This is to certifg that the thesis entitled The Effect of the Application of Common Salt on the Composition of Lirferent Varieties of Sugar Beets, Celery and Peas. presented bg Einston Means uaughlin has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for Ail-,5. ,,degree in_ , 5 il, Science (£64. 7 Mater Vprgfessor M-‘ms THE EFFECT CF TIT. AIIIICLTIC" CF CC”"C" SLI.T CIT T'TTT CULT-T. SITICIT CF _T FTC; :fT TL-:‘ILTT :3 F 811’ CT 4-44.4J BEETS, 0:31:33, A11“! PEAS. Tv U .ITTTTT-TT 1T TTT-TTTTS Trim-#11:? d-J. U... Jab—LI A MT'TTQT ob _--4_4~J.L PrecontCC To Thc F5cul+y of KichiCTn 3t te CCllC '0 of Agriculture ind Ll lied Science in QTrTcigl fulfilant cf the rCnuircncn : fer (hC chrec of ILiSTBF. F SCIBITCB THESIS AfiT'w-T ‘thW‘fl’fi‘lfl'efiYm . JA-‘u tl‘~H_ gag-IA .o-l‘IA- v .. ° .. - ‘1‘”- .L -.\ , | ‘ M: ‘4. Tao JIlfCI‘uHJaNA. «o nglCLS his " ~ - ~éJL91' gggrcciiticn t Yr. Paul I. V~rmcr for effccfive Lid gn? guificnnc fhroughouf +his inv;:tifttion. Kc r120 aasircs to thrnk VT. “wWin J. Ignnc and other numbers of fhc Tcg'rtmcnt of Africultur l Cheris+ry uh give helpful suggestions "n6 mfdc '; Jgrcc and cguigmcnt for gcrforming the n$§nical tn 1?: s. 0 188985 I. II. III. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................ Experimental Procedure .................. Results ................................. A. Celery .............................. 1. Yield 2. Chemical Composition ............ a. Water ....................... b. Potash ...................... c. Chlorides ................... d. Soda ........................ '3. Mineral Removal From $011 ....... a. Potash ...................... be Cthrides ooooooooooooooooooo o: (D a: (D O) (D O) (D O) t# $> FF B3 I“ 00 .306.3. oeooooooooooooeooooooooo d. Preportion of Applied Sodium 1n HarVBSted Cr0p 00000000000 9 4. Mineral Ratios .................. 9 a. Potash-Soda ................. 9 b. Potash-Chloride ............. 9 c. Soda-Chloride ............... 11 B. Sugar Beets ......................... ll 10 ‘Yield oe090.000.000.000.oooooooee 11 . a o u v ' . o - \ g I ‘ O IV. V. VI. 2. Chemical Composition ............. a. Potash ....................... b. Chlorides .................... c. Soda ......................... 5. Mineral Removal From Soil ........ a. Potash ....................... b. Chloride ..................... Co SOda 0000000000000000000000000 d. Preportion of Applied Sodium in HarVBSted CPOP oooooocooooo 4. Mineral Ratios ................... a. Potash-Soda .................. b. Potash-Chloride .............. c. Soda-Chloride ................ C. Peas ................................. 1. Yield ............................ 2. Chemical Composition ............. a. Potash ....................... b. Chloride ..................... 3. Mineral Ratio .................... 4. Immature Lincoln Peas ............ Discussion ............................... Summary 00000000000000.000000000000000000. Litarature Citsd 000000.000000000000000... 12 12 15 13 14 l4 14 15 15 15 15 17 17 17 19 19 19 21 22 22 25 29 32 THE EFFECT CF THE APILICATION CF CCKKCN SALT ON THE CCEICSITICN CF DIFFEREKT VARIETIES CF SUGAR BEETS, CELERY, AKD PEAS. INTRODUCTION It has long been recognized that certain Creps show yield resgonses from the application of common salt to the soil in which they grow. The earliest in- vestigation of this subject in this country was pioneer- ed in 1894 by wheeler and Adams (12) and continued by Hartwell (7,8) and his associates. Since then a copious literature concerning this general field has accumulated. It seems sufficient in a treatise of this nature, how- ever, to cite only a number of reviews of the subject. Lehr (9) has made a comprehensive survey of the Eur0pean literature. Several other excellent reviews of the subject are available, among the most notable of which are the abstracts of Willis (15). A concise sum- mary of the literature concerning the effects of sodium upon plant growth is presented by Killer (10), while Haas (3) gives a thorough discussion of the information releting to the influence of chloride on plants. Since 1924, Harmer at Michignn State College has carried on an extensive study of the effects of salt on the yield of a number of crops grown on organic soil. Kore recently Harmer and Benne (5,6) have investigated the effect of salt on the composition of creps, sodium having been given particular attention. Numerous other investigators have worked with several crops reSponsive to the addition of salt, but only two have in any way dealt with varietal differences. The first of these, Van Itallie (9), compared the potassium and sodium con— tents of four fodder beet varieties with one variety of sugar