TOP-DRESSING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 255, 26 September 1929, Page 7

TOP-DRESSING

WORK AT MASSEY COLLEGE.

SOIL CHEMIST’S REPORT, EXPERIMENTS CONTINUED, “The top-dressing experiments on grass land which are being carried out this season are largely in the nature of a continuation and extension of those conducted in the previous year," stated the report of Mr F. L. (J, Scrivener, soil chemist, which was subjn it ted to the Massey College Council yesterday. . “Over 100 acres of the college property have been used for definite experiments and this area, together with further straightforward manuring, should provide a good deal of information on the effects of different manures on the various types of coil on the farm,” added the report.

PHOSPHATIC MANURES. “(1) An area of about 30 acres on the alluvial flats is being used for an extended trial of different phosphatic fertilisers. The soil consists of a deep medium loam, and this part of the farm Ts used exclusively for dairy cattle. The six paddocks concerned are being treated in the following ways:—(a) Control; (b) superphosphate (3cwts) annually in spring; (c) basio slag (3 cwts) annually in autumn; (d) basic, superphosphate (3cwts) annually in spring; (e) superphosphate, once a year; (f) superphosphate, twice a year. All the manured paddocks show a marked improvement over the control paddock. Those receiving superphosphate showed a quicker encouragement of rye • grass and clover in the first year than those receiving other manures, but the advantage is not so marked now. Grazing records have been kept but have not yet been worked out.

“(2) Small plots have been laid down on the terrace country which consists of a heavy, badly drained, acid soil. rO'ne series of these plots has been grazed by yearling heifers and the other series by sheep. The manures being tested are as follow: Superphosphate, basic slag, basic super, Nauru phosphate, African rock and phosphate (finely ground). The plots which have received two dressings of the first three manures named above show a great improvement in colour, clover development and early vigorous growth over the no manure plots. The rock phosphates were only applied for the first time in July of this year and no sign of then - action is visible yet.

“(3) A considerable portion of that part of the farm known as the “Pahiatua Block” has been .used tor investigating the effects of spring, and autumn dressings of superphosphate and basic slag. The soil on this block is similar to that on the terrace mentioned above, hut many different conditions result from the variable degrees of. drainage occasioned by the presence of steep sided gullies. All the top-dressing has been done by hand and some interesting results under the different environments—rushy, waterlogged flat tops, dry sunny slopes and shady damper elopes—are becoming apparent. This top-dressing was done in conjunction with grazing by bullocks and the two influences combined have made a vast improvement to this area. The improvement is specially noticeable _ on those paddocks which have received their second dressing of manure. NITROGENOUS MANURES.

“(1) la. continuation. of the . experiments which were conducted last season, a scheme of experiments on the use of sulphate of ammonia on grassland was drawn up in consultation with Mr L. Robb, whose firm agreed to supply the college with the necessary manure free of charge. Over 40 acres of the alluvial flats on thA dairy section of the farm are being dressed with sulphate of ammonia with the following objects in-view:—(a) To measure the increase in stock carrying capacity; (b) to determine the best times of application; (c) to determine the best method of utilising the increased growth produced; (d) to examine the effects on the herbage of this treatment. Very striking results were noticeable within three weeks of the appliation of the sulphate of ammonffi and very luxuriant early growth is being produced on the paddocks. The problem of utilising tm., grass to the best advantage will be a difficult one. “(2) In addition, plots have been laid down to test the effects of the different forms of nitrogenous fertilisers now on the market including the concentrated German products supplies of which have been presented to the college. The following manures are being tried out: —Sulphate of ammonia, nitro-chalk, urea, diamnouphos, leunophos, nitrophoska. . . “(3) The effect of nitrogen is being tried also on small plots on the heavy 6oil of the terrace and, results so far show that the response is much slower and less marked than on the lighter better drained flats. OTHER MANURES. “Potash.—Strips of potash salts i have been applied across other experimental paddocks both on the lower flats and on the terrace. . . “Lime.—Strips of lime are being tried in conjunction with superphosphate and with sulphate of ammonia. No results are available at present. Small plots have been dressed with limestone of varying degrees of fineness to test the rapidity of action and lasting effects of the different grades found in a commercial sample of ground limestone.