EFFECTS OF LEME AND

FERTILEZER UPON PLANT GROWTH Am
COM‘OSETEGN

Thesis far #919 Doers. of Ph. D.
MICHIGAN SWATE COLLEGE
James E Power
1954

 

TH $515

This is to certify that the

thesis entitled

"Effects of Lime and Fertilizer

Upon Plant Growth and Composition"

presented by

James Power

has been accepted towards fulfillment
of the requirements for

Ph.D. degree in Sci] Science

(NLM

 

Major professor

Date Novemlker 19. 1991*

0-169

EFFECTS OF LIME AND FERTILIZER UPON
PLANT GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

B y ’3— .3.”

V
N

James FlnPower

 

A THESIS
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of
Michigan State College of Agriculture and
Applied Science in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Soil Science
1954

Helms

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author would like to express his sincere
thanks to Dr. R. L. Cook, under whose supervision
this work was initiated, for his interest, assist-
ance, and guidance. Likewise, the author is
indebted to Dr. R. M. Swanson for similar guidance
and assistance in completing this work and pre-
paring the manuscript.

Acknowledgements are also due Dr. C. W. Duncan
and Dr. E. J. Benne and their staff in the Agricul-
tural Chemistry Department for making the chemical
analyses of the plant material. The many helpful
suggestions received from them were appreciated.
Thanks is also expressed to Drs. Kirk Lawton, J. F.
Davis, W. D. Eaton, and other staff members, as well
as to fellow graduate students for aid and sugges-
tions in preforming this investigation.

Finally, the writer is grateful to the Rackham
Foundation for their interest and financialsupport

in this project.

A

EFFECTS OF LIME AND FERTILIZER UPON
PLANT GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

By a } a...«

‘L

PM”
James E. Power

AN ABSTRACT
Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of
Michigan State College of Agriculture and
Applied Science in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the degree
of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Department of Soil Science
1954

Approved _m L- M

James F. Power
ABSTRACT

A greenhouse experiment was preformed in which it was
desired to study the effects of lime and fertilizers upon
plant growth and composition in an attempt to determine the
effects of soil fertility upon the nutritive value of forage.
The experimental crops were soybeans, oats, and alfalfa, and
the soil treatments were various combinations of four differ-
ent levels of available soil phosphorus and potassium, and
four pH levels using both calcium carbonate and a calcium-
magnesium carbonate mixture. The entire above ground parts
of the plants were harvested at the close of the vegetative
stage of growth, dried, weighed, and analyzed chemically for
mineral and feedstuff constituents.

The results showed that adding magnesium to the liming
material altered only the calcium and magnesium contents of
the plants appreciably. Dry weight yields were not affected.
Soybean yields increased steadily as soil pH was increased
from 4.7 to 6.8. The dry matter production of cats and alfal-
fa was not significantly increased by liming when the soil pH
was over 5.8. Only the growth of oats responded to phosphorus
fertilization. Potassium fertilization did not significantly
increase the dry weight yield of any crop.

Increasing soil pH increased the percentages of crude
fiber, ether extract, protein, iron, and calcium in the soy-
beans. Boron, N-free extract, phosphorus, and manganese were
decreased. This soil treatment increased the calcium content,

but decreased the percentages of ash and minor elements in the

James F. Power

oats. In the alfalfa the percentages of protein, ash, and cal-

cium were increased while boron, iron, and manganese were de-
creased.

Phosphorus fertilization increased the ash, ether extract,
protein, sodium, and phosphorus contents of the soybeans but
decreased the percent N-free extract and boron. In the oats,
N-free extract, phosphorus, and calcium were increased, and
iron and protein were decreased. The concentrations of ash,
phosphorus, and iron in the alfalfa were increased by phos-
phorus fertilization, and only sodium and copper were decreased.

Potassium fertilization of the soils increased the per-
centages of ash, potassium, and manganese in the soybeans, and
decreased only the percent magnesium. Ash and popassium were
also increased in the cats, but ether extract, sodium, boron,
and iron were decreased. In alfalfa, only ash was increased in
concentration, while sodium,ca1cium,and magnesium were decreased.

The percent base saturation of the soil exchange complex
appeared to be a better measure of the fertility status of the
soil than cation ratios. Total milliequivalents of bases in
100 grams of plant material were increased in all craps when
the percent base saturation of the soil was increased.

Considering protein, phosphorus, calcium, crude fiber,
iron, and ash to be the constituents most important in deter-
mining the nutritive value of the plant, it appeared that phos-
phorus fertilization increased the nutritive value of all three
crops. The effect of liming on the nutritive value of the
crops was smaller and much more variable. Potassium fertiliza-

tion appeared to have no appreciable effect in this respect.

I.
II.
III.

IV.

V.

VI.
VII.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0

REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EXPER IlVIENTAL 16TH ODS e e e e e e e e e e e e e

A.

B.

C.

Greenhouse . .
1. General . .
2. Soybeans .
3. Oat Crop .
4. Alfalfa Crop

O O O O O
O O O O O
O O O O O
O 0 O O O
O O O O O
O O O O O
O O O O O
O

O O O O
O O O O 0
O O O O 0

Laboratory . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Methods of Characterizing the Soil

2. Calibration of Fertilizer and Lime Require-

ments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Soil Tests . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Determination of Exchangeable Bases .
5. Chemical Analyses of Plant Material .

Statistical Analyses . . . . . . . . . . .

RESULTS 0 O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O 0 O O O O

A.
B.
C.
D.

E.

Properties Characterizing the Soil . . . . .
Fertilizer and Lime Requirements of the Soil

Soil Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Exchangeable Base Status for each Treatment

Observations and Data on Growth and Yield
1. Soybeans O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

2. oats C O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O
3. Alfalfa O O O O I O O O O O O O O O O

O O 0 0

Effect of Soil Nutrients on Plant Composition.

1. Effects of Calcium on Plant Composition

2. Effects of Magnesium on Plant Composition.
3. Effects of Phosphorus on Plant Camxsition.
4. Effects of Potassium on Plant Composition.

DISCUSSION 0 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O 0

CONCLUSIONS AND SUBCMARY O O O 0 O O O O O O O 0
LITERATURE C ITED . O O C O O O O O O O O I O 0

VIII. APPENDIX 0 O O 0 O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O

111
137

Table

II
III

IV
VI
VII
VIII

IX

XI

XII
XIII

XIV

XV
XVI

XVII

XVIII
XIX

XXI
XXII

XXIII
XXIV

XXVI

LIST OF TABLES
Page

Soil pH levels, available phosphorus, and avail-

able potassium used in the seventy soil treat-
ments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Standardization of versenate. . . . . . . . . . . 23
Some physical and chemical properties char-

acterizing the soil used in this study . . . . . 28
Base status for the seventy soil treatments

before cropping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Cation ratios for the seventy soil treatments . . 39
Analysis of variance of soybean weights . . . . 48
Analysis of variance of dry weight yields of oats 55
Analysis of variance of dry weight yields of

alfalfa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Correlation coefficients between percent calcium

saturation of the soil and plant composition . . 81
Coefficients of likelihood for the variations in

plant composition resulting from changing the

8011 pH. 0 O O O O O O 83
Summary of the effects of lime applications to

the soil upon plant growth and composition . . . 86
Correlation coefficients between percent magnes-

ium saturation of the soil and plant composition 91
Correlation coefficients between supply of avail-

able soil phosphorus and plant composition . . . 105
Coefficients of likelihood for variations in

plant composition resulting from phosphorus
fertilization of the soil. . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Summary of effects of phosphorus fertilization

of the soil upon plant growth and composition. . 110
Correlation coefficients between percent

potassium saturation of the soil and plant

composition. . . . . 123
Coefficients of likelihood for variations in

plant composition resulting from potassium

fertilization of the soil. . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Summary of effects of potassium fertilization of

the soil upon plant growth and composition . . . 127
Correlation coefficients between percent base

saturation of the soil and plant composition . . 129
Standard values for the percent composition of

soybean, oat, and alfalfa hays . . . . . . . . . 138
Chemical composition of soybeans . . . . . . . . 167
Chemical composition of oats . . . . . . . . . . 173
Chemical composition of alfalfa . . . . . . . . . 179
Total bases in soybeans . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Total bases in oats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Total bases in alfalfa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Figure

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

11.
12.

13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.

LIST OF FIGURES

Effect of liming materials on soil pH. . .

Effect of phosphate fertilizer on available sail

phosphorus. . .

Effect of potassium fertilization upon available

soil potassium . . .

Effect of percent calcium plus magnesium satura-

tion of the soil upon soil pH. . . . . .

Relation of percent potassium saturation of the

soil to available soil potassium. . . . .

Pictures of soybean growth resulting from differ-

ent soil treatments.

Effect of soil pH upon dry weight yields of
soybeans. . . . . .

Effect of available soil phosphorus upon dry

weight yields of soybeans. . . . . . . . .

Effect of available soil potassium upon dry
weight yields of soybeans. . . . . . . . .

Pictures of oats growth resulting from different

soil treatments. . .

Effect of available soil phosphorus upon dry
weight yields of oats.
Effect of available soil potassium upon dry
weight yields of oats.
Pictures of alfalfa growth resulting from
different soil treatments. . . . . . . . .
Effect of soil pH upon dry weight yields of

alfalfa.
Effect of soil pH upon percentage composition of

soybeans. . ... . . .

Effects of soil pH upon percentage composition
of oats.
Effect of soil pH upon percentage composition of
alfalfa.

Effect of
centage
Effect of
centage
Effect of
centage
Effect of
centage
Effect of
centage
Effect of
centage
Effect of
weight
Effect of

available soil
composition of
available soil
composition of
available soil
composition of
available soil
composition of
available soil
composition of
available soil
composition of

O O O O O O O O O O

O O O O O O O O O

phosphorus upon per-

soybeans. . . . . .

phosphorus upon per-

oats. . . . . . . .

phosphorus upon per-

alfalfa. . . . . .
potassium upon per-
soybeans . . . . .
potassium upon per-
oats . . . . . . .
potassium upon per-
alfalfa . . . . . .

percent base saturation upon dry
yields of soybeans . . . . .

percent base saturation of the soil

upon total bases in soybeans . . . . . .

0

Effect of soil pH upon dry weight yields of oats

Page
30

31
32
42
43
45
49
5O
51

53
57

58
59
61
64
66
72
76
93
98
102
112
116
120
131
133

LIST OF FIGURES
(continued)

Figure Page

27. Effect of percent base saturation of the soil

upon total bases in oats. . . . . . . . . 134
28. Effect of percent base saturation of the soil

upon total bases in alfalfa . . . . . . . . 136

INTRODUCTION

The chemical composition of a plant is the result of
many factors. These factors may be divided into two cats-
gories; the internal variables and the external variables.
The first class consists of the genetic factors of the
plant; the species and variety. The second category in-
cludes the environmenta1.comp1ex; climate, soil type, com-
petition and association with other plants, stage of
maturity, supply of available soil nutrients, and so forth.
It is with the last of these factors, the effect of the
supply of available soil nutrients upon the composition of
plants, with which this work is concerned. It is one phase
of an inter-departmental project at Michigan State College
in which the effects of soil fertility upon the nutrition
of dairy cattle and upon the nutritional value of their
milk is being studied (28). It was undertaken with the
objective of measuring the effects of fertilization with
calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium at various
levels upon the nutritional value of forage crops in so far
as such a value can be assayed by total chemical analyses
of the plants.