beets. The other, Haas (2), in his study of the chloride content of the pinnae and fruit from a large number of date palm varieties found a wide var- iation among the varieties grown under similar conditions. The same variety, grown in different localities, also showed considerable variation in chloride content. EXPERIMENTAL PRCCEDURE This study has been confined to crops grown on the set of twenty plots known as the "Salt series" on the College Experimentrl Muck Farm in Clinton County, Kichigan. These plots were established by Dr. Harmer in 1942 on virgin muck. Five treatments in duplicate are concerned in this study. Eight of these plots had received three annual applications of 1000 pounds per acre of a O-lO-ZO commercial fertilizer. The potash in this mixture was supplied from commercial muriate of potash containing 60% potash. The two remaining plots, number 36 in each replication, were given an equivalent amount of potassium in the form of Carlsbad Kinesaun Potash. The plot designations t0gether with the amounts of salt applied are given below. Plot Pounds of Salt per Acre (East and West Replication) (Applied Annually Since.l942) 33 None 34 ' 500 as 778* 39 1000 42 . None Both the fertilizer and salt were broadeasted on the surface each spring and thoroughly disked-in. Four varieties of celery were transplanted to the plots in the summer of 1945 while three varieties of sugar beets were sown that Spring. All were harvested in the fall of 1945 and representative samples taken for chemical analysis. .In 1945 samples of the entire plants of the Lincoln variety of peas sown in the Spring were secured * . . The equivalent amount 0f 25% Carlsbad Potash contains 56%salt making an annual salt application of 778 pounds per acre. -5- Table 1. Effects of applying salt to muck soil upon the content of potash, chloride, and soda in four varieties of celery grown thereon. Annual Plot iifiii- g:3id Increasel Moisture Percentage in orOP cation 22:9 Water- £396 Basis Fresh Weight Basis K20 I Inc1 I 01 Inc1 I Nago I Incl K20 J Inc1 1 Cl Inc NagO I Inc1 ' I Summer Pascal 5 / 42 0 42.0 -—- 92.68 6.62 --- 5.28 --- 0.70 ——- 0.485 --— 0.240 ——— 0.051 -~- 54 500 46.7 11.2 95.50 6.40 -5.5 4.67 42.4 1.98 184.8 0.429 —11.6 0.515 50.4 0.155 160.8 59 1000 49.2 17.1 95.06 6.21 -6.5 5.57 65.6 2.59 272.2 0.451 -11.1 0.572 55.0 0.180 252.9 56 7782 51.9 25.6 95.56 6.07 -8.5 5.68 6675.0 2.24 220.8 0.591 -19.4 0.565 52.1 0.144 182.4 average_ggpcrease 7.5 17.4 0.65 -o.59 -6.0 1.96 59.7 1.57 226.0 -0.068 -14.0 0.110 45.8 0.101 198.0 A and C Special 763 55 / 42 0 40.5 -—- 91.60 5.58 --- 2.62 --— 0.62 -—- 0.468 -~— 0.220 --- 0.052 --— 54 500 8.2 19.0 92.80 5.44 -2.6 4.70 79.2 2.97 580.1 0.591 -16.4 0.558 55.6 0.214 511.5 59 1000 55.5 52.1 92.80 4.99 -10.4 6.17 155.5 5.58 445.2 0.560 -25.1 0.444 101.8 0.245 567.5 56 7782 52.5 29.9 92.96 5.22 -5,1 5.75 118.5 5.17 411.8 0.567 -21.6 0.405 85.2 0.225 528.8 Average ‘Increase 0.9 26.9 1.25 -0.56 -6.5 2.91; 111.0 2.55 ’ 412.4 —0.095 -20.5 0.175 79.5 0.175 556.5 Supreme Golden 55 42 0 59.9 --— 91.92 6.12 -—- 5.15 --- 0°75 --' 0-494 -~' 0°255 "' 0'059 ’““ 54 500 49.2 25.5 93,48 6.18 1.0 5,90 88.6 2.55 248.8 0.405 -18.4 0.585 52.2 0.166 181.4 59 1000 48.7 22.1 95.12 5.49 —10.2 6.48 101.0 5.14 550.1 0.578 -25.5 0.446 76.5 0.216 266.1 55 7782 48.2 20.8 93.56 4.81 -21.4 6.55 ___.- 102.2 5.57 562.0 0.519 -55.4 0.420 66.1 0.224 279.7 ézsrgge iIncrease 8.8 22.1 1.40 -0.65 -10.2 3.2; 99.5 2.29 515.7' -o.127 -25.7 0.164 64.8 0.145 242.4 ——— Superplume 55 42 0 1 54-0 --- 91.52 6.05 ——— ‘ 2.81 --- 0.67‘ —-- 0.511 -4— 0.258 —-- 0.057 ——- _J§§. 500 44.8 51.8 92.78 5.51 -8.6 5.46 94.4 5.14 567.9 0.598 —22.1 0.594 65.6 0.227 298.2 59 1000 46.5 56.2 95.50 4.99 ~17.2 6.98 58548.7 5.75 457.4 0.555 -54.4 0.468 96.6 0.251 540.4 55 7782 44,5 50.5 95.50 5.19 -15.9 6.41 128.4 5.52 424.1 0.548 -51.9 0.450 80.7 0.256 514.0 verage Increase 11.1 52.6. 1.51 _o.go -15.2 5.47 125.8 2.80 416.5 -O.151 -29.6 0.195 81.1 0.181 517.5 1 Percentage increase (/) 2 25% Carlshad Potash containing 56% salt- or decrease (-) resulting from salt applications ' "" ”in. .. . I . .‘O - ' - O - I O Q ‘ C ‘ C O . - l u . I o o o ’- I ~ a o . ' _ _ . c I "' " " 0 ~ . .. .- . o o o . ‘ ‘ - o o a g H > O o 7 O . A _ _ o '. 7 I o o l o, o "‘ "‘ o - 0 Q o o O ‘ “ o a 0 O c-. . . - - Q C an. . — 0 . . . , W_;_:_ ..