).
Increase in CaO, decrease in Fe,O, (Plat TV only) in the ash. Increase
in CaO, shght increase in MgO, slight decrease in Fe,O, (Plat IV
°
ot
only), and slight decrease in N (Plats ITI and 1V only) in the dry
substance,
Rice. Large increase in CaO, smailer increase in MgO, and
decrease in Fe,O, in the ash. Decrease in total ash. Large increase
in CaO, large decrease in Fe,O, and SiO, in the dry substance.
Pineapples... Marked increase in CaO and marked decrease in
MgO and Fe,O, in the ash. Large increase in total ash and large
increase in CaO in the dry substance.
In general the carbonate of lime affected the ash composition of
the plants In varyimg the quantities of lime, magnesia, and iron,
All the plants, however, did not show variations in all three of these
elements. In regard to the variations in the percentages of these
constituents in the ash, the different plants behaved as follows:
Bush beans, iron alone decreased; soy beans and radishes, lime
increased, magnesia and iron decreased; sunflowers, magnesia
decreased; sweet cassava, lime increased; rice, hme and magnesia
increased, iron decreased; pineapples, lime increased, magnesia and
iron decreased. In regard to the variations in the quantities of
these elements in the dry substance of the plant, the results were as
follows: Bush beans, decrease in iron; soy beans and radishes, increase
in lime, decrease in magnesia and iron; sunflowers, decrease in
magnesia; sweet cassava, increase in lime and magnesia, decrease
in iron (in Piat IV only); rice, increase in lime, decrease in iren;
pineapples, increase in lime. Thus the plants varied qualitatively
in regard to which nuneral constituents were affected and quanti-
tatively with respect to the degree that they were affected.
THE EFFECT ON GROWTH COMPARED WITH THE EFFECT ON ASH
COMPOSITION,
In comparing the effect of the carbonate of lime on the growth
of the plant with the effect on the ash composition of the plant, it can
be seen that there was not always a parallelism between the two
effects. For instance, the decrease in the iron content of bush beans
on the calcareous soils was not accompanied by a depression in
growth; the slight increase in lime, the slight decrease in magnesia,
and the marked decrease in iron in soy beans on the calcareous
soils were accompanied by a slight depression in growth, although
on Plat III where the growth was most depressed the changes in
ash composition of the plant were less marked than on Plat IV where
the growth was very slightly if at all depressed. The slight increase
in lime, the decrease in magnesia, and the marked decrease in iron
in radishes on the calcareous soils were not accompanied by any
changes in the growth of the plant. The rather marked depression
1 Loe. cit.
38
in growth of sugar cane on Plat III can aot be correlated with any
changes in ash composition.
Where, however, the growth was very markedly decreased and the
plants showed an obvious intolerance for the calcareous soils, as
observed with pineapples and rice, the marked decrease in growth
was accompanied by marked changes in the ash composition of the
plants. The increases in lime in the ash and dry substance of rice
and pineapples on the calcareous soils were much greater than the
increases in lime induced in the other plants whose growths were not
so injuriously affected. The marked decreases in iron in the ash of
rice and pineapples were not greater than the decreases in iron in
some of the other plants whose growths were not depressed. Next
to rice and pineapples the largest increase in lime occurred with sweet
cassava in Plats IIT and IV, and on these plats the growth of the
plants was markedly depressed. Bush beans, soy beans, sunflowers,
radishes, and sugar cane, which showed either no decrease in growth
or a smaller depression on the calcareous soils than rice, pineapples,
and sweet cassava, showed either no increase or a smaller increase
in lime in the plant than rice, pineapples, and sweet cassava.
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS.
The results reported seem to point to certain general facts. The
individuality of the various plants with regard to the effect of carbon-
ate of lime on their growth is very marked, some plants growing
equally well on the calcareous and noncalcareous soils and other
plants doing very poorly on the calcareous soils. There is also an
equal individuality of the plants in regard to the effect of carbonate
of lime on their ash composition. This individuality, shown experi-
mentally, has an important bearmg on the much discussed theories
regarding the distribution of plants on calcareous and noncalcareous
soils.