Because of the wide variations possible in the envir-
onmenta1 complex, the results of other similar studies are
not necessarily applicable to this work. Therefore, this
experiment was considered to be necessary in order to de-

termine, under a given environmental complex, not only the

2.

direction and magnitude of these variations in plant compo-
sition, but also to determine some of the natural phenomena
which govern these changes. Such, then, are the objectives

of the work reported in this thesis.

3.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Several thorough reviews of the effects of lime and
fertilizers upon the chemical composition of plants have
appeared in the literature in recent years (15, 24, 37, 38,
45, 47, 53, 55, 60, 71, 82, 86, 90, 107). Most of these
publications were concerned mainly with the effects of soil
amendments upon the mineral and protein contents of the
plant. The literature is notably lacking in information on
the effects of liming and fertilization upon the feedstuff
composition of forage plants (52, 85). Several papers (4,
18, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 39, 42, 54, 57, 67, 73, 83, 95, 96,
105) have appeared citing the changes that occur in some of
the organic fractions, particularly in the vitamin, organic
acid, and different forms of organic nitrogen found in
plants as a result of fertilization. The influence of fer-
tilization upon the nutritional value of plants as measured
by feeding trials has been studied both in the fields of
agronomy and animal science (15, 19, 28, 52, 53, 55, 64, 70,
84).

In reviewing the results published concerning the
effects of liming and fertilizing upon the chemical compo-
sition of plants, there exists much conflicting and contra-
dictory data. In certain cases, the addition of a particular
soil amendment increased the percent of another chemical
constituent in the plant, while in other cases it caused a

decrease. It should be remembered that variations in the

4.

supply of available soil nutrients is only one of many fac-
tors determining the chemical composition of plants. Some
of the other factors, such as location, climate, and soil
type, often exert a greater influence upon the composition
of a plant than does the level of soil fertility or the
fertility balance (15, 55, 82, 87, 90, 99). For instance,
Beeson (15) reported that unfertilized forage in Michigan
was usually higher in minerals than heavily fertilized
forage in Alabama.

The influence that liming exerts upon plant composi-
tion is varied. It is difficult to separate the effects of
increased calcium supply from the effects of increased pH
when lime is added. However, under conditions of practical
agriculture, probably most of the changes that occur in
plant composition with the application of lime to acid soils
can be attributed to the variations in the availability of
the other soil nutrients (77, 93). This is supported by the
work of Arnon and co-workers (5, 6) who have shown that,
since in nutrient solutions pH has very little effect upon
the availability of the nutrients, varying the pH of the
solution between 4 and 8 had no appreciable influence upon
plant growth or upon the adsorption of magnesium, phos-
phorus, or nitrates by the plant. Calcium applications
generally, but not always (82), increase the percent calcium
in the plant, and usually decrease the other bases to some

extent, although exceptions are common. The content of the

5.

minor elements iron, cOpper, boron, and manganese in the
plant are generally decreased, especially if the soil were
originally acid. Liming seldom has much effect upon the
amount of phosphorus in the plant, but lime with super-
phosphate often increases the percent of plant phosphorus
more than either amendment alone (15). The nitrogen content
of forage seems to be only slightly and inconsistently in-
fluenced by the application of lime (14).

Using magnesium carbonate in place of part of the
calcium, or using dolomitic limestone, causes variations in
plant composition similar to those that occur when calcium
lime is used, except that the percent calcium is usually de-
creased while the percent magnesium is increased. In some
cases, increases in phosphorus content have been observed
with magnesium applications, so the theory has been pro-
posed (94, 107) that magnesium is necessary for the proper
- metabolism of phosphorus. The work of Hunter (41) and
others (17, 27, 76) did not support this theory, so this
relationship is questionable.

Phosphorus fertilization generally increases phos-
phorus uptake by the plant, but it has a varying effect upon
the calcium content. In field experiments in which super-
phosphate is generally used, this relationship is confused
by the addition of calcium in the monocalcium phosphate and
in the calcium sulfate which are present in normal super-

phosphate. In general, however, there seems to be no

6.

correlation between phosphorus fertilization and the calcium
content of the plant (17, 82, 87). The effects of phospho-
rus on the uptake of other cations are also usually minor,
unless possibly for magnesium, as mentioned above. Vari-
ations in the nitrogen content of plants with phosphorus
applications are quite inconsistent and depend upon many
other factors. For instance, Allaway and Nelson (3) found
that, on the average, applications of phosphorus increased
the nitrogen content of alfalfa 0.16% (1.00% protein).
Smith, et a1 (87) observed increased nitrogen uptake on one
soil type, but not on another, while Blair and Prince (17)
failed to obtain an increase in nitrogen content of alfalfa
upon adding superphosphate. The very meager literature re-
lating phosphorus fertilization to the uptake of minor
elements shows no definite trends, with the possible ex-
ception that it may result in increased manganese uptake
(15, 66).

Additions of potassium to the soil tend to increase
potassium uptake by plants and to decrease the uptake of
some of the other bases (25, 101). Potassium uptake seems
to be related more to its supply in the soil than is the
uptake of any other major plant nutrient (80). According to
the work of some investigators (56, 72), the uptake of boron
is stimulated by potassium applications. Iron uptake may
also be increased (71), but information is lacking to make

conclusions regarding the other minor elements. Deficiencies

 

 

[[[[ [III (II.

 

7.

of potassium in the soil often seriously interfere with
nitrogen metabolism, increasing the amounts of ammonium,
amides, and the basic amino acids, and decreasing the or-
ganic acids in the plant (14, 18, 34, 73, 87, 103). Such
deficiencies seldom have a significant effect upon the per-
cent of total nitrogen in the plant. Because of this inter-
ference in nitrogen metabolism, plants grown in soils low in
potassium tend to contain higher concentrations of the pro—
tein derivatives, but are lower in carbonaceous materials.
Therefore it is generally concluded that potassium fertili-
sation tends to increase the carbohydrate content of the
plant. Both Wall (103) and Eaton (34) found that, although
potassium applications increased total carbohydrates in the
plant initially, at higher rates of potassium fertilization
the total carbohydrates began to decrease. This decrease
was mainly in the content of reducing sugars, not starch

(l, 14, 34). No generalities may be made as to the effects
of potassium fertilization upon the phosphorus content of
plants since the published results vary too widely. For ex-
ample, Wall (103) observed an increase in the percent phos-
phorus; Albrecht (1) and Evans, et a1 (36) observed a de-
creased phosphorus content, while Smith, et a1 (87) and

Beeson (15) found no significant variations.

8.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS

Greenhouse

General

This experiment was set up to study the effects of
the application to the soil of varying amounts of calcium,
magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium upon the dry weight
yield and chemical composition of soybeans, oats, and
alfalfa. These three crops were chosen because they are
common agricultural crops grown in Michigan and are fre-
quently used as feed for cattle. They have also been sub-
jected to similar studies both at this and other agricul-
tural experiment stations, so adequate information is
available with which these data can be compared and supple-
mented. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium were
chosen as the variable soil amendments since the effects of
high and low levels of these elements are being used in the
field for the production of the cattle feed used in the
nutrition project previously mentioned. Since adequate
nitrogen and minor nutrients are supplied in the field,
these were not studied in this experiment. There was evi-
dence that, in the field, no conditions of extreme nutrient
unbalance existed, but rather, that the nutrients were in
proper balance at both high and low levels of fertility.
For this reason, this greenhouse study was deemed necessary

in order to study the effects of the various unbalanced

9.

conditions of soil fertility upon plant composition.
Seventy treatments were employed in the greenhouse,
each replicated four times, making a total of 280 one-
gallon pots used in the experiment. The soil, a Fox sandy
loam, was adjusted to pH levels of 4.7 (original pH), 5.8,
6.3, and 6.8 using calcium carbonate in one series and a
mixture of 75% by weight calcium carbonate-25% magnesium
carbonate in a second series. Thus there were seven lime
treatments in all; the original soil plus the three higher
pH levels with both liming materials. Mono-calcium phos-
phate, Ca(HzP04)2°H20, was added to the soil at three
rates, giving four phosphorus levels of 13 (original soil),
30, 60, and 90 pounds per acre of available phosphorus by
the Spurway reserve test. Likewise, four levels of potas-
sium were maintained with potassium chloride; 60 (original
soil), 100, 200, and 300 pounds per acre of available
potassium by the Spurway test. An adequate supply of all
other nutrients was maintained. Nitrogen was added in the
forms of NaNO3 and NH4N03, 50% of the nitrogen coming from
each source. Anionic and cationic sources were used in
order to reduce as much as possible the effects of nitro-
gen on the cation-anion ratio in nutrient uptake by the
plants. All chemicals used were C.P. grade. The pH, level
of available phosphorus, and level of available potassium
used for each of the seventy soil treatments are given in

Table I.

10.

TABLE I

Soil pH Levels, Available Phosphorus, and Available
Potassium Maintained in the Seventy Soil Treatments

 

 

 

Treatment1 Soil Type of Available P Available K
pH Lime (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre)
I-O 4.7 --- 13 60
II-O 5.8 Ca 13 60
III-O 6.3 Ca 13 60
17-0 6.8 Ca 13 60
V-0 5.8 Ca-Kg 13 6O
VI-O 6.3 Ca-Hg 13 60
VII-0 6.8 Ca-Mg 13 60
I-Al 4.7 --- 30 100
II-AI 5.8 Ca 30 100
III-Al 6.3 . Ca 30 100
IV-Al 6.8 Ca 30 100
V-Al 5.8 Ca-Mg 30 100
VI-Al 6.3 Ca-Hg 30 100
VII-A1 6.8 Ca-Mg 30 100
I-A2 4.7 --- 30 200
II-A2 5.8 Ca 30 200
III-A2 6.3 Ca 30 200
IV-A2 6.8 Ca 30 200
V-A2 5.8 Ca-Mg 30 200
VI-A2 6.3 Ca-Mg 30 200

VII-A2 e .e Ca-lig so 200

Al I‘ I II I) J 7 a]. l I
I III

11.

TABLE I (continued)

-:
-¥—

 

Treatment Soil Type of Available P Available K
pH Lime (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre)
I-A3 4.7 --- 30 300
II-A3 5.8 Ca 30 300
III-A3 6.3 Ca 30 300
IV-A3 6.8 Ca 30 300
v-as 5.8 Ca-Mg so 300
VI-A3 6.3 Ca-Mg 30 300
VII-A3 6.8 Ca-Mg 30 300
I-Bl 4.7 --- 60 100
II-Bl 5.8 Ca 60 100
III-Bl 6.3 Ca 60 100
17-81 6.8 Ca 60 100
V-Bl 5.8 Ca-Mg 60 100
VI-Bl 6.3 Ca-Mg 60 100
VII-Bl 6.8 Ca-Mg 60 100
I-B2 4.7 --- 60 200
II-Bz 5.8 Ca 60 200
III-B2 6.3 Ca 60 200
IV-B2 6.8 Ca 60 200
V-B2 5.8 Ca-Mg 60 200
VI-B2 6.3 Ca-Mg 60 200
VII-BB 6.8 Ca-Mg 60 A 200

I-B3 4.7 --- 60 300

12.