-_. .. -5- Chemical Composition Eater---With every variety the application of salt slightly increased the amount of water present in the plant at harvest time. P0tash---The percentage of potash in all varieties decreased with the application of salt. Superplume showed the greatest decrease while Summer Pascal dis— played the least. With the salt application Summer ras— cal averaged 17% more potash than did the yellow varieties. Chlorides---With increasing salt applications there was a marked rise in the chloride content of every var- iety. Without salt A&C Special 763 showed the lowest and Summer Pascal the highest chloride content. Where- as Superplume absorbed the most chloride with the addi— tion of salt, Summer Pascal absorbed the least. Soda---A marked rise in the soda content of all varieties resulted from increasing applications of salt. The greatest increase in soda as the result of salt ap- plications was attained by Superplume while Summer Pas- cal showed considerably less than any of the yellow var- ieties. Mineral Removal From Soil Table 2 shows the effect of varying salt applications with four celery varieties 0n the amount of potash, chloride, -7- able 2. Effect of applying salt to a muck soil upon the removal of po- tash, chlorides, and soda by four varieties of celery and their variation in their ability to recover applied salt. Annua 1 do 0f Plot Salt Pounds Removed Per Acre applied Application K20 I: Inc* l 01 . Incl l NagO l Incl odium emcved Summer PaSCal 55 2:42 0 407.4 —-- 201.6 --- 42.8 --- --- j 500 400.7 -1.6 292.5 45.0 124.2 190.0 50.7 1000. 24.1 4.1 566.0 81.6 177.1 515.4 25.5 I 7782 405.9 -0.4 578.9 88.0 149.5 248.9 25.9 :‘verage Increase 2.8 0.7 144.1 71.5 107.5 250.8 27.5 A and C Special 765 ‘5 / 42 0 579.1 --- 178.2 ——- 42.1 -—- ——- 500 576.9 «0.6 525.8 82.8 296.5 589.6 61.9 1000 585.2 1.6 475.1 166.6 260.0 517.5 41.1 7782 86.1 1.8 424.0 157.9 254.6 457.0 46.7 fiverage Increase 5.6 1.0 250.1 129.1 191.5 454.7 49.9 Supreme Golden ; 5 / 42 0 594.2 --- 201.9 --- 47.1 -—— -—- 500 596.6 0.6 578.8 87.6 165.5 246.9 45.8 1000 568.2 -6.6 454.4 115.2 210.4 546.9 50.8 7782 507.5 -22.0 404.9 100.5 215.9 558.7’ 40.9 verage Increase 0656.8 -9.3 204.1 101.1 149.4 317.5 58.5 / t V Superplume 1:5 / 42 0 547.5 --- 162.8 --- 58.8 --- --- M 500 556.6 2.6 555.0 116.8 205.4 424.7 62.1 1000 510.2 —10.7 455.4 166.2 252.4 499.7 56.5 7782 508.5 -11.5 581.0 154.0 209.1 459.5 41.5 ‘verage Increase -22.5 -6.5 226.5’ 159.0 176.2 454.6 46.6 1 Percentage increase 9/) or decrease (-) resulting from salt applications. 2 25% Carlsbad Potash containing 56% salt. d and soda removed. The percent of the applied sodium which was recovered by the variety is also given. P0tash---Summer Pascal removed more potash from the soil than did any of the other varieties while Sup- erplume removed the least. The salt and mine-run ap- plications did not appreciably affect the amount of potash removed by Summer Pascal and A & C Special 765. The SOD-pound salt application had no appreciable effect on the pot sh removal by Supreme Golden and Superplume, but the heavier salt applications resulted in a slight decrease in the amount removed. The least potash was ootash. J. removed by Supreme Golden receiving mine-run Chlorides---The amount of chloride removed by the crop increased in all varieties with the amount of salt applied. The mine-run potash application resulted in less chloride removed than from the 1000-pound salt ap- plication with all varieties except Summer Pascal. Sup- erplume without salt removed the least chloride. With the heaviest salt application the largest amount of chlor— ide was removed by A & C Special 765 and the least by Summer Pascal. Soda---The amount of soda removed by the crop in- creased in all varieties with the increase in salt appli- cations. With Supreme Golden the application of mine- run potash resulted in the removal of slightly more soda than from the lOOO-pound salt application. With the heaviest salt application A & C Special 763 removed the most soda and Summer Pascal the least. PrOportion.3£ Applied Sodium in Harvested Crop——— Superplume removed the highest percentage of the sodium applied in the salt while Summer Pascal removed the lowest percentage. Kineral Ratios Table 3 presents the ratio of these three mineral constituents to each other as found in the dried plant material. Potash-Soda---The widest Spread in potash to soda occurs in celery from those areas receiving no salt. This ratio decreased markedly with all varieties as the salt application increased. Supreme Golden has a slight- ly wider ratio with the 1000-pound salt application than with the mine-run potash. Of all four varieties Summer Pascal, a green variety, showed the widest ratio of po- tash to soda whereas all of the other varieties showed quite similar ratios. Potash-Chloride---With all four varieties the potash- chloride ratio decreases as the salt applications increas— ed. With all three salt treatments Summer Pascal showed