Of the eight plants tested, only those plants which showed obvious
injury and depression in growth from the carbonate of lime showed
a notable increase of lime in the dry substance of the plant. Some
plants, as bush beans, contained no more lime in the dry substance
when grown on the calcareous soil containmg 35 per cent of CaCO,
than when grown on the soil that contamed no CaCO,, and only
1 per cent of CaO present as silicate. It thus appears that providing
there is a certain sufficiency of lime in the soil it is useless to attempt
to increase the lime content of some plants by liming.!
It is also interesting to note that while the lime content of pine-
apples increased with the percentage of CaCO, in the soil, the lime
content of sunflowers was greatest on the soil with 5 per cent CaCO,
1 Considerable applications of soluble lime salts would probably increase the lime content of the plant
even when there is a sufficiency of lime in the soil
39
and progressively less on the soils with 18 per cent and 35 per cent
of CaCO,, and the lime content of bush beans was practically the same
on all the soils. Thus with regard to the amount of lime absorbed,
pineapples behaved similar to vetch as observed by Lemmermann
(see p. 11), sunflowers behaved similar to oats and buckwheat as
observed by Meyer (see p. 12), and bush beans behaved similar to
clover as observed by Lemmermann.
The individual manner in which the different plants behaved with
respect to their growth and ash composition on the calcareous soils
is doubtless due to individual differences in the constitution and
physiology of the roots. Since Dyer’ found that the cell saps of
various roots differed in their acidity, differences in the assimilative
power of various plants for soil constituents have often been attributed
to differences in the strength of the acids excreted by the roots of the
various plants. But because the cell sap is acid it does not necessarily
follow that the roots excrete an acid. Moreover, the only root
excretion that has been well established is carbon dioxid. Therefore
it does not seem justifiable to attribute the different behavior of the
various plants on the calcareous soil to differences in the acid excre-
tions of their roots. In the light of recent investigations on the
permeability of the membrane of plant cells it seems more probable
that the differences observed were due to differences in the nature
or reactions of the cell membrane.
It appears that the diminished growth of some of the plants on the
calcareous soil is due to modifications induced in their ash composition
by the carbonate of lime. This conclusion is based on two general
assumptions, first, that ash analyses show differences in the mineral
nutrition of plants, and, second, that the plants which have made the
better growth have an ash composition more nearly approaching
the optimum. Before detailing the modifications in ash composition
that appear to have induced the injury in the plant, these two
sources of doubt in the conclusion will be considered.
In the first place, it should be remembered that an ash analysis
does not give a moving picture of the ash composition of the plant
during growth, but gives a picture of the ash composition at one
stage of growth only. As the percentages of the elements in a plant
vary considerably according to the stage of development of the plant,
the complete. picture of any one ash constituent would be repre-
sented by a curve. But an ash analysis gives only one point on the
curve, so we are really comparing similar curves by points. The
ash analyses show differences in the mineral nutrition of the plants
if the points compared occupy the same relative position on the
curves; that is, if the plants were analyzed at the same stage of
maturity. As precautions were taken concerning the maturity of
1 Dyer, B., Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 65 (1894), p. 115; Biedermanns Centbl. Agr, Chem., 23 (1894), p. 799.
40
the plants, the validity of the conclusion is probably not affected by
the first assumption.
The second assumption upon which the conclusion is based,
namely, that the plants which have made the better growth have an
ash composition more nearly approaching the optimum, is subject to
considerable doubt because of our uncertainty concerning the factors
and laws governing the ash composition of plants in general. A
glance at a collection of ash analyses of the same plant shows that
the same plant grown under different conditions may make practi-
cally the same growth and yet have a very different ash composition.
It does not necessarily follow, however, that under like conditions of
growth the ash composition of a plant can be varied without affecting
the growth.
Some of the conditions affecting the ash composition of plants are
known, and among these may be enumerated the following: The
humidity, intensity of ght, temperature, and all those conditions
which may be summarized as climate, the water content of the soil,
the character of the soil,” the fertilizers applied,’ the stage of maturity
of the plant,! and a great number of circumstances, such as the culti-
vation of the soil, the thickness of the stands,® and the time of plant-
ing,® which affect either the climatic or soil conditions. All these
factors, of course, do not affect the ash composition independently,
but more or less interdependently, and therefore it is somewhat diffi-
cult to isolate and measure the effect of one factor. However, from
the studies that have been made, it appears that climatic influences
have the greatest effect on the organic and inorganic composition of
the plant.’