TABLE I. (continued)

 

 

Treatment Soil Type of Available P Available K
pH Lime (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre)
II-B3 5.8 Ca 60 300
III-BS 6.3 Ca 60 300
IV-B3 6.8 Ca 60 300
V-B3 5.8 Ca-Mg 60 300
VI-B3 6.3 Ca-Hg 60 300
VII-B3 6.8 Ca-Mg 60 300
I-Cl 4.7 --- 90 100
II-Cl 5.8 Ca 90 100
III-Cl 6.3 Ca 90 100
IV-Cl 6.8 Ca 90 100
V-Cl 5.8 Ca-Mg 90 100
VI-Cl 6.3 Ca-Mg 90 100
VII-Cl 6.8 Ca-Mg 90 100
1-02 4.7 --- 90 200
II-CZ 5.8 Ca 90 200
III-02 6.3 Ca 90 200
IV-02 6.8 Ca 90 200
V-02 5.8 Ca-Mg 90 200
VI-02 6.3 Ca-Mg 90 200
VII-C2 6.8 Ca-Mg 90 200

I-C3 4.7 --- 90 300

13.

TABLE I. (continued)

 

 

 

Treatment Soil Type of Available P Available K
pH Lime (lbs/acre) (lbs/acre)
II-C3 5.8 Ca 90 300
III-C3 6.3 Ca 90 300
IV-C3 6.8 Ca 90 300
V-C3 5.8 V Ca-Mg 90 300
VI-C3 6.3 Ca-Mg 90 300

VII-03. 6.8 Ca-Mg 90 300

 

Key to above treatments:

Lime: I 3 pH 4.7; II, III, and IV : pH 5.8, 6.3, 6.8
with CaCO ; V, VI, and VII a pH 5.8, 6.3, and
6.8 with a-MgCOS.

Phosphorus: 0 : 13 lbs/acre available P; A = 30 lbs/
acre; B = 60 lbs/acre; C = 90 lbs/acre

Potassium: 0 - 60 lbs/acre available K; 1 a 100 lbs/
acre; 2 a 200 lbs/acre; 3 : 300 lbs/acre

 

 

14.

The soil was screened through a 4-mesh sieve and
placed in one-gallon pots, 4200 grams in each. The re-
quired amounts of liming materials were thoroughly mixed
with the soil in each pot, using a mechanical mixer. Dis-
tilled water was then added to each pot to maintain the soil
at the moisture equivalent, and the soils were covered and
incubated for two weeks to allow the liming material time
in which to react. The pots were arranged in a completely
random manner within each of the four replicates. Two large
rolling tables were used for each replicate. Thus, the
tables could be turned around and moved at weekly intervals
to lessen any bias that could be introduced through a
favored location on the table (as closer to the heating
pipes, stronger light, etc.). During the winter, daylight
was supplemented with artificial overhead lighting so that
the plants received 14 to 16 hours of light daily.

Soybean Crop
During January 5 to 7, 1953, all pots were seeded to

Hawkeye soybeans, ten seeds to a pot. At the same time,

the phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were added in a
band application. The seeds were planted with the soil
moisture at about the moisture equivalent by stirring up the
surface inch or so of the soil, then pressing an inverted
flower pot (six-inchcnameter) about one-half inch into the
soil, leaving a ring in the surface of the soil in which

15.

the seeds were then placed. The seeds were lightly covered
with soil and very lightly packed. Fertilizers were applied
in another ring made by pressing an inverted four-inch
flower pot one inch into the soil. Thus, the fertilizer was
placed in a band about one inch to the side and one inch
below the seed.

Immediately after being seeded, the pots were covered
with wrapping paper to reduce water evaporation from the
soil surface. The paper was removed after the seedlings
were well through the soil; usually in about a week. With
this and the succeeding crops, it was found that the control
of soil moisture was critical at this stage. Sufficient
moisture and air had to be maintained in the surface inch
or two of soil for almost a week until the seedlings
emerged and began developing their first true leaves. By
this time, the root system was usually well enough developed
to remove moisture from greater depths, so surface evapor-
ation became less important, and the formation of a crust
over the soil as a result of watering was less detrimental.
In order to maintain an adequate oxygen supply for the
germinating seeds, the surface soil could not be too moist.
Therefore, there was only a narrow range around the moisture
equivalent in which the soil moisture could vary in the sur-
face of this soil without seriously retarding germination.
Difficulties arose if one attempted to add water to the

16.

surface of this soil before the seedlings emerged because
of its pronounced tendency to cake over and form a crust
through which the seedlings emerged with difficulty.
Therefore, it was found from experience that germination
was greatly improved if enough water was added several days
prior to planting to bring the entire body of soil in the
pot well above moisture equivalent. Since the surface
dried the fastest, in a few days it was down to moisture
equivalent while the soil below still held excess water.

By planting the seeds at this time, they were able to ger-
minate without difficulty because the surface soil was kept
moist by the upward movement of the excess water, especially
if the pot were covered so that the air above the soil was
nearly saturated.

About two or three weeks after planting, when the
seedlings were well established, they were thinned to five
plants per pot. The plants that were pulled up were left on
the surface of the pot (as were all weeds that were removed)
in order not to remove any nutrients from the pot. The
soils in the pots were maintained at approximately moisture
equivalent by weighing periodically and adding distilled
water accordingly, usually about every two or three days.
Close observations were made for deficiency symptoms. When-
ever they were suspected, tissue tests were made to confirm
them. Photographs were taken of plants showing character-

istic differences.

17.

NitrOgen was twice added in solution, on February 6
when the plants were growing vigorously in the vegetative
stage, and again on March 4 when they had begun to blossom.
A mixture of NaNO:5 and NH4N03 containing 50% of the nitrogen
from.each source was used each time at rates of 30 pounds
of nitrogen per acre. The entire above ground parts of the
plants were harvested March 27 to 29 when the pods were
formed and had begun to fill. These samples were dried in
an electric oven at 45-55° C, then weighed and ground in a
Wiley mill. Aliquots of samples from each of the four re-
plicates for each treatment were taken, composited, and
delivered to the Agricultural Chemistry department for

chemical analyses.

Oats crop

After the harvest of the soybean crop, when the soils
were partially dry, that from the four pots in the same
treatment was thoroughly mixed, and a fifty-gram sample was
taken for soil tests and laboratory work. The soil repre-
senting each treatment was then divided equally and returned
to the four pots. This method not only reduced the number
of soil tests necessary from two hundred eighty to seventy,
but it also insured more uniformity among the replicates
for the next crop. After determining the amounts of lime
and fertilizer required to raise the fertility levels of the

soil to those used for the soybeans, the liming materials

18.

were thoroughly mixed into each pot, the soils moistened,
incubated for several weeks, and oats of the Eaton variety
were seeded on June 29-30, 1953, in a manner similar to
that described above with the soybeans. About two weeks
after germination, the plants were thinned to nine plants
per pot. Nitrogen fertilizers, equivalent to 20 pounds of
nitrogen per acre were applied twice; at the tillering
stage on July 17, and on August 3 when the plants had begun
to head. Observations were made and pictures were taken of
plants showing visual growth abnormalities. The plants
were harvested at the dough stage. The harvest was spread
over the period of August 19 to 24 in an attempt to harvest
all plants at the same stage of maturity. As with the soy-
bean crop, the plants were dried, weighed, ground, composi-

ted, and delivered for chemical analyses.

Alfalfa crop

Essentially the same procedure was followed for the
alfalfa crop. Pots were seeded to Ranger alfalfa on Decems
ber 17 to 18, 1953, and were thinned to seven plants per pot
after the seedlings were established. No nitrogen was app-
lied, and pictures were taken as warranted. The plants were
harvested at one-fourth bloom stage (two blossoms per pot)
during the period of March 17 to April 3. Some "no phos-
phorus" treatments produced plants that never bloomed. The
plants were dried, weighed, ground, composited, and deli-

vered for chemical analyses.

19.
Laboratory

Methods of Characterizing the Soil
The soil used in this study was classified as Fox

sandy loam. It was taken from the surface of Field #5, a
depleted field, on the Flowers farm near Gull Lake, Michi-
gan in September, 1952. This is the farm which produced

the feed used in the American Dairy Association Nutrition
Project (28). A mechanical analysis was made on this soil
by the hydrometer method of Bouyoucos (20). Organic matter
was determined by Robinson's method of treating the soil
with 15% hydrogen peroxide and heating. The moisture equi-
valent was found by centrifuging the saturated soil for
thirty minutes at a force 1,000 times that of gravity. Soil
pH was determined potentiometrically with the Macbeth alter-
nating current pH meter with glass electrode. The ammonium
acetate procedure of Schollenberger and Simon (78) was used
for the determination of the base exchange capacity of the
soil. A spectrographic analysis of a 1:1 H01 extract of an
ashed sample of the surface soil taken from the same plot in

approximately the same location was also made.

Calibration of the Fertilizer and Lime Requirement
In this experiment it was desired to grow crops at
three pH levels using both calcium carbonate and a 75% cal-

cium carbonate-25% magnesium carbonate mixture, three levels

20.

of available phosphorus, and three levels of available
potassium, plus the controls. Therefore, it was necessary
to determine the amounts of these soil amendments required
to raise the field soil to the desired levels of: pH 5.8,
6.3, and 6.8; available phosphorus at 30, 60, and 90

pounds per acre; and available potassium at 100, 200, and
300 pounds per acre. In order to do this, 100 grams of
screened soil was added to a series of 250 milliliter bea-
kers in the laboratory, and the respective liming and
fertilizing materials were added in increasing increments
to these beakers, as proposed by Watson (104). After incu-
bating the soils at optimum moisture for two weeks, soil
samples were taken and soil tests for pH, available phos-
phorus, and available potassium were run by the Spurway
reserve method (91). From these data, calibration curves
of soil test results versus pounds per acre of amendment
added were constructed from which the amounts of liming and
fertilizing materials to be used for each treatment in the
greenhouse pots were calculated. These same curves were
used after the removal of each crop to calculate the amounts
of soil amendments that the soil in each pot required in
order to bring it back to the desired fertility levels
prior to the planting of the next crop.

Soil Test;
All soil tests for available phosphorus, available

21.

potassium, and pH were made according to the Spurway re-
serve method (91). Soil tests were run on the original
field soil, on the soils used in the beakers for the con-
struction of the fertilizing and liming calibration curves,
and on screened samples from the greenhouse pots after har-
vesting each crop. Samples of the field soil were also
subjected to determinations of available iron and manganese
by the Spurway method. The nutrient deficiency symptoms

of the growing plants were confirmed by use of the Spurway

tissue tests.

Qatermination of Exchangeable_§aseg

The total millequivalents of each of the four prin-
ciple soil bases, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium,
were determined for each of the seventy soil treatments,
both before and after cropping. The percent saturation of
the soil exchange complex by each base for each treatment
was calculated. Since the phosphorus and potassium ferti-
lizers were banded in the greenhouse pots, it was impossible
to determine the base saturation of the soil before cropping
using the greenhouse soil as a source of material. There-
fore, the samples used before cropping came from the same
beakers that were used in the laboratory as the source of
the data required for the construction of the liming and
fertilizing curves. Thus, the information obtained from

the studies on the base status of the soil before cropping

22.

and that obtained from the soil tests used in the cali-
bration curves are directly comparable.