a slightly wider ratio of potash to chloride while those Table 3. Ratio of contents of mineral constituents in four varieties of celery grown on muck soil receiving salt applications. (Water-free basis) 4 Annual Plot Salt Ratios Application 1 RQO/Nago I KQO/Cl Na20/01 Summer Pascal 551/ 42 0 9.5 2.0 0.21 54 500 5.2 1.4 0.42 59 1000 2.4 1.2 0.48 56 778* 2.7 1.1 0.59 A and 0 Special 765 55 /’42 0 9.0 I 2.1 0.24 54 500 1.8 1.2 0.65 59 1000 1.5 0.8 0.55 56 778* 1.6 0.9 0.55 Supreme Golden 551/ 42 0 8.5 2.0 0.25 54 500 2.4 1.0 0.45 59 1000 1.8 0.8 0.48 56 778* 1.4 0.8 0.55 Superplume 55¢ 42 0 9.0 2.1 0.24 54 500 1.8 1.0 0.58 59 1000 1.5 0.7 0.54 56 778* 1.5 0.8 0.55 o 25% Carlsbad Potash containing 56% salt. -11- of the other three varieties were very similar. Soda-Chloride---This ratio increases with the ap- plication of salt, but there is no consistent variation in the ratio with the different amounts of salt. With all four treatments Summer Pascal shows the narrowest ratio of soda to chloride. A d C Special 763 and Sup— erplume are the highest and Supreme Golden intermediate. J Sugar Beets ~m— The data appearing in table 4 shows the effect of varying salt applications on the yield,* potash, chlor- ide and soda* contents, both on a water-free and green bases, of the roots, t0ps, and tops and roots combined of three varieties of sugar beets.** Yield With increasing amounts of salt applied, Kuhn P and Schreibers S S reSponded with considerable yield in- fit *The yield data presented in this thesis were obtained by Dr. Harmer and the Nago analysis by Dr. Benne and staff while the author was in military service. The data is used with their permission in making comparisons and drawing conclusions. ** . The crowns were cut from the roots as 18 done on a commercial basis. Therefore the yields and analyses are of the roots (crowns removed) and of the leaves and crowns combined. The crowns and leaves were analyzed separately, but the results are combined in this data. T111 «1. ll. 1"“ it} Table 4- Effects of applying salt to muck soil upon the 00 ‘ ntent of potash, chloride, and soda in three varieties of sugar beet grown there- upon. —“’——* Annual Yield Plot Kggllcatiom $228 Increase* % Percentage in Crop acre Moisture Water- free Basis Fresh Weight Basis K20 J Enc* ‘1 Cl Inc* [ N220 I Inc“ K20 I Inc* C1 I Inc* 1 N220 I Inc* ___1 ___yL§ C Muck Beet (Roots) 55 0 15.57 --- 77.29 1.777 ——— 0.104 --- 0.079 -—— 0.402 ——- 0.024 —-- 0.018 -—- 54 500 16.47 7.2 76.55 1.61 -8.8 0.145 57.5 0.206 160.8 0.582 -5.0 0.054 41.7 .IEEEEQH..1}72~2 59 1000 16.08 4.6 76.08 1.51 -14.6 0.192 84.6 0.219 177.2 0.562 -10.0 0.046 91.7 0.055 194.4 Average Increase 0.91 5.9 --- «0.21 -11.7 0.064 61.5 0.154 169.6 -0.050 -7.5 0.016 66.7 0.055 185.5 Kuhn P (Roots) 55 0 10.21 --— 79.84 1.95 --- 0.174 --- 0.155 --- 0-595 ~-- 0.055 --" 0-052 -~- 54 500 12.56 25.0 79.02 1.72 ~11.5 0.287 64.9 0.454 180.0 0.562 -7.9 0.060 71.4 0.091 184.4 59 1000 15.11 48.0 77.17 1.52 -52.5 0.545 98.5 0.595 155.6 0.501 -25.4 0.079 125.7 0.089 178.1 Average . Increase 5.62 55.5 -—- 90.45 -21.9 0.142 81.6 0.258 166.4 -0.06l -15.5 0.034 97.1 0.058 181.2 Schreibers S S (Roots) 55 0 9.27 ——- 80.74 1.78 --- 0.159 -—4 0.195 ~—- .“9'542 --- 0.051 -—- 0.058 --- 54 500 12.24 52.0 80.00 1.87 5.2 0.559 115.2 0.580 197.4J_«“0.574 9.4 0.068 119.4 0.116 205.5 59 1000 15.94 50.4 78.56 1.57 .11.5 0.586 142.8 0.495 152.8 0.540 -0.6 0.084 171.0 0.107, .113§l;§_1 Average Increase 5.82 41.2 --- -0.15 -8.5 0.204 128.5 .0.542 175.4 0.015 4.4 0.045 145.2 0.074. 194.7 ‘M s 0 Muck Beet (TOpS) ‘_¢,~_ 55 0 15.76 --- 85.50 4.58 -—- 1.82 -—— 0.62 --— 0.752 —-— 0.505 -—— 0.104 -—- 54 500 16.69 5.9 81.59 5.85 ~12.5 2.67 46.9 2.04 227.0 0.708 -5.5 0.491WWG2.0 0.575 260.6 59 1000 16.52 5.6 81.95 5.61 -17.7 2.61 98.8 1.90 205.6 0.652 -10.9 0.471 55.4 0.544 250-8 Average Increase 0.74 4.7 --- -0.66 -15.0 1.52 72.9 1.55 255.4 -0.052 -7.1 0.178 58.8 0.256 “246.2 Kuhn P (Tops) 55 0 7.42 --- 80.86 5.86 -—— 1.48\ --- 0.55 ——4 0.759 -~- 0.285 -~- 0.106 --- 54 500 8.85 19.5 79.25 5.54 -14.5 '1.95 51.9 1.52 174.0 0.695 -6.2 0.405 45.1 0.515 197.2 59 1000 9.72 51.0 80.65 5.55 -15.2 2.86 95.0 1.95 248.6 0.649 -12.2 0.555 95.4 0.574 252.8 kverage Increase 1.86 25.1 ~—- -0.55 ~13.8 1.87 62.5 1.17 211.2 -0.068 -9.2 0.196 69.5 0.258 224.5 Schreibera S S (Tops) 55 0 8.45 -—- 80.41 4.17 --- 1.78 -»- 0.65 -—~ 0.816 --- 0.549 -—- 0.125 --- 34 500 11.40 54.9 81.51 5.76 -9.8 2.55 42.0 2.01 219.4 0.702 -14.0 0.475 55.5 0.575 204.9 59 1000 15.24 56.7‘ 82.46 5.67 -11.9 5.61 102.5 2.58 510.4 0.644 -21.1 0.655 81;? 