It seems probable that for every set of climatic conditions there is
an optimum ash composition of the plant; and that when the ash
composition is varied from this optimum, by varying the chemical
character of the soil, the amount of nutrients available, etc., the
growth is affected. If this is so, variations in the ash composition
of plants induced by differences in the character of the soil, under
otherwise like conditions of growth, are significant. But variations
1 Fittbogen, J., Landw. Jahrb., 2 (1873), p. 353. Langer, L., and Tollens, B., Jour. Landw., 49 (1901),
p. 209. Daszewski, A. yon, and Tollens, B., Jour. Landw., 48 (1900), p. 223. Wilms, J., and Seelhorst,
C. von, Jour. Landw., 46 (1898), p. 413.
2 Hall, A. D., Jour. Soc. Arts [London], 52 (1904), p. 881; Jour. Agr. Sci. [England], 1 (1905), No. 1, pp.
65-88. Stahl-Schréder, M., Jour. Landw., 52 (1904), p. 193.
3 Kellner, O., et al., Landw. Vers. Stat., 39 (1891), p. 361. Dikow, A. von, Jour. Landw., 39 (1891), p.
134. Atterberg, A., Jour. Landw., 49 (1901), p. 97.
4 Tucker, G. M., and Tollens, B., Jour. Landw., 48 (1900), p. 39. Haselhoff, E.,and Werner, S., Landw.
Jahrb., 44 (1913), No. 4, p. 651. Fliche, P., and Grandeau, L., Ann. Chim. et Phys., 5. ser., 8 (1876), p. 486.
Wilfarth, H., Romer, H., and Wimmer, G., Landw. Vers. Stat., 63 (1905), No. 1-2.
5 Seelhorst, C. von, and Panaotovic, Jour. Landw., 47 (1899), p. 379. Atterberg, A., Jour. Landw., 49
(1901), p. 97.
6 Stahl-Schroder, M., Jour. Landw., 52 (1904), p. 31.
7 Lawes, J. B., and Gilbert, J. H., Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 45 (1884), p. 305. Stahl-Schréder, M.,
Jour. Landw., 52 (1904), p. 193.
41
in the ash composition of plants which are at different stages of
maturity or grown under unlike climatic conditions are valueless as
showing the effect of the character of the soil.
But even under like conditions of climate, water supply, character
of the soil, etc., the ash composition of plants can be varied in some
directions without affecting the growth appreciably. This involves
the question of ‘‘luxus consumption.”’ From studies that have been
made of the utilization of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash by
the plant, it is apparent that when there is an excess of these nutrients
present a plant may take up more of these elements than are neces-
sary for growth.! Hf, however, a certain greater amount of these
elements is absorbed, the growth is depressed. Hence we may
conclude that there is a minimum amount of an element required
for a plant to make a maximum growth; that the plant can absorb
luxus above this necessary amount without injury, but when the
excess absorption exceeds a certain point injury to growth results.
On this basis some changes in ash are significant while others are
not. The greater the change in any particular plant, however, the
greater the probability that it is of consequence. The same order
of change is probably not equally productive of effect on all plants,
however, as some plants seem more sensitive to changes in their ash
content than others. Nor is the same order of change necessarily
significant for all the mineral elements.’
The question whether there are certain ratios that should exist
between the elements in the ash, also has a bearing on what changes
in the ash are significant. While it is well proven that sodium can
partially substitute potassium in the plant, it has not been established
that there should be a definite ratio between these two bases.* Ac-
cording to some investigators, lime and magnesia can substitute each
other to a certain extent in the plant,* while others are more of the
opinion that these elements should be present in a definite ratio.
According to Champion and Pellet, the bases are more or less capable
of mutual substitution but the sum of their chemical equivalents
should be constant, each species of plant having a different constant.*
In short, it is reasonably sure that the differences in ash composi-
tion of the plants grown on the calcareous soils were induced by the
carbonate of lime and not by some climatic or accidental factor. But
it is not certain that these differences in ash composition affected the
growth, since we have no general knowledge as to what changes in
ash composition are indicative of impaired nutrition. The most
1 Jordan, W. H., New York State Sta. Bul. 360, p. 76.
2 In the experiments of Dikow, Wilms, and Atterberg (loc. cit.), the P20, content of the plants showed
less variation than the N and K,0 content.