A ten-gram sample of the screened soil was leached
with 180 milliliters of neutral normal ammonium acetate,
and the total volume was brought up to 200 milliliters with
more ammonium acetate. A fifty milliliter aliquot was re-
moved for the determination of calcium and magnesium by the
versenate method, and the remainder of the filtrate was
saved for the determination of the other bases with the
flame photometer. The method followed in the versenate
titration was essentially that of Cheng and Bray (22), al-
though several modifications were introduced. Originally
it was desired to titrate calcium and magnesium together
using F241 indicator, then to determine calcium alone with
murexide indicator, in ammonium acetate. Following the pro-
cedure of Cheng and Bray, it was found that neither indica-
tor would give a reliable endpoint in an ammonium acetate
solution. Since F241 is the sodium salt of an organic acid,
it was thought that its ionization may have been suppressed
by the common ion effect of the sodium.added in the sodium
hydroxide required to bring the solution up to a pH of 10.
In order to avoid this, concentrated ammonium hydroxide was
substituted for sodium hydroxide, and reliable endpoints
were obtained for the titration, as Table II indicates.
Murexide indicator still failed to give a definite endpoint

in ammonium acetate. Attempts to remove the calciumrfrom

23.

TABLE II

Standardization of Versenate

 

 

 

git Verginate :I Vggs. 53* Vergénate 2% 3:48.
(in NHaoAc)

0.2 0.56 0.3571 0.5 1.10 0.4545
0.4 1.14 0.3509 1.0 2.20 0.4545
0.6 1.73 0.3468 1.5 3.31 0.4532
0.8 2.32 0.3449 2.0 4.46 0.4484
1.0 2.92 0.3425 3.0 6.70 0.4478
2.0 5.77 0.3466 4.0 8.95 0.4469
3.0 8.65 0.3468

4.0 11.54 0.3466

Ave . 0.347 Ave . 0.451
( in H20 )

0.2 1.04 0.1923 0.5 0.98 0.5102
0.4 2.05 0.1951 1.0 1.96 0.5102
0.6 3.08 0.1948 1.5 2.95 0.5085
0.8 4.08 0.1961 2.0 3.94 0.5076
1.0 5.13 0.1941 2.5 5.00 0.5000
2.0 10.25 0.1951 4.0 7.95 0.5032
3.0 15.27 0.1964 6.0 11.94 0.5026
4.0 20.51 0.1961

 

‘Carbonate salts used

24.

the ammonium acetate solution as a precipitate of citrate,
phosphate, carbonate, or oxalate all failed. Therefore, it
was necessary to determine calcium on the flame photometer,
then calculate magnesium by difference.

The method employed for the determination of magnesium
was as follows: ten milliliters of concentrated ammonium
hydroxide was added to a fifty milliliter aliquot of the
ammonium acetate filtrate in order to raise the pH to 10,
seven drops of F241 indicator were added, and the solution
was titrated with versenate standardized with calcium and
magnesium salts dissolved in neutral normal ammonium ace-
tate.

The method of Attoe and Truog (9) was used for the
determination of potassium and sodium, except that normal
ammonium acetate was used instead of two normal ammonium
acetate and 0.2 normal magnesium acetate. Calcium was deter-
mined in a similar manner. The Beckman Model B flame photo-
meter with acetylene gas was used. Since this instrument
has a glass prism, it was impossible to determine magnesium
by this method. Because of the low concentrations of
sodium, and because of the several known interferences
(especially from calcium), 25 ppm calcium, 10 ppm potassium,

and 5 ppm magnesium were added to the sodium standards.

25.

thmica1.Analyses of the Plant Material

The chemical analyses of the plant material were made
by the Agricultural Chemistry Department of the Michigan
Experiment Station. The feedstuff analyses on ash, protein,
nitrogen free extract, ether extract, and crude fiber were
determined by the standard A.0.A.C. methods (8). Sodium
and potassium were determined on the Perkin-Elmer Model
52-A flame photometer according to the method of Seay, et a1
(79). Spectrographic analyses for boron, phosphorus, iron,
magnesium, manganese, calcium, and copper were made by the
method that follows. A one gram sample of the plant mater-
ial was ashed, taken up in 1:1 H01, and LiCl was added as
an internal standard. The solution was placed on the end
of a polished carbon electrode, dried by infra-red light,
and placed in the electrode holders. The electrodes were
then sparked at 13 amperes, using four breaks per half second.
This procedure was somewhat similar to that reported by
Mathis (51). The values reported are the averages of dupli-

cate determinations.
Statistical Analyses

An analysis of variance was made on the dry weight
yields of each of the three crops, and the significance of
each calculated P value was determined from Snedecor's

tables (88). In order to simplify the analysis of variance

26.

so that the results would be intelligible to those who do
not possess a profound knowledge of statistical analyses,
the "no treatment" pots were not included. Thus, the
analysis of variance was made on the basis of a factorial
of three pH levels x two types of lime x three phosphorus
levels x three potassium levels, and four replications,
giving a total of 215 degrees of freedom. Averages for the
controls are also given.

To save time and money, the four replicates were com-
posited for chemical analyses. Therefore, analyses of
variance could not be used to determine significant differ-
ences between treatments. For this reason, the coefficient
of likelihood (26) was calculated for the different series
of treatments, and its significance was determined from the
appropriate table of L values (26). The coefficient of
correlation for the different comparisons was calculated

by the formula given by Croxton and Cowden (26).

27.
RESULTS
Properties Characterizing the Soil

The results obtained in the determination of the pro-
perties which characterize the soil are given in Table III.
The values obtained for this soil were fairly typical of a
Fox sandy loam. According to Stolzy (92), the predominate
clay in this soil type is illite, although some kaolinite
and montmorillonite were also detected. The determinations
of soil pH, available phosphorus, available potassium, and
total nitrogen showed that the soil was seriously depleted
in available nutrients when it was brought to the green-
house. This condition was desired for this experiment.

The spectrographic analyses of the 1:1 hydrochloric acid
extract of an ashed sample of this soil showed very little
difference from the analyses of other plots in the field at
the Flowers farm. The differences between the results for
the fertilized and the unfertilized plots were small.
Therefore, this method of analysis was questionable as a

measure of the fertility status of the soil.

Fertilizer and Lime Requirements of the Soil

The amounts of fertilizers and liming materials re-
quired to raise the field soil to the desired fertility

levels were determined from the calibration curves made by

28.

TABLE III.

Some Physical and Chemical Properties Characterizing
the Soil Used in this Study

 

 

 

 

1

% Sand ----- 63.6 % Boron ----- 0.0044
% Silt2 ----- 25.2 % Phosphorus - - 0.064
% Clay3 ----- 11.2 % Iron ----- 0.069
% Organic Matter- 2.02 % Magnesium - - - 0.618
% Water at Moisture % Manganese - - - 0.085
Equivalent - - 10.1
% Ca1CIum - - - - 0.32
Soil pH 4.7
' % Copper - - - - 0.00022
Available Soil Phos-
phorus, lb/acre l3 % Nitrogen - - - 0.100
Available Soil Potas- Soil Type - Fox sandy
sium, lb/acre - 60 loam
Cation Exchange Capa- Type of Clay4 - Illitic

city, m.e./100 gm. 4.07

 

1
Over 50 u in size

2From 2 to 50 u in size

3Under 2 u in size

4
L. Stolzy, Ph.D. Thesis, Michigan State College, 1954.

29.

plotting soil test results against the pounds per acre of
the soil amendments added to one hundred grams of soil in
250 milliliter beakers. These calibration curves for the
determination of the amounts of liming materials, mono—
calcium phosphate, and potassium chloride required for
each of the seventy treatments are presented in Figures 1,
2, and 3 respectively. All points on the curves are aver-
ages of three determinations. The graph in Figure 1 shows
that more calcium carbonate was required, especially at
the higher pH values, to give a certain pH level than was
required of the calcium-magnesium mixture. It is inter?
esting to note that less than one and one-half tons per
acre of liming material was required to raise the pH of
this soil from 4.7 to 6.8, which indicates that the soil
has a low buffering capacity.

The amount of phosphate fertilizer required to in-
crease the level of available soil phosphorus to 90 pounds
per acre was surprisingly large (Figure 2). This fact is
particularly evident if the amount of monocalcium phos-
phate required is converted to the equivalent amount of
superphosphate. Because this soil was highly acid, it is
possible that some of the added phosphorus was fixed as
iron and aluminum phosphates.

The quantity of potassium chloride required was not

unduly large, as Figure 3 indicates. The data represented

 

.md Hsom do wadsadpma madame co possum .H magmas
mecca mamfiampmz mcfisfiq so oao< com meadow
comm oomm oovm ooom coma oomH oom cow 0
. « J. a . q d. a « twoé.
. . _ u .-
. . _ _.
.d d d _d _.d
.H .H .H .H . H
.eov .muv .muo 5M9 .mb 0
.8 8 .2 2 :8 ion
_ . .. C
. . . . ...
. . . . .
. .
_ . . . ..
. _ . . .. A¢em
e _ . _ .
O . . . . _.
3 _ . . _ .. e
. .\
. _ .
. o\\

--‘—-—

   
 

 

.0

Hd IIOS

31.

.wsaonamonm Hfiom eHanHm>¢ so aouaafiuaom mumnamoam mo poohmm .m magmas

oaom\nH .smvsm cumnamonm asdoasoosoz

oooa com com ooh 000 com oov con 00w OOH o

d d a q d L ~ _ _ m

 

OH

ON

on

0v

on

00

Or

Om

om

sues/qt ‘enuoquoqd [I S etqettewv

32.

.Bsfiwwmpom HHow oHnmaHm>d com: codumuaafipaom adfimwmpom Oo pommmm

00m
i

one
.

00¢
A

osod\nfi .eoned unspeaao enammdLOE

on»
4

OOn
q

cam
_

OON
a

OOH
41:

OOH

\

on

q

.m oasmfim

on

vOOH

omH

OON

omm

 

OOM

sacs/qt ‘mnyeseqog 1:03 etqetranv

33.

by this graph suggest that there was hardly any fixation of
the added potassium, except possibly at low values, since
available potassium increased almost pound for pound with

that added.
Results of Soil Tests

The amounts of lime and fertilizers required for each
of the seventy soil treatments were calculated from the
calibration curves (Figures 1, 2, and 3) with the aid of
the soil test results made after the harvest of each crop.
The fact that the soil pH decreased greatly with the growth
of only one crop, in several cases over one full pH unit,
indicates further the low buffering capacity of the soil.
Large decreases also occurred in the pounds per acre of
available phosphorus and potassium. The decreases in pH
were not quite so large after the removal of the cats crop
as they were after the removal of the soybean crop. This
might have been expected since soybeans tend to take up
more calcium than do oats. No soil tests were made after
the alfalfa crop was harvested. ~

In determining the amounts of fertilizer required
after the removal of a crop, it frequently happened that
the soil test was below that of the original soil. In such
cases, the fertilizer requirement was calculated by extra-
polating to the left. Thus, those values may not have been

so reliable as the ones that were calculated without

34.

extrapolation, but the errors were probably minor because
of the very small amounts of fertilizers involved in that

region of the curve.