0.452 267.5 Average Increase 5.87 45.8 ——— -0.45 -10.8 1.29 72.5 1.66 265.0 -0.145 -17.5 0.204 58.4 0.290 255.8 M S C Muck Beet (Total) 55 0 51.15 --- 80.55 2.89 —-- 0.84 -_- 0.52 -~~ 0.569: --- 0.165 --— 0.062 --- 54 500 55.16 6.5 78.98 2.60 -10.5 1.26 49.7 1.01 221.6 0.546 -4.0 0.264 60.0 0-215 245.6 59 1000 52.40 4.1 79.05 2.42 -16.5 1.24 47.8 0.95 20259 0.508 10.7 0.260 57.6 0-200 222.6 Average Increase 1.65 5.5 --- -0.58 -15-5 0-41 48.8 0.67 212.1 -0.042 -7.4 0-097 58.8 0-144 252.5 Kuhn P (Total) 55 0 17,65 --- 80.27 2.75 --- 0.70 --- 0.52 ——- 0.559 -~— 0-159 --- 0°O65 "‘ 54 500 21.41 21.4 79.11 2.59 -12.6 0.97 38.9 0.88 436.2 0.789 41.4 0-203 “5'0 043'“ '32" 59 1000 24.85 40.8 78.52 2.04 -25.5 L1.255 J533 0.91.}. 193.? 0.9/5741.83?" 0.265 910.5 0.201 213.0 average Increase 5.49 51.1 --- -0.52 ~19.0 0.40 56.7 0.59 185.0 -0.071 15.2 0.095 68.5 0.150 206-4 Schreibers s 8 (Total) 55 0 17.72 ——~ 80.58 2.92 -—- 0.94 --- 0.41 --- 0.568 -—- 0.185 ——— 0.079 ‘ -—- 54 500 25.64 55.4 80.65 2.75 -6.1 1.56 44.2 1.24 205.6 0.552 -6.5 0.265 45.7 0.241 ' 205.1 59 1000 27.18 55.4 80.56 2.48 -15.1 1.79 89.7 1.40 244.0 0.488 -14.1 0.551 91.8 0.275 248.1 verage Increase 7.69 45.4 —-- -0.51 -lg;§____4 0-65 (66.9 0.92 224.8 -0.058 -10.2 0.124 67.8 0.179 226.6 ercentage increase (/) or decrease (-) resulting from salt applications. -12- creases of both roots and tops. The NSC Kuck Beet showed a yield increase with the 500-p0und trsatment, but the 1000-pound application resulted in a slight decrease in both root and top vield below that with the 500—p0und application. Both the highest root anl t0p yield were attained by this variety grown on areas receiving 500 pounds of salt. Schreibers S S produced the lowest root yield and Kuhn P the lowest yield of teps on those areas receiving no salt. The JSC Huck Beet showed the least yield response to the addition of srlt and Schreibers S S the greatest reSponse. Chemical Composition The analysis agree with those of Harmer and Benne (4) in that the roots contain the lowest percentage of the three constituents determined. Before combining the per- centages found in the leaves and crowns, it was found that the latter were intermediate between leaves and roots in content of the different constituents. Potash—-—With the single exception in the case of the Sehreibers S S roots receiving 500 pounds of salt, both t0ps and roots of all three varieties showed a de- crease in potash content with increase in salt application. When the entire plant is considered,Sehreibers S S also shows this deer see. The greatest decreas as the re- sult of the addition of salt is shown by Luhn Prnd the -17.. least by Schreibers S S. Chloride---With the exception of the teps of the KSC fiuck Beet, both roots and tops of all varieties showed a decided increase in chloride content with each in— creasing application of salt. The teps of the HSC Huck Beet showed a slight decrease with the lOOOpound below that of the ECO-pound application. Host noteworthy is the fact that the roots ofihe JSC Kuck Beet contained only about half as much chloride as did those of the other two varieties even though the chloride content of the tops of all varieties was somewhat similar. Soda---The lOOO-pound salt application produced slightly less sodavthan did the 500 pound application in the teps of the HS Huck Eeet and the roots of Khhn Pond Schreibers S S. On the other hand the roots of the HSC Kuck Beet and the teps of Kuhn P and Schreibers S S showed an increasing amount of soda as the salt ap- plication was increased. Considering the entire plant, Ithe highest increase in soda as the result of salt appli- cations was shown by Sehreibers S S and the least by Kuhn P. The most important difference in the composition of the three varieties is evident in the much lower con- tent of soda in the roots of the YSC Huck Beet than in those of the other two varieties, even though the soda content of the tops is similar in all varieties. -14- Nineral Removal From Soil Table 5 shows the effect of varying Salt applications with three sugar beet varieties on the amount of po- tash, chloride, and soda removed from the soil. The percent of applied sodium recovered by the plant is also shown. Potash---Kuhn Band Sehreibers S S removed incr—as- potash with incr asing Salt ap- J. ingly larger amounts of plications. The hSC Kuck Beet removed slightly less potash from the area receiving lOOO pounds of salt than from the area receiving none, while the SOD-pound Srlt application showed no appreciable effect on potash remov- al. All three treatments showed considerably more po- tash removed by both roots and tops of the MSC Huck Beet than by those of either of the other varieties. Con— sidering the entire crop, luhn P removed the least