3 Hartwell, B. L., and Pember, F. R., Rhode Island Sta. Rpt. 1908, p. 243.
4 Malaguti and Durocher, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., 4. ser., 9 (1858), p. 222.
6 Champion, P., and Pellet, H., Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 80 (1875), p. 1588; Biedermanns Centb].
Agr. Chem., 8 (1875), p. 242; 9 (1876). p. 118.
42
that can be claimed is, that it is probable, where marked alterations
in ash composition accompanied diminished growth, that the changes
in ash were the cause of the poor growth. For in addition to uncer-
tainty as to what changes in ash composition are injurious, there is
the possibility that differences in growth on the calcareous and non-
calcareous soils are conditioned simply by the reaction of the soils,
and that the soil reaction affects the plant in some other way than
through influencing the absorption of mineral nutrients. If this were
so, the decreased growth might not be due to but accompanied by
modifications in the ash.
Thus, because of uncertainty concerning the laws governing the ash
composition of plants there is considerable doubt of the accuracy of
the conclusion that the diminished growth of the plants on the calca-
reous soils is due to modifications in their ash composition induced
by the carbonate of lime. With these general doubts in mind, how-
ever, it appears that injury from the carbonate of lime, so far as it
concerns the ash composition of the plant, may be due to one of the
following modifications in the plant:
1. An undue increase in the ime content of the plant or plant ash.
2. A dimunition in the iron content of the plant or plant ash.
3. An increase in the lime combined with a decrease in the iron in
the plant ash.
Judging from the ash analyses reported here it seems that the first
modification is the significant one, but judging from the results of
direct experiments with pineapples the third modification appears
more significant. Of course it is possible that the carbonate of lime
may injure different plants differently, influencing the ash cc mposi-
tion of one plant in one way and another species in another way.
With respect to the assimilation of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and
potash it is evident that the carbonate of lime had no depressing
effect. Even in the case of rice and pineapples, where the carbonate
of lime plainly caused a nutritional disturbance, the plants grown on
the limy soils often showed higher percentages of nitrogen, phosphoric
acid, and potash than the check plants. These results are plainly
contradictory of a view which has considerable acceptance, namely,
that the nutritional disturbances of some plants on calcareous soils are
due to a diminished potash content. The fact that fertilization with
potash is not a specific for such disturbances also militates against
this view. Of course, the results reported do not show whether the
carbonate of lime had any effect on the economical utilization of nitro-
gen, phosphoric acid, and potash, as those were applied abundantly
and in available forms.
43
The results for the phosphoric acid in the ash analyses would seem
to contradict the theory of Crochetelle,! that the carbonate of lime
injures the plant by decreasing the assimilation of phosphoric acid.
The experiments of Priainshnikow? with different phosphates also
contradict Crochetelle’s assumption, as the availability of phosphoric
acid in mono and dicalcium phosphate, Thomas slag, and iron and
aluminum phosphates was not depressed by carbonate of lime,
although the availability of phosphoric acid in bone meal and trical-
cium phosphate was depressed.
When the results reported here are compared with the results
obtained by Fliche and Grandeau with certain trees,’ striking simi-
larity in some respects is apparent. The bean tree, which was unaf-
fected in growth by the carbonate of lime, was unaffected in its ash
composition except for a depression in the magnesia. The maritime
pine and chestnut, whose growths were strongly depressed on the
calcareous soils, showed a marked increase in lime and a marked de-
crease in iron and potash in the ash, when grown on the calcareous
soils. All these trees contained a greater percentage of ash in the
dry matter when grown on the calcareous sous than whén grown on
the noncalcareous soil. The above results differ from those obtained
by us in that a strong depression of potash was noted in the pine and
chestnut on the calcareous soils.