Exchangeable Base Status for Each Soil Treatment

The results of the exchangeable base determinations
of the soil for each of the seventy soil treatments before
cropping are presented in Table IV. The percentages of
calcium, magnesium, and potassium saturation of the soil
tended to increase regularly as more of these cations were
added to the soil. Since calcium constituted almost two-
thirds of the cations in the soil, variations in the total
percent saturation were determined primarily by variations
in the amount of calcium present, and to a lesser degree
by variations in the amount of magnesium present. The per-
cent potassium saturation was so low, even at high potas-
sium levels (level ”3"), that variations in potassium
treatments seemed to have no significant effects on the
percent of total base saturation.

The degree of base saturation of the soil at some of
the higher pH levels was over 100 percent, which is inter-
preted to mean that free salts were present in the soils
of these treatments, even though the reaction of the soil
was below the theoretical neutral point. However, this is

not uncommon for a soil with such a low exchange capacity

(23).

35.

TABLE IV

Base Status for the Seventy Soil Treatments
Before Croppingt

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
1-0 21 7 2.7 0.0 31
II-0 56 10 2.7 0.0 69
III-0 72 10 2.7 0.0 85
IV-O 98 12 2.7 0.5 113
V-O 38 23 2.7 0.0 65
VI-O‘ 46 26 2.9 0.5 75
VII-0 62 40 2.7 9.1 114
I-Al 19 13 4.2 0.0 36
II-Al .41 29 4.2 0.0 74
III-A1 72 13 4.2 0.0 89
IV-Al 84 7 4.2 0.0 95
V-Al 41 27 4.2 0.0 72
VI-Al 53 27 4.2 0.7 85
VII-Al 71 29 3.9 3.9 106
I-A2 21 13 7.6 0.0 42
II-A2 53 15 6.6 0.0 73
III-A2 65 10 6.9 0.5 83
IV-A2 87 9 6.2 0.5 103
V-A2 41 19 6.4 0.0 66
VI-A2 46 21 5.7 0.7 74

 

*As percent saturation of total base exchange capacity

36.

TABLE IV (continued)

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
VII-A2 71 50 6.9 5.9 109
I-A3 21 14 10.5 0.0 46
II-A3 55 15 11.0 0.0 79
III-A3 56 10 10.5 0.0 77
IV-A3 39 6 11.0 0.0 106
V-A3 41 25 9.3 0.0 75
VI-A3 55 27 11.0 0.5 92
VII—A3 56 50 10.5 5.4 102
1-31 24 10 5.4 0.0 53
11-31 49 11 5.4 0.0 64
III-Bl 56 53 5.4 0.0 97
IV-Bl 34 21 K 5.9 5.4 115
v-31 44 21 5.9 0.0 68
v1-31 49 50 5.9 0.7 35
VII-Bl 59 51 5.9 4.2 93
1-32 24 10 6.2 0.0 40
11-32 59 15 6.6 0.0 30
III-B2 75 10 6.6 0.0 91
1v-32 39 10 6.2 0.0 ' 106
v-32 44 20 6.4 0.0 70
v1-32 56 22 6.6 6.6 92
VII-82 59 52 7.4 4.2 102
1-35 24 12 10.5 0.0 47
11-35 55 15 11.0 0.0 73
III-B3 71 15 10.5 0.0 92

IV-B3 80 5 10.5 0.0 96

 

37.

TABLE IV (continued)

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
V-B3 49 22 11.3 1.7 84
VI-B3 53 26 10.3 4.2 94
VII-B3 59 33 11.3 4.2 108
I-Cl 29 5 4.2 0.0 38
II-Cl 56 12 3.4 0.0 71
III-Cl 65 10 3.2 0.0 78
IV-Cl 108 5 3.9 0.5 117
V-Cl 41 20 3.4 0.0 64
VI-Cl 56 23 4.7 3.7 87
VII-Cl 68 23 3.9 4.2 100
I-C2 26 15 6.9 0.0 48
11-02 * 56 14 5.4 0.5 77
III-02 68 15 6.4 0.0 90
IV-Cz 92 9 6.4 0.0 108
V-02 44 20 6.4 0.0 70
VI-Cz 62 24 6.9 4.2 97
VII-C2 75 27 6.6 4.9 114
I-C3 26 17 10.5 0.0 53
II-C3 53 13 10.5 0.5 77
III-C3 72 13 11.8 0.7 98
IV-C3 78 11 10.3 0.0 100
V-C3 46 7 10.3 0.0 81
VI-03 49 29 10.5 4.2 93

VII-C3 59 32 10.5 4.9 107

38.

The percentage of the cation exchange capacity satu-
rated with sodium varied unexpectedly for some soil treat-
ments. The data in Table IV indicate that, in almost all
cases, the percent sodium saturation increased with the
percent magnesium saturation. Originally, the sodium
standards used in the flame determinations contained no
magnesium salts, so it was thought that magnesium might be
exerting an additive interference upon the sodium readings.
However, upon adding magnesium carbonate to the standards,
no change occurred in the percent transmittancy readings or
the standard curve for sodium, so the possibility of mag-
nesium interference was eliminated. Since sodium had not
been added to this soil in the laboratory, nor for some
time in the field to the author's knowledge, and since the
readings for most other treatments indicated its virtual
absence, these high values probably do not represent the
actual sodium concentrations present. Sodium determinations
on soil samples taken from the greenhouse pots failed to ex-
hibit this increase in concentration with the percent mag-
nesium saturation of the soil.

Since the cation status of a soil is often expressed
in the form of ratios of the various bases (13, 41, 63, 81,
101), the ratios of the millequivalents of Ca/K, Ca and
Mg/K, and Ca/Mg were calculated for each of these seventy
soil treatments. These values are listed in Table V. Their

influence upon plant composition and growth will be discussed

39.

TABLE V

Cation Ratios for the Seventy Soil Treatments

 

 

 

Treat- Ca7X' QgQMg Ca/Mg Treat- Ca/K Qaégg Ca/Mg
ment K ment K
1-0 7.75 10.45 2.35 VII-A2 9.95 14.29 2.23
II-o 20.75 24.55 5.45 1-45 2.02 5.55 1.47
III-0 26.55 50.56 6.95 11-15 4.73 6.16 5,47
Iv-o 56.56 40.75 3.55 III-A3 5.50 6.23 5.55
v-o 14.09 25.00 1.69 IV-A3 3.09 3.62 15.15
VI-0 15.67 24.55 1.31 7-15 4.15 6.65 1.66
VII-0 25.00 54.35 1.54 VI-A3 4.73 7.25 1.95
I-Al 4.55 7.59 1.43 VII-A3 5.45 3.54 1.37
II-Al 9.76' 16.59 1.45 1-31 6.92 9.95 2.51
III-A1 17.13 20.55 5.41 11-31 14.53 17.57 4.55
IV-Al 20.00 21.55 9.75 III-Bl 21.22 26.51 4.05
V-Al 9.77 16.12 1.54 1v-31 12.50 20.00 1.67
VI-Al 12.65 19.12 1.95 v-31 11.05 16.51 2.11
VII-Al 17.53 24.90 2.52 VI-Bl 12.50 20.00 1.67
1-12 2.74 4.43 1.57 VII-Bl 15.00 22.33 1.90
11-12 3.27 15.46 5.93 1-32 5.33 5.56 2.51
III-A2 9.45 10.95 6.29 11-32 3.39 11.10 4.00
IV-A2 14.12 15.64 9.05 III-B2 11.21 12.70 7.53
V-A2 6.53 9.55 2.15 Iv-32 14.55 16.21 3.67
VI-A2 3.13 11.91 2.19 v-32 6.31 9.33 2.21

 

40.

 

 

 

TABLE V (continued)

Treat- Ca/K QaéMg Ca/Mg Treat- Ca/K QgéMg Ca/Mg
ment K ment K
VI-B2 8.44 11.77 2.54 III-C3 6.08 7.22 5.41
VII-B2 8.00 12.32 1.85 IV-C3 7.50 8.60 6.85
I-B3 2.31 3.50 1.94 V-C3 4.38 5.03 6.72
II-B3 4.78 5.98 3.98 VI-C3 4.65 7.40 1.69
III-B3 6.47 7.72 5.15 VII-C3 5.58 8.65 1.82
IV-BS 7.58 8.10 14.81 Averages for the lime
V-B3 4.35 6.41 2.22 treatments are as follows:
v1-35 5.12 7.64 2.05 I 4.54 6.28 2.50
VII-B3 5.22 8.18 1.76 II 10.16 13.24 3.93
I-Cl 6.83 8.01 5.80 III 12.95 15.93 5.49
II-Cl 16.28 19.71 4.75 IV 17.13 19.05 10.84
III-Cl 20.30 23.37 6.61 V 7.98 11.92 2.45
IV-C1 27.36 28.62 21.89 VI 9.30 13.87 2.10
V-Cl 11.85 17.56 2.08 VII 11.82 17.29 2.11
VI'CI 12'00 16°83 2'48 Averages for phosphorus
VII-Cl 17.57 25.10 5.02 treatments:

I-CZ 3.79 5.93 1.77 0 20.59 26.89 4.08
II-02 8.77 11.00 3.93 A 8.80 10.52 3.93
III-02 10.69 13.06 4.49 B 8.28 12.73 3.76
Iv-c2 14.50 (15.95 9.92 0 10.14 12.36 4.37
V-C2 6'81 9°96 2'16 Averages for potassium
71-02 9.04 12.42 2.64 tr°atm°nt°‘
VII-C2 11.33 15.38 2.78 0 20.59 26.89 4.08
I-C3 2.47 4.03 1.56 1 14.32 20.09 4.21
II-C3 5.00 6.26 3.99 2 8.33 11.59 4.06

3 5.05 6.73 4.25

41.

later, but it is interesting to note a few observations at
this point. The Ca/Mg ratios of the soils receiving mag-
nesium (treatments V, VI, and VII) were generally fairly
constant regardless of the soil pH value. The Ca/K ratios
varied widely, from less than four to over twenty-five. In
New Jersey 80118, Bear and Toth (15) regarded a Ca/K ratio
of 13 as ideal ratio for the growth of alfalfa.

It may be of interest to compare the soil test re-
sults with the base status determinations since they
represent two different methods for measuring the nutrient
supply of a soil. This was done in the graph in Figure 4
where the average percent base saturation of calcium plus
magnesium for each pH level was plotted against the soil
pH. A similar graph of average percent potassium satura-
tion versus pounds per acre of available potassium is pre-
sented in Figure 5. It may be observed that these curves
were generally linear, except at the extremes. This result
is somewhat surprising because of the fact that two cations
(H. and NH4‘ in this case) seldom have the same effect upon
the activity or availability of a third cation over such a
wide range of concentrations. This phenomenon, and its re-
lation to plant nutrition, will be discussed to a greater
length in another part of this thesis.

Although the data reported in Table IV were designated
as the base status of the soil before cropping, they do not

42.

.ma deem
mom: Haom on» no sofipmasumm asawocmmz msHa asdono pcooaom ho vacuum

.v easwfim

apaomamo owsmnoxm Hfiom on» me coausESpwm ssfiwocwmz 33H; asHono pceoaom
on

 

 

OOH OO Om Or CO on 05
a A! a 47 4 {a «7 JQIIIJF.¢
12.6
S
0
T...
Lash
m“
\\ a...
\

ea: aP\w \
\\.

\\
oadH w:-mo \\5
\\.
O O

 

 

 

[4

w L

l.l.
., ‘V
...