potash. The greatest increase in the amount of potish removed as the result of salt applications wes given by Schreibers S S while the MSC Iuck Beet showed a slight decrease. Chlorides—--Schreibers S S and Knhn P in both their roots and tops and the XSC Muck feet in its roots remov— ed more chloride with increasing Salt acpli‘ations. The $80 Huck feet removed in its teps more chloride with the addition of salt, but less with the 1000 than with l the SOC—pound treatment. Without the Si t application -15.. the KSC finch Beet removed considerably more chloride in the 'Tops 'Huqldid_the other varieties but, with salt applied, the Sehreibers S S showed the greatest increase in removal of chloride. Soda———In general less soon was removed by the roots and more by the teps of the EEC Iuch Beet than t; the other varieties, whether or not salt was applied. Schreib- ers S S 'Showed the griatest and the HSC fiuek Beet the least increase in ’SOdd remov:l resulting from the salt applngtions. I a. Proportion of Applied Sodium in Yvrvcrted Crep——— .L Schreibers S S removed in the roots the highest percent- age of the sodium applied in the szlt from the ire; re- ceiv ing the 5CD—pound treatment while the lowes. per— cen age was removed from the plots receiving the lCCC- pound application by the ISO Xuek Beet. This last men- tiOned variety removed in its tops and in the entire plant the highest percentage of applied sodium from the SOC-pound area, while the lowest percentage was removed from these plots receiving the greatest :mount of salt by the teps and total plant of Luhn 0. linerel Ratios Table 6 presents the ratios of these three constitu— ents found in the dried plant material. Potash—Soda—--Considcring all three super beet vrr- \ 1 7 Tflflg 5. Effect of applying salt to a muck soil upon the removal of potash, chlorides, and soda by three varieties of sugar best and their variation in their ability to recover applied salt. Annual %’of f—;;W Agg1ication Poinds Removed Per gore Applied K20 Inc’ I C1 Inc‘ N820 Inc* Sodium V_J§gpoved M S C Muck Beet (Roots) 55 0 125.6 --- 7.4 --— 5.5 ___ -__ 54 500 125.8 1.8 11.2 51.4 16.1 191.9 4.0 59 1000 116.4 -5.8 14.8 99.9 17.0 208.1 2.2 Avmege Increase ~2.5 ~4.0 5.6 75.7 11.0 200.0 5.1 Kuhn P (Boots) 55 O 80.2 —-- 7.2 -~— 6.5 -—— --- 54 500 90.9 15.5 15.1 110.8 22.9 250.1 6.2 59 1000 91.0 15.5 25.9 255.8 26.9 511.9 5.8 erage Increase 10.8 15.4 12.5 172.5 18.4 281.0 5.0 Schreibers S 8 (Boots) 55 O 65.4 ~—- 5.8 -—- 7.0 -—~ --- Q£1__._1_ 500 91.6 44.4 16.6 189.6 28.4 505.4 8.1 59 111111111999__.11. 94.8 49.5 25.4 507.5 29.8 525.7 4.5 Average Increase 29.8 46.9 14.2 248.5 22.1 515.6 6.2 ___..-.__1._1.1._._.111171.1, M s o Muck Beet (TOps) 55 0 250.7 -—— 95,5. -—- 52.8 --— —-- 54 500 256.5 2.4 165.9 71.6 125.2 281.7 54.4 59 1000 212.8 -7.8 155.7 60.9 112.5 242.4. 15.0 } Average Increase -6.2 -2.7 65.5 66.5 86.0 262.2 L 24.7 Kuhn P (Tops) ___§§1__ 0 109.7 -—— 42.0 -—_ 15.7 **- -7- 54 500 122.7 11.8 71.7 70.7 55.8 255-4 15-1 ._.§§L11111 1000 126.2 15.0 107.5 156.0 72.7 565.1 10.8 ézgrage Increase 14.8 15.5 47.6 115.5 48.6 509.6 15-0 _____ Schreibers S S Tops) 5% 0 157.9 —~- 59.0 -—_ 20.8 --- “" 54 500 160.0 16.0 107.8 82.1 85.5 511.1 24'4 $9 1000 170.5 25.6, 167.6 184.1 119.7 475.5 18-7 Average Increase 27.4 19.9 68.8 116.6 81.8 595-5 21°6 S C Muck Beet (Total) 55 0 554.5 ——— 102.9 -__ 58,5 -~— -—— 54 500 562.1 2.2 175.1 70.2 141.5 268-9 58.4 59 1000 529.2 -7.1 168.5 65.8 129.5 257-6 17°? Average Increase -8.6 -2.4 68.9 67.0 97.0 255.5 27.8 Kuhn P (Total) 55 0 190.0 -—— 49.2 -—- 22,2 _-- -__ 54 500 215.6 12.4 86.8 76.4 78.7 254-0 21-5 59 1000 217.2 14.5 151.4 167.1 99.6 548.0 14.6 éyerage Increase 25.4 15.4 59.9 121.8 67.0 50100 1700 Schreibers S S (Total) 55 0 201.5 --- 64.8 —-- 27.8 --- --- 54 500 251.6 25.0 124.4 92.0 115,9. 509.7 52.5 59 1000 265.5 51.8 191.0 194.8 149.5 457.8 25.0 Egerage Increase 57.2 28.4 92.9 145.4 105.9 575.7’ 27.8 Percentage increase (/) or decrease (-) resulting from salt applications. -17- ieties, the widest spread in potash to soda occurs in those plants grown without salt. This ratio decreases greatly as the salt application increeses. There is a wider ratio in the roots than in the tops of each var- iety. Considering the entire plant the widest ratio of potash to soda occurs with the KSC fiuek Eeet while Sehreib— ers S S has the narrowest. Potash:§hloride—--In all three sugar beet varieties the widest spread in potash to chloride occurs in plants from those areas receiving no salt. As the salt treat- ments increase, this ratio decreases. There is also a wider ratio in the roots than in the tops of each var- iety. Taking the entire plant Kuhn P has slightly the widest ratio and Schreibers S S the narrowest. Soda-Chloride——-In each variety the nzrrowest Spread in soda to chloride occurs in those plants from the :rea receiving no salt. There is a wider ratio in the roots than in the tops. With each variety the ratio with the SOD-pound salt application is slightly higher than with the 1000—pound treatment. Considering the entire plant, the ratios are almost identical. Peas No sona determinations were made on the peas. Since the dry weight of the straw was not determined, no fig- ures as to the total amount of mineral constituents re— moved from the soil ccn be given. 