The view that the injury to plants grown on calcareous soils does
not lie simply in increasing the lime in the plant seems to be borne
out by the direct experiments with pineapples and by experiments in
progress with rice. It is also the conclusion arrived at by Fliche and
Grandeau, and the opinion of Euler that ‘“* * * der schiid-
liche Einfluss des Kalkbodens ein in chemischer Hinsicht indirekter
ist.”’* Jost® is of a similar opinion. Euler and Jost, however,
believe that the indirect action of the lime in injuring the plants lies
in depressing the absorption of potash, apparently basing’ their
opinion on the analyses of Fiche and Grandeau. From the results
reported here it appears that the indirect action of the lime lies more
in affecting the iron absorption than in depressing the potash; since
when potash fertilizers are liberally used there is a depression in
growth, but no depression in the amount of potash absorbed.
It should be borne in mind that the results reported here do not
warrant a decisive conclusion that the diminished growth of all those
1 Crochetelle, J., Ann. Sci. Agron., 2. ser., 8 (1902-3), II, p. 43.
2 Prianishnikow, D., Landw. Vers. Stat., 75 (1911), Nos. 5-6, p. 357.
3 See p. 8.
4 Euler, H. Grundlagan und Ergebnisse der Pflanzenchemie, Braunschweig, 1909, pt. 3, p. 153.
6 Jost, L. Vorlesungen iiber Pflanzenphysiologie. Jena, 1908, 2, ed., p. 111.
44
plants which are affected by the carbonate of lime is due to the same
change in ash composition. In fact, some quite marked changes in
ash composition, as the decrease of iron in bush beans, occur without
affecting the growth. And some depressions in growth occur, as
sugar cane on Plat III, with practically no change in ash composition.
But those plants which showed the greatest injury from the caleareous
soils, pineapples and rice, showed fhe most marked changes in their
ash. The significant changes i in the ash composition of these plants
were apparently the increase in lime and decrease in iron.
SUMMARY.
The results show, in a soil well supplied with nitrogen, phosphoric
acid, and potash, the effect of 5, 18, and 35 per cent of carbonate of
lime upon the growth and ash composition of bush beans, soy beans,
sunflowers, radishes, sugar cane, sweet cassava, rice, and pineapples.
The growths of bush beans and radishes were unaffected even by
35 per cent of CaCO,. The growths of sunflowers, soy beans, and
sugar cane, were somewhat depressed by 18 per cent of CaCO,; the
growth of sweet cassava was somewhat depressed by 5 per cent of
CaCO, and markedly by 35 per cent of CaCO,; the growths of rice and
pineapples were markedly depressed with the appearance of chlorosis,
by 5, 18, and 35 per cent of CaCO,.
The carbonate of lime apparently had no effect on the amount of
nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid contained in the various plants,
but did increase slightly the total carbon-free ash in all the plants
except rice, and modified either the amount of lime, magnesia, or iron
in the ash of all the plants.
On the calcareous soils the lime in the ash of bush beans was not
increased, but there was a slight increase in the amount of lime in the
ash of soy beans, sunflowers, and sugar cane. On the plat with 5 per
cent of carbonate of lime, the lime in the ash of radishes was increased
about 17 per cent, but on the plats with 18 and 35 per cent of carbon-
ate of lime the increases of lime in the ash of this plant were progres-
sively less. On the plat with 35 per cent of carbonate of lime the
amount of lime in the ash and dry substance of sweet cassava was
markedly increased. On all the calcareous soils the amount of lime
in the ash and dry substance of rice and pineapples was greatly
increased.
Some plants whose growth was little affected by the carbonate of
lime (bush beans, soy beans, radishes, and sunflowers) showed marked
decreases in the amount of iron or noticeable decreases in the amount
of magnesia in the ash, when grown on the calcareous soils.
The plants whose growths were most depressed on the calcareous
soils (rice and pineapples) showed the greatest increases in the amount
45
of lime in the ash and dry substance of the plant, and also a marked
decrease in the amount of iron in the ash.
If the plants which have made the best growth have an ash compo-
sition nearest the optimum, it would appear from these results as
though the diminished growth of the plants most affected on the
calcareous soils were due either to (1) an undue increase in the lime
content of the plant or plant ash, or (2) an increase in the lime
combined with a decrease in the iron in the plant.
From these results alone it would appear as though the first suppo-
sition were correct, but from direct experiments with pineapples the
second supposition appears more probable.
ADDITIONAL COPIES
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