 

43.

.asummmuom

 

 

Hfiom oHanHm>¢ on Haom emu O0 :ofiumasumm asfiwwmpom usmoaom mo :oHumHom .m easwfim
hpaomamo omamnoxm Haom mo cofimeSpmm asammmuom ucooaom
m.OH m.m m.m m.b 0.0 0.0 0.5 . m.n m.m
« w.- . q . 47 Hi a .0m
. O
w
. .163
402
A
_
. urom

[Omm

 

Loon

ease/qt ‘mntssaqog {tog etqattawv

44.

exactly represent the base status of the soils used in the
greenhouse because the phosphorus and potassium fertilizers
were banded in the greenhouse pots and were added in solu-
tion to the laboratory soils from which these data were
obtained. However, since the degree of potassium satura-
tion was so low that it hardly affected the total percent

base saturation, this difference is probably negligible.

Observations and Data on Growth and Yield

Soybeans
Soybean plants which were grown at a soil pH of 4.7

began to show calcium deficiency symptoms when they were
about six weeks old. This was indicated by a yellow
mottling between the veins on the younger (upper) leaves.
The pattern illustrated by Figure 6 was confirmed by
tissue tests. I A

The plants exhibiting calcium deficiencies retained
their cotyledons in a green condition throughout the entire
growing period, whereas they were dropped from the other
plants within a few weeks from emergence. The significance
of this observation is not known. It was probably because
a lack of calcium retarded the formation of new tissue (21),
including possible secondary growth, thus eliminating the
formation of an abcission layer of cells by the cambium at

the base of the cotyledons.

45.

.muamauwoap Hfiom useaommau Beam mepHamoa npsoam cmmnzom ho woaspofim

.msmopzow :o hosoaodmou addono .m

     

u:.:.
02

 

Mi...—

asv

  

      

.m oaswfim

 

b. Magnesium deficiency on soybeans

 

c. Potassium deficiency on soybeans

Figure 6. (continued)

46.

When the plants were 8 to 10 weeks old, potassium
and magnesium deficiency symptoms began to appear on those
plants grown in pots receiving low quantities of these
‘materials. These symptoms were not so specific as were
the calcium deficiency symptoms. The magnesium deficiency
seemed to be slightly more severe in those cases where the
soil had received low magnesium treatments accompanied by
high potassium treatments. This was undoubtedly due to
the antagonistic effect potassium has upon the uptake of
other cations. The magnesium deficiencies became more
apparent when the plants began to form pods, indicating
that magnesium was being withdrawn from the older lower
leaves and transferred to the reproductive parts. Pictures
of the potassium and magnesium deficient plants are also
presented in Figure 6.

Within a few weeks after emergence, the plants grow-
ing in soil with a pH of 4.7 (treatment I) were much
smaller than the other plants. The differences which
existed as a result of the other pH levels were not great
enough to be visible. Also, it was impossible to distin-
guish between the different levels of available phosphorus
and potassium by observing the size of the plants.

The plants were harvested when the pods had filled,
since this corresponded to the stage of maturity at which
soybeans are harvested in the field when they are used as

hay. After drying, the plant samples were weighed and

47.

the data analyzed by analysis of variance. In order to
simplify this analysis of variance, the "no lime", "no
phosphorus", and "no potassium" treatments (treatments I
and 0) were omitted. Thus the analysis of variance was a
straight factorial (Table VI).

The smallest phosphorus application markedly in-
creased the yield of soybeans, as shown by Figure 8, but
quantities sufficient to raise the soil test above 30
pounds per acre did not cause further increases in yield.
The ?K interaction also was not significant. Likewise,
the interaction between type of lime and soil potassium
lacked significance, possibly due to antagonistic effects
that one soil cation may have had upon the other. The type
of lime was significant at only the 5% level, while all
other treatments and interactions were highly significant.

Graphs of the average dry weight yields of soybeans
for the seven lime treatments, four phosphorus treatments,
and four potassium treatments are presented in Figures 7,
8, and 9. A steady increase in yield occurred with an in-
crease in soil pH. In most cases, the mixed lime gave
higher yields than did the calcium lime. This was expected
since the plants of some treatments receiving no magnesium
showed signs of magnesium deficiency. In all cases, high-
est yields were obtained at pH 6.8. According to the

analysis of variance, these increases were significant.

48.

TABLE VI

Analysis of Variance of Soybean Weights

 

 

 

Source Degrees of F
Freedom. Values
Total . 215 --
Replications 3 5.63ee
Treatments 53 3.26**
Type of Lime 1 5.40*
pH Level 2 21.13**
Type of Lime x pH Level 2 8.03**
Phosphorus Level 2 2.44
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level 2 37.68*#
pH Level x Phosphorus Level 4 23.50**
Type of Lime x pH Level x Phosphorus 4 30.72*s
Potassium Level 2 13.50::
Type of Lime x Potassium Level 2 0.99
pH Level x Potassium Level 4 4.84::
Type of Lime x pH Level x Potassium 4 10.38::
Phosphorus Level x Potassium Level 4 2.24
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level 4 4.18**
pH Level x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level 8 98.38**
Type of Lime x pH Level x Phosphorus
Level x Potassium Level 8 11.83**
Error 159 --

 

* Significant at 5%‘leve1
*¢Significant at 1% level

Dry Weight Yields of Soybeans, grams/pot

49.

 

 

 

Ca-Mg lime
12.8 .. /‘
/
e
12.4
12.0 Ca lime
11.6
11.2
10.8
10.4t 9% L !~ —Lr 1~ -J
4.7 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.2 6.6 6.8

Soil pH

Figure 7. Effect of Soil pH upon Dry Weight Yields
of Soybeans.

l

I-‘

Dry Weight Edelds of Spybeans,.gm/pot

50.

 

 

 

 

2 .07
._
‘0
1.6L
9.2v__ l LA ._L l l i I J
13 20 30 4O 50 60 70 80 90

Available Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 8. Effect of Available Soil Phosphorus upon
Dry Weight Yields of Soybeans.

Dry Weight Yields of Soybeans, gm/pot

51.
12.0 .

11.3%

11.2;

10.8,

10.T,

10.qL

 

9.

h

 

9. j;_ 41_ a , 1

60 100 156 200 250 300
Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

Figure 9. Effect of Available Soil Potassium upon
Dry Weight Yields of Soybeans

52.

The application of small amounts of potassium ferti-
lizer to the soil caused great increases in dry weight
yields (Figure 9). The 100 pound per acre level of avail-
able potassium gave the highest average yields of all
potassium treatments. There was a steady yield decrease
at the higher rates of potassium. This indicates that the
highly significant P value for potassium treatments re-
ported in Table XI was negative. Therefore, it is not
surprising that the interaction of two significant factors,
type of lime and potassium level, was not significant since
one factor caused an increase and the other a decrease in

y1°1de

Oats Crop
No specific deficiency symptoms appeared in the oats

plants. Tissue tests indicated that phosphorus and potas-
sium were usually very low in those plants grown at low
levels of available phosphorus or potassium, but no defin-
ite symptoms became apparent. Visual differences in the
size of the plants could be readily detected by the time
the plants were heading. Such differences are shown in the
photographs in Figure 10. The upper photograph is of
plants grown at the four pH levels. A large response to
lime application may be noted as the pH of the soil was
raised to 5.8. However, above this value, increased growth

was less apparent. The lower photograph shows the effects

53.

 

 

a. Effects of soil pH upon growth of oats. From
left to right: Treatments I-Bz (pH 4.7),
II-Bz (pH 5.8;, III-B2 (pH 6.3), and IV-Be
(pH 6.8).

b.

Effects of P and K fertilizers on oats growth.

From left to right: Treatments I-O, I-Al,
I-B2, and 1-03.

Figure 10. Pictures of oats growth resulting from
different soil treatments.

54.

of the four different levels of phosphorus and potassium.
Proceeding from the no P-K level ("0" treatment) to high
levels of phosphorus and potassium (C3 treatments), there
was a steady increase in plant size. The data on dry
weight yields support these observations.

-After the plants were harvested at the dough stage,
they were dried, weighed, and the data analyzed. The re-
sults of the analysis of variance are reported in Table VII.
There were fewer significant factors affecting the dry
weights of the oats than of the soybeans. The growth dif-
ferences caused by different levels of lime and different
types of lime were not significant, but their interaction
was highly significant, indicating a difference in yields
at a given pH level between the two types of lime. The
reason is not apparent. Contrary to the response with soy-
beans, different phosphorus levels caused highly significant
variations in yields. Different potassium levels also
caused yield differences significant at the 1% level, as did
all triple interactions. The double interaction of type of
lime x potassium level was significant at the 1% level,
while the PK interaction was significant at only the 5%
level. In general, it may be concluded that the growth of
oats was influenced more by the levels of available soil -
phosphorus and potassium than by soil pH (except in highly

acid soils) while soybean growth was more sensitive to soil

pH.

55.

TABLE VII

Analysis of Variance

of Dry Weight Yields of Oats Crop

 

 

 

Source Degrees of F
Freedom ‘Values
Total 215 --
Replications 3 11.59::
Treatments 53 8.19::
Type of Lime 1 0.13
pH Level 2 0.17
pH Level x Type of Lime 2 12.90ee
Phosphorus Level 2 140.13te
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level 2 1.91
pH Level x Phosphorus Level 4 0.43
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level x
pH level 4 5.24::
Potassium Level 2 8.62*s
Type of Lime x Potassium Level 2 69.97ss
pH Level x Potassium Level 4 1.55
Type of Lime x pH Level x Potassium 4 10.92**
Phosphorus Level x Potassium Level 4 2.96*
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level 4 9.26**
pH Level x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level 8 20.343:
Error 159 ---

 

* Significant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

56.

The effects of liming and fertilizing upon the growth
of oats are shown graphically in Figures 11, 12, and 13.
In studying the effects of lime, it was found that above
pH 5.8, calcium lime caused a steady decrease in yield
while the mixed lime caused a steady increase. However,
the analysis of variance indicates that these observations
were not significant, but the growth differences between
the two types of lime at a given pH level was significant.
The trend for decreased yields with calcium lime was pro-
bably caused by a lack of available soil magnesium. Like-
wise, phosphorus fertilization caused significant increases
in yield, but potassium fertilization increased dry weight
production only up to the 200 pound per acre level, then
decreased it significantly. The average yields reported
for oats were only slightly below those obtained with soy-
beans, and both crop yields corresponded to an approximate

production of 5,000 pounds of Borage per acre.

Alfalfa Crop

Since the alfalfa crop was grown in the winter when
temperatures varied considerably and a part of the light
was artificial, this crop was slower in becoming establis-
hed than were the other two crops. Also, since only one
harvest of alfalfa was taken and since alfalfa tends to
establish a good root system in its initial growth at the
expense of its top growth, the yields of alfalfa dry matter

10e5T

 

57' Ca-Mg 11m:

   
  
 

 

O
”a.“
0“"
0
Ca lime
9.5..
.p
33.5-
E
a?
4.)
m
c:
c.
o
g 7e5p
H
0
H
>4
4.:
.c
w
«H
.2
b-
>.
25 6.5:—
5.5
A + L L J 11.2 __
4.? 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.2 6.6
Soil pH
Figure 11. Effect of Soil pH upon Dry Weight Yields

of Oats.