6. Ratio of contents of mineral constituents in three varieties of sugar beet grown on a muck soil receiving salt applications. (Water-free basis) annual ties tion KQO/Nago 3120/01 Salt Muck Beet ts 22.4 7.8 6.9 Kuhn P 12.6 4.0 5.4 Schreibers S S 9.1 5.2 59 M S C Muck Beet 7.0 1.9 1.9 Schreibers S S 6.6 1.9 1.4 MUG k 9.2 2.6 2.5 P Total '8 6 -19.. Table 7 presents data showing the effect of varying salt applications on th- yield,* potash, and chloride content on a water—free basis of the pea grain and strev. Yield The yields of both pea 5 ain and straw were very erratic. The lOOO—pound salt application resulted in a marked decline in the gr in yield of all varieties and in the straw of every variety but Bliss Everbearing. The straw and grain yield from the Lincoln variety and the straw of Dwarf Telephone and Wisconsin Perfection decreased with all salt treatments. The straw yield of Bliss Everbearing increased with the application of salt although this increase showed no relstion to the amount of added salt. The grain yields of El'ss Everbearing, Dwarf Telephone, and Wisconsin rerfection increased con— siderably with the 500—pound and mine—run potash treat— ments. The greatest decrease in yield as the result of the salt applications was shown by the grain of Lincoln and the straw of wisconsin Terfection. Chemical Composition Potash--—The potash content of the straw vss more * . . . . . The yield data przsented in this thesrs were obtained by Fr. Harmer. The data is used with his pern‘ssion in making compcrisons and drawing conclusions. 61/“. 7. ~-y 77 -.' (,J :u ’1 - . ‘11 1 _w 41 . . :1 r .l", J ”,In ”\- _ .1..- 0 iv..- - L - ~ » .. - K .. x . .. .. . k...— -‘- ,1 ' ~. 1 '1 ; -1 _ .' _ ‘nv ‘_‘ V 7'. -"-'1=r* “‘0 . _r I ”I!“ V "1"“"1'-r"1"1'1’7 3" H" t' ‘ ‘ ' ‘ 4 1 .1' 1 .L .' V, .‘ J. L' .12-..- L .1. IL .:_ u1 L‘UJL .1;L,.J_C.L1_L.c11. (7 - or“, LJ-‘ 3 — -'v‘ Incl r 190 I Incl J Cl I Incl ircentege in Crop r‘rr . A . ; an ¢ 227.‘ —~— 1.22 -— ——— 1.4.3 ——— 7.4. ——_ 1.00 ~— 7— ~ . r V 722 7.72.? -2 .2 2.7 7' .1 1. ;1 _1- 7, 4.22 10.7 2.71. 72.0 +——........ - - ’_T _ __ -. ..- “A _; __ , ~_ , 1 ,_ w“ ”1 1 -~ 2 w , _ ., , /1 To icoj ”74 a _r{_g 7‘s? 11.? 3,773 146.7 1.74 .5.6 4.07 —9.7 :.lO loC.“ ‘—a:‘-~. . H-....L ._.., __..,. ,. _ 1 , .-_._l ,. _4,_. .. . .__.. - ....__. .. r’“ .. .. ,. a - A I“ A 'q A ,0 F b: rx,‘ .r—To,‘ “r 1 li_‘ ”'60., f‘.l"(‘ ff.” V‘.\G .- 1.O . 4.4-.9. .CL ‘D— :9.L) —: """—--0~ —- —)——~'—... ,,.. . ‘ . -77-... - . .. . -._.. .. - y—o‘ ~N- .—-1.-—< -———< — m‘ H 1' ‘ ’ “r 7 1 P "v ‘ 1“ {‘0 3—1 m 7r r. J f " n "OI ”‘1‘ __l(/;.n __,.flfj "Co/j 1.770 105-0 A _ - I — .—l C -'.. .. ‘ b". "‘1 “7“ 1 fl ’7"? . . ,. .. , - -. .— A- A /l. , .._... En ...._.. i .1 1’7.“ 7 .. ,7 2 ~— ,, --_ p.31- . ~~— 1-1’7. ‘_ __—::_ _ __ _ _:- 72 __ _. .__. _. “ML-.1... . ---.. A "" ‘ ‘ ’ " 1Y7 ‘7 " "" V“ ’ "l ”A W" "' 1 fin 1.0.3 4.0-) .J-7U 7‘20: , a l. _o - - a _- J / I " ‘7 ___ “ . ._...- . ~— ~ -~» L--- ._-,- _-,.,__,l , W __._4 -11 - J - . . - "l- -- .l. ... .. . -_- -- L _. __-'-—-~~*---—7-—-‘ - . '7 01 A 0. 9‘10 0 -p. _ ,- . . r ”A . 1 0 ,__w . ____‘ ~— V P “7" . "' ‘0" 1 Im { I 1 LviL ’L" Jr? }.«(:_.__ __ . 1‘“ .__;.LC _..:"._._L..:_.,. .._.__-_ ~- .,._,1_ -L .-___.__-__.__l_ ,.*__-,,,_- . _ 1., . - ., -1. . ., . LL- - 4 - . .. . ——‘ - r~ r r 7’ (“P If) "’ W 1‘ r! _f”_ 772 7712:: 7 . ;‘. 1 2‘ —1.1 1 7.7 ,7 l-‘V‘ 3;}? .. 1...: . '1“ ”7C JO- 7.. A F‘ K n . . - ~r .— / A r\ nm /1 a": f F‘f‘f‘ 1 r C p.l q / —C:‘. /' {— ~1U. 80 31 3—4000 ...~_.;_. V 7 ' 7' ‘7 ' 77 _' _W._,__ ... ,L__'__ _ “f; , l “:7 ‘7 ,'__,,__ _ _ __ ‘ -—-~ ~-W- -.- ~ ~ 7 7* — ’” ‘ ‘ " ” ""‘ ”""" L r' Wisconsin Perfortion C 977.5 ___ 1.21 ___ . _o.1_2_1__ .7", "5’41 ”5* 4'75 ...-;:7.._.Ll: ..... ..... L... L. -L.-- ,. L. l _.-_.l ..-._. --.._. poo «11222 27.2 1.91 5.7 0.706 152.. "l 6 o 9 2 o 22 87 a O O o 611 4:0 5 t O ”V" 2.92 . ,. _, V ‘_....L‘ o L1 .. ’—-—I;I‘\.V ‘ ‘17:} n E: 7 ENL‘.) ‘2...” .3‘.O,.7,._Z___ £929.--- 7,713.2]-.. I" ‘C "' - r“ I A I‘m A r— r-r r‘ ,.,.. a 77s 1-49.0 47.2 1.98 9.7 L 0.219 21.0 _—. . “a; _ __,, 1-..--- 7 T f!- VClDC 1129,41st 162.7 18.1 0.27 12.2 0.258 217 _o..:e 420-8 42.4.5" 7, :33,“ l-ng 79.71 l- . . . . --. Bercentege incrorse (/) or cecrease (—) resulting from salt spplica_ Livhw- r) (o . _ _ This plot was lost at threshing time. ’3? 25¢ Carlsbad Potash containing 52¢ salt. A Determined on a w ter—frec basis. -31- than twice as great as that of the grain. The percent- age of potash in the grain of all varieties increased with the 500 and 1000-pound salt treatments and with the exception of Wisconsin Perfection decreased with the mine-run potash. Misconsin Perfection showed a potash content increase with the mine-run potash. The potash content of the straw of all varieties but Lin— coln decreased with the application of salt. Lincoln showed an increase with the ECO-pound treatment and a decrease with the mine-run pot sh and the lCOO—pound salt treatment. Wisconsin Perfection showed the high- est increase in potash content of the grain as the re- sult of applied salt while the increases in the other varieties were rather uniform. Chlorides—--The different pea straw varieties con- tained from 5 to 15 times as much chloride as did the grain. The percentage increased with increasing appli— cations of salt in both strtw and grain of all varieties. With both Lincoln and Wisconsin Perfection there was a slight decreas‘ in the chloride content of the grain grown on the areas receiving mine—run potash below that grown on the plots receiving 500 pounds of selt. The least percentage increase of chlorides in the straw as the result of applied salt was given by Wisconsin Perfec- tion and the greatest by Bliss Everbcaring. The least increase of chlorides in the gr in was given by Lincoln “Jo"! and the greatest by Wisconsin Perfection. Ifineral La tio 4.. Table 8 presents the ratio of o tash to chloride in the dried pea and straw. In each pea variety the widest Spread in potash to chloride occurs in both the grain and stie N of plants from those areas receiving no salt. The ratio in the MI w is nzuch no 0 nenr OJ th: in the grain. With the straw of every variety and with the grain of all but Wisconsin Perfection and Lincoln, the ratio of pot sh to chloride deer ases with each in- creasing salt a plicetion. These two varieties show a broader ratio with the mine-run potash .hzn with the 500- pound salt application. Immature Lincoln Peas Table 9 presents on a water—free basis the per- centage of pot s h, chloride, and sofia* and the ratios of these constituents found in Lincoln peas harvested just as the peas were hardening. There is a decrease in the potash content with all applications of srlt although this shows no relation to the {mount of salt a plied. Both the 1“. soda and chloride contents consistently increas- as the amount of salt is inc1eased. The pot sh— ooa ratio is * w . , The L990 analys1s were performed by Dr. Benne and staif * ‘nor was in militsr" service. Th- data is 'r peim ssion in me ling com ri: ens “n3 Table 8. grain anfl straw of four varieties of on R (7 muck soil receiving 8 (Hater free basis) 003 .L Ratio of contents of gotash to chloride in the grown Clt aggliCitions. Pl 1: * Annual 1 LEO/Cl 0 Salt . 'A991108t50n I Grain Straw Lincoln 25 l 42 O 12.6 2.8 34 500 7-5 1'8 39 1000 5.8 1-0 26 778* 8-8 1-5 Bliss Everbearing 83 x 42 o 16-8 2' 34 500 10~5 1'5 39 1000 3.9 '8 86 778* 7-4 1'0 Dwarf Telephone 85 x 42 0 13-7 3’1 '7. 500 9.5 105 Z“ 1000 406 1.0 8 778* 8-0 1'1 Wisconsin Perfection 28 x 42 0 15-0 2‘6 z 500 8.8 1-6 89 1000 5.6 1-0 88 778* 9-1 1-3 25¢ Carlsbad Potash contéining 56¢ :rlt. ("3,1— « -v-—' T blc 9. Effects of "splyin: srlt to mucl soil on the garcontagc of mincrzl constituents 3n? the r;tio of these constituents founa in immature Lincoln gees. Annual . . . Sclt Pcrccntcgc Comp081tion Ratios --Lv'- * ,, fr‘ r A9 11“ K00 Inc Cl Inc* .8 O InC* L20 LEO 7390 “a “m " moor-fi- O (13 C PD F J ____ 1.01 _——. 0.075 =,_. 47.0 3.2 0.07 U1 0 O {\9 q 113 I |—" 01 2‘0 1.44 47.2 0.164 118.7 16.7 1.9 0.11 1000 8.10 —4.2 2.86JL82.5 0.415 457.7 7.8 1.1 0.16 778** 2.85 -1l.7 1.44 43.2 0.166 121.7 17.2 2.0 0.12 Inc - .33 -10.4 0.84 83.0 0.280 271.1 vcry hifh in thlt m'trricl Wren on the urea receiving no 8 1t. with the lOCC-gonnfi treatment it is the nar- rowest bat is slightly higher with the nine—run ;otroh than with the Féne—rnn aetaeh thyn with the ECO-Lound qulicytion. The iotgsh-cthLiFe Tctjo VfrlCS similzr- 1:3" L'JVLLC' TCQC '}1(.4:’. C j E 51.1.5111. Ch} J'iir'lfl; i'fl 'Lh k. $8017.? —C"‘] Q Li A C: ‘J 1.... cr n Cc inc:ofsc (1) or fircrcric (-) igrulting from alt riglicvtions. m: C‘f‘ TC‘C“ "T KIT HUIC Color; :nfl i:: r trati hgv‘ l n? he