Dry Weight Yields of Oats, gm/pot

58.

10e11. .

10.4?

H
O
H

1

9e8P

 

 

Bed.
8. ' + -1 1 L- ,- - e
13 so 45 so 75 90

Available Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 12. Effect of Available Soil Phosphorus upon
Dry Weight Yields of Oats.

Dry Weight Yields of Oats, gm/pot

10.0

9.8

 

59.

1

 

j

E

100 -150 200 250 300
Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

Figure 13. Effect of Available Soil Potassium upon
Dry Weight Yields of Oats. '

60.

were relatively low.

Although no specific deficiency symptoms were re-
cognized on any of the plants, all plants grown at a soil
pH of 4.7 were severely stunted in growth and were defin-
itely chlorotic. These plants were very slow in becoming
established and made very little growth. No difference
was detected between the growth of the plants at the higher
pH levels (Figure 14). The phosphorus and potassium
treatments appeared to have no appreciable effect upon the
size of the plants during their period of growth.

These conclusions were supported by the analysis of
variance of the dry weight yields of the alfalfa as it is
reported in Table VIII. It should be recalled that the "no
treatments" (treatments I and 0) were omitted from the
analysis of variance, so the effects of increasing soil pH
from 4.7 to 5.8 are not shown. The fourth order inter-
action was the only highly significant factor, and no
single treatment of itself was significant. The inter-
action of type of lime x level of phosphorus seemed to have
some significance, since in every place that these two
factors occurred together, they gave a yield response that
was significant at the 5% level. This is interpreted to
mean that magnesium may be necessary in the phosphorus
metabolism of the plant. Work by Truog (94) led him to the
conclusion that the frequent failure of obtaining a res-

ponse to phosphate fertilization by alfalfa may be due to

61.

 

a. Effects of lime and fertilizers on alfalfa
growth. From left to right: Treatments I-0,
I-B3, and II-B3.

 

b. Effect of soil pH on alfalfa growth. From
left to right: Treatments I-O, II-O, III-0,
and IV'Oe

Figure 14. Pictures of alfalfa growth resulting
from different soil treatments.

62.

TABLE VIII

Analysis of Variance of Dry Weight Yields of Alfalfa CrOp

 

Source Degrees of F
Freedom Values
Total 215 ---
Replications 3 6.29::
Treatments 53 0.75
Type of Lime 1 0.18
pH Level 2 2.51
Type of Lime x pH Level 2 0.18
Phosphorus Level 2 0.27
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level 2 3.39:
pH Level x Phosphorus Level 4 1.21
Type of Lime x pH Level x Phosphorus 4 2.47.
Potassium Level 2 0.63
Type of Lime x Potassium Level 2 0.45
pH Level x Potassium Level 4 0.54
Type of Lime x pH Level x Potassium 4 2.41
Phosphorus Level x Potassium Level 4 0.63
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level x .
Potassium Level 4 3.13s
pH Level x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level 8 1.70
Type of Lime x Phosphorus Level x
Potassium Level x pH Level 8 4.11:
Error 159 --

 

* Significant at 5%level_
**Significant at 1% level

63.

a low supply of available soil magnesium. These results
support that theory.

The effects of soil pH upon the average dry weight
yield of alfalfa are shown in Figure 15. The first appli-
cation of lime caused a large increase in dry matter pro-
duction, but further applications resulted only in minor
increases. There was no appreciable difference between
types of lime. Graphs of the effects of phosphorus and
potassium fertilization were not included because they
showed no significant increases. The "0" treatment average
was only slightly below that of the other treatments (3.64
grams/pot as compared to 3.74 for the 90 1b/acre phosphorus
level or 3.68 for the 300 lb/acre potassium level).

4.0

03
e
0

Dry Weight Yields of Alfalfa, gm/pot
to m
C) 01

H
O
01

1.0
4

 

64.

<:;:a-lg lime
/.

:"
'7’; Ca lime

  
   
 
    

J l L 1

 

“a l

.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.7
” Soil pH

Figure 15. Effect of Soil pH upon Dry Weight Yields

of Alfalfa.

65.
Effect of Soil Nutrients on Plant Composition

The results of the chemical analyses of the soybean,
oats,and alfalfa crops are presented in Tables XXI, XXII,
and XXIII respectively in the appendix.

_£§ects of Calciumfon Plant Composition

Lima, in the form of calcium carbonate, was added to
the soil to raise the soil pH from 4.7 to a maximum of 6.8.
In doing this, the availability of many of the soil nutrients
was altered, some to a considerable extent. This change in
availability was usually reflected to some degree in the
chemical composition of the crop. The degree to which this
was true varied greatly for the different nutrients, as well
as with the different crops.

The effects of calcium carbonate at the four pH levels
upon the percent composition of the soybeans are presented
graphically in Figure 16. The percentage composition values
graphed in this figure were the averages from all plants re-
ceiving the same lime treatment, making a total of ten plant
samples for each value reported. These figures express only
the effects of liming, since all levels of phosphorus and
potassium were included in the average.

Since it has been shown earlier that the degree of
base saturation was almost a linear function of the soil pH
under the conditions of this experiment, the effects of the

calcium lime on plant composition will be discussed using

 

 

 

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

Ca line

 

—-—— Ca-Mg line

6 “,4
. /
/

_/. -1
/

5* //’ Na(x10-2)
/ ' \
/./ \‘z
.______..————‘.
.:/. \\

 

 

 

 

 

\:
2— . _—O
J>————*

K
4>————~ _ o
1 - v.—.—=—_1'_ __ _____.
O I l l I l
4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.7
Soil pH

Figure 16. Effect of Soil pH upon Percentage Compo-
sition of Soybeans.

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

67.

    

 

 

7r
.
ea:r"————" Ash .
6".
O
5 ’— "is
\\
\
4 _ extract
3 —
0 Crudelfiber
(x10 )
.._-—-————=——
2 -_'-—'MU— "" .‘— " -
D
.
EE:Ca
a.ra-I—d-IhJ-Ihlfl=£==h===. .—'—_._—. “--_.-.
M
v .3 -—- '
. Fe (x10 2)
L l L I I
4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.7
Soil pH

Figure 16. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

 

 
    

68.

N- free
extra t

 

 

 

 

A .AL‘ I 1 1w 1
4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.?
Soil pH
Figure 16. (continued)

69.

either soil pH or percent saturation as measures of the
calcium status of the soils receiving calcium carbonate.

From Figure 16 it may be seen that additions of cal-
cium carbonate to the soil caused a large increase in the
percentages of ether extract, and somewhat smaller in-
creases in the content of ash, crude fiber, protein, sodium,
calcium, and iron. Decreases occurred in the percentages of
N-free extract, boron, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese.
The concentrations of potassium and copper in the soybeans
were essentially unaltered by liming.

One of the most outstanding changes in the chemical
composition of the soybeans as a result of liming was the
large decrease in the phosphorus content of the plant.

This decrease occurred with the addition of the first incre-
ment of lime. The changes in the average percent phosphorus
in the plants were probably not significant at soil pH
values of 5.8 or above. The decrease in phosphorus content
cannot be explained as being the result of reduced avail-
ability since the availability of soil phosphorus should
have been at its maximum at these pH levels. Therefore,

it must be concluded that the decrease was the result of
some physiological phenomenon within the plant. The cause
of this phenomenon, however, cannot at this time be ex-

p18. ined e

70.

The almost linear decrease of the percent boron in
the plant tissue with added increments of lime is also of
interest. Much of this decrease was probably due to the
reduced availability of boron at higher pH levels. Accord-
ing to the data compiled from the literature by Goodall and
Gregory (38), soybean plants should contain at least 30
parts per million boron for maximum yield. The data re-
ported in this thesis suggest that this limit is too high,
since maximum soybean yields were obtained at a soil pH of
6.8, at which point the average boron concentration in the
soybeans was about 25 parts per million.

The rapid rise in the ether extract content of the
plant with increased soil pH indicates that higher pH .
values favored fat and lipoid production. In animal studies
it is accepted as a general rule that fat accumulation re-
sults only when the animal receives food in excess of its
maintenance requirements. If such a concept were applic-
able to plant growth, the results obtained (Figure 16) indi-
cate that decreasing the soil acidity allowed the soybean
plant to accumulate energy in the form of fats and lipoids
in excess of its growth requirements.

Although the increase in percent protein with in-
creasing soil pH was uniform and linear, the total increase
was small and may not have been significant. Also, it is
of interest to note that raising the soil pH to 5.8 caused

a ten-fold decrease in manganese content. Likewise, it may

71.

be observed (Figure 16) that, while the calcium content of
the soybeans increased slightly with increased pH, the
potassium content was unaltered, and the magnesium content
was slightly decreased.

The effects of the addition of calcium to the soil
upon the percent composition of oats are shown in Figure
17. Small decreases occurred in the percent ash, boron,
and copper, while larger decreases occurred in phosphorus,
iron, and manganese. The percent sodium, ether extract,
and calcium showed noticeable increases, while the contents
of magnesium, N-free extract, crude fiber, potassium, and
protein exhibited only minor changes.

According to the data compiled by Goodall and Gree
gory (38), no liming treatment reduced the average concen-
tration of any mineral element in the oats plants to such
an extent that it was deficient (below the "critical levels").
Even though liming caused large decreases in the iron, phos-
phorus, and manganese content of the oats, the concentration
of these elements did not approach the limiting values
quoted by these authors. Although this reference cited no
upper values at which iron and manganese may become toxic
to plant growth, the poor growth and high concentration of
these two elements in the plant tissue suggests that they
were approaching such a limit in those oats plants grown at
a soil pH of 4.7.

Liming reduced the uptake of manganese in both the

 

 

Percentage Composition of Oats

72.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ca lime
t --~Ca-Mg lime
7.. ..~
~“b3.“—"'—"""""".::=__
l ‘\_"
* Z¢uAsh
6 ,.
4’ QN- free exi
e-L— __ tract x10
1
4r-
Mg(x10-1)
’0
/
/
/O
3 P .f'f.
e"' ther
‘/./ extract
/
K
JW'
9*“. Mg(x10'f)
.m.—_—lfi.
Prottin
(x10 )
4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.7
Soil pH 1
Figure 17. Effect of Soil pH upon Percentage Compo-

sition of Cats.

Percentage Composition of Oats

 

 

 

73.

 

 

 

 

-2
2.. \\ Cu(x10 ;)
\ .__
O -
1- \ Mn(x10 2)
\'_- .
ol- 1 ' J— _L.._——_ I J
4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.5 6.7
Soil pH

Figure 17. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Oats

  
     
 

74.

6P
5-
Ca(x10°12
/
/
/
o

Crudelfiber
(x10 )

 

 

 

B(x10‘3)

._____.—n==' """"3

/EEE: Fe(x103 \.

 

 

0 l .l l __l l

4.7 5.1 5.5 5.9 6.3 6.7
Soil pH

Figure 17. (continued)

75.

soybeans and oats. However, this soil treatment resulted
in decreased iron uptake by the oats, but increased iron
uptake by the soybeans. Therefore, the soybean analyses
support the proposal of Somers and Shive (89) and others
(16, 46) that iron and manganese are antagonistic; that

is, factors causing an increase in the concentration of

one caused a decrease in the other. On the other hand, the
results of the oats analyses definitely contradicted this
idea, so the relationship is questionable.

The effects of increasing the percent calcium satur-
ation of the soil upon alfalfa composition are expressed
graphically in Figure 18. This practice tended to cause a
slight decrease in the percentages of ether extract, potas~
sium, boron, phosphorus, and iron. The manganese content
was decreased well over ten-fold by adding calcium carbon-
ate to increase the soil pH from 4.7 to 5.8. On the other
hand, this amendment appeared to have caused a slight in-
crease in the protein content and a larger increase in the
percentage of calcium in the alfalfa. _

Goodall and Gregory (38) found that alfalfa plants
containing less than 12 parts per million boron showed
deficiency symptoms, and that maximum yield was not obtained
linless the concentration of boron was at least 20 parts per
Inillion. Almost all plants in this experiment,except some

Of those grown at a soil pH of 6.8, contained at least 20

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

76.

--— Ca line

-—--—Ca-Mg line

 

 

  
  

N- free ex-
tract (x101)
. w. ’2

 

,ye
’
'1.“~—_..’ ’
i_-e—~:ELE::::‘fxtract

i 05":

' (ferude .fiber 1
r ._—-e----‘-"”0‘-"‘“‘—"-" (x 10 )

f

 

 

 

M.

L '==1..——-a=i .—_._..

a Ash (x101)
r» 1 L J, I if: _J

4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.5 6.8
Soil pH

Figure 18. Effect of Soil pH upon Percentage Composi-
tion of Alfalfa.

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

 

 

B(xlO ”)
\
\

 

 

1 1 J. LA 1, ‘52:
4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.5 6.8
Soil pH
Figurele. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

 

"

78.

7%:
..——- .——- ::////.

 

 

 

 

 

 

«EFL.
./
‘,/-/ Ztug(x10 1)
1,,
it"’
/ /
/
/
/
/
/
-l
guano )
04“ __ MO
. 2; Protein (x101)
N
L K

A -1

S: Mn(x10 )

1;, 1 1 "i; 1 .' 1 “‘3
4.7 5.0 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.2 ‘ 6.5 6.8

Soil pH

Figure 18.

(continued)

79.

parts per million boron. However, in this experiment,
those plants containing about 20 parts per million boron
made the greatest growth.

The response of the alfalfa to an increase in the per-
cent calcium saturation of the soil was very similar to that
observed for the soybean crop (Figure 16) except that in the
alfalfa, the decrease in the percent of plant phosphorus was
much smaller. Also the N-free extract content of the alfal-
fa was not decreased and the iron content was not increased
by additions of calcium carbonate. However, in general, the
responses of soybeans and alfalfa to calcium carbonate
appeared to be quite similar. Likewise, alfalfa responded
to liming in a manner similar to the oats plants except that
neither a definite decrease in percent ash nor increase in
crude fiber was observed. Also, the decrease in the percent
iron was much smaller than in the oats. In agreement with
the work of Collander (24), the concentration of the dive-
lent cations, calcium and magnesium, was considerably greater
in the alfalfa than in the oats, but the Opposite trend was
observed in regard to the concentration of the monovalent
cations, potassium and sodium.

The data concerning the effects of soil treatment upon
Plant composition were analyzed statistically by two methods.
Eiince it was necessary to composite the replicates for the

Chemical analyses, it was not possible to make an analysis

80.

of variance upon the resulting data. Therefore, correla-
tion coefficients were calculated to measure the effects of
the intensity of supply of the various nutrients upon plant
composition. The coefficient of likelihood was also calcu-
lated for the variations in plant composition resulting
from soil treatment.

In Table IX are listed the various correlation coef-
ficients between the percent calcium saturation of the soil
and the percentage of each chemical constituent in the
three species of plants. A correlation coefficient of
0.232 was required for significance at the 5% level, and
0.302 at the 1% level according to Snedecor (88).

The results obtained (Table IX) show that the percent
ether extract, crude fiber, protein, iron, and calcium in
the soybeans gave highly significant positive correlations
with the percent calcium saturation of the soil, while the
N-free extract, boron, phosphorus, and manganese contents
gave negative "r" values significant at the 1% level. Total
bases per 100 grams of soybean dry material were positively
correlated at the 5% level with the percent calcium satura-
tion of the soil.

In regard to the nutritive value of the soybean
plants, these results indicate that liming had a favorable
effect in that it increased ether extract, protein, iron,

and calcium, but that it had an unfavorable effect in that

81.

TABLE

Correlation Coefficients Between Percent Calcium
Saturation of the Soil and Plant Composition

 

 

Chemical "r" Values for:
Constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.2299 -0.1021 0.2919*
Crude Fiber 0.6886** -0.0811 0.1621
Ether Extract 0.5226** 0.1710 0.0184
Protein 0.4625** 0.1257 0.0816
N-free Extract -0.6464*# -O.l737 0.1296
Potassium -0.l437 -0.1072 O.34l7**
Sodium 0.1919 0.0707 0.0941
Boron -0.4100** -0.3449#* -0.4l48**
Phosphorus -0.3723#* -0.0253 -0.1140
Iron 0.3045** -0.3l28** -0.0l56
Magnesium -0.1250 -0.0473 -0.l497
Manganese -O.6400*# -0.2l40 -0.5l40**
Calcium 0.3728** O.3913*# 0.5292se
Copper 0.0752 -0.0924 ~0.0671
M.e. bases/100 gms. 0.2729* 0.1950 0.5542..

 

* Significant at the 5% level
**Significant at the 1% level

82.

it decreased the percent N-free extract and phosphorus while
increasing the crude fiber content.

The "r" values listed in Table IX for the oats crop
indicate that increasing the percent calcium saturation of
the soil increased the calcium content of the plant signi-
ficantly, but that it also caused significant decreases in
the percent boron and iron in the oats. From these results,
it appears that liming increased the nutritive value of the
oats very little.

In the alfalfa crop, the percent calcium saturation
of the soil showed highly significant positive correlations
with only the percent calcium and total bases per 100 grams
of plant material. Negative correlation coefficients were
obtained in regard to the potassium, boron, and manganese
contents.

The coefficients of likelihood, given in Table X for
the variations in plant composition caused by liming, were

calculated by the formula (26):

L:

 

where is the standard deviation, and k is the number of
standard deviations (or treatments) being compared. The
significance of these L values was determined from the table
given by Croxton and Cowden (26). A value less than 0.757

Was required for significance at the 1% level and less than

83.

TABLE X

Coefficients of Likelihood for the Variations in
Plant Composition Resulting from Changing the Soil pH

 

 

 

Chemical L values for:

constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.9999 0.7775* O.5647**
Crude Fiber 0.9137 0.8562 0.9802
Ether Extract 0.6188** 0.8901 0.9063
Protein 0.7336** 0.8487 0.3294**
N-free Extract 0.7299#* 0.8818 0.8718
Potassium 0.7487*¢ 0.9932 0.9888
Sodium 0.7190** 0.9889 0.9615
Boron 0.5496#* 0.6230## 0.9163
Phosphorus 0.4886** 0.8317 0.8000#
Iron 0.7262** 0.3335#* 0.7959:
Magnesium 0.8957 0.5994** 0.8015*
Manganese 0.3440** 0.4155** 0.2439**
Calcium 0.7238** 0.8528 0.8188
(Jopper 0.7770** 0.4878** 0.9205
11... bases/100 gms 0.7543“ 0.9046 0.9122

_‘

* Significant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

i
1

 

84.

0.812 at the 5% level. Since the L value is only a measure
of variation derived from the standard deviation of a
series of treatments (seven liming treatments in this case),
its value is subject to the same factors that determine

the value of the standard deviations. Thus if the varia-
tions in the percent of a particular constituent in the
plant resulting from one series of treatments were large,
there would be considerable variation among the standard
deviations for those treatments, so the possibility of the
L value being significant would be increased. On the other
hand, if the standard deviations within a given type of
treatment tended to be uniform, indicating that the soil
treatment had little effect upon the percent of this con-
stituent in the plant, the L value would have less signifi-
cance._ Thus, a significant coefficient of likelihood for a
given chemical constituent indicates that the variations in
that constituent caused by different levels of a given kind
of soil treatment were not due to chance; that is, it may
be concluded that real differences exist between the compo-
sition of the samples, or that the samples are not all from
‘the same population.

From Table x it may be seen that highly significant
‘Variations were obtained between the different lime treat-
!nents for the percentages of ether extract, protein, N-free
extract, potassium, sodium, boron, phosphorus, iron, mangan-

98e, calcium, and copper in the soybeans. However, it must

 

85.

be realized that these coefficients of likelihood measured

only the magnitude of the variations in plant composition,

but not the direction. This must be ascertained from other
sources, such as the graphs or the correlation coefficients
of plant composition.

In the cats plants, the variations in the ash, boron,
iron, magnesium, manganese, and c0pper contents showed some
significance between the different lime treatments. It may

'be observed that the percentages of all these constituents
except ash and magnesium also varied significantly in the
soybeans. Likewise, in the oats, all the minor elements
determined gave significant variations by this method of
analysis.

The data in Table X indicate that the variations in
the percent ash, protein, and manganese in the alfalfa were
significant at the 1% level and that phosphorus, iron, and
magnesium percentages differed significantly at the 5% level.
Thus, significant variations resulting from raising the soil
pH with lime were observed only in the iron and manganese
contents of all three crops.

The results of these three methods of analysis of the
data on the effects of liming upon plant growth and composi-
tion are summarized in Table XI. These conclusions are
based upon the trends indicated in the data and graphs in
{Figure 16, Table IX, and Table X, taking into consideration
the limitations inherent in each of these three methods of

86.

.pcmeamflcmam

maopacfimev one; mcodpmfinm>www

.pcmoHMHsmHm

haopmnmuoa egos maodpmasm> we

.eesseamasman

,eanssoHpmosc no one; macapwanm> *

.eana so and: son one

.oa«H wanna new; zanmsovfiesoo commonesHm

mesmeamficmHm o: no one: macapmaas>

 

 

 

 

 

Lfi
*saeaaoo swasaoaeo
eweemo
unemnmz {*sosH
noaaoo ewsnosH «waddnow
add «seems «mucosa sesame
newcwms unemcms amonm aamwamz weaaeposm
Edam sends we weepomnu
83va home: *sqosH ewaosom 19.2393 853an was .3an
Dogs and.» *Ede as wit—ado *ihcndh
ooamuz asficow 1ondmonm unspom seasonom naeposm same 06:90
3283 5 on Nada e vogue {83 w 4900.38
neonpm 10am smonwmz *waosom eosmuz cumuom wenm4 gonna {nod
sends sense .asdm wewpoeno .eonmuo: assess: «wwonmfiou
35.8 35.5 $300 unapom eased .53 3.8.2 5.5 ham 5.5
spasma< sumo masonzom champad memo mcmonzom unashad memo mamenmom
- Hpeomme oz ammonoea emsoseqm
noduamoaaoo

use museum pasflm can: Haom on» on esofipmoaaaa4.oaua mo apoemmm on» no unmeasm

HN mqmdfi

87.

presenting data. It may be observed, however, that, in
general, these three sources suggested similar tendencies.

The data in Table XI show that liming caused definite
increases in dry weight and percent crude fiber, ether ex-
tract, protein, sodium, iron, and calcium in the soybeans.
Meanwhile, the percent N-free extract, boron, phosphorus,
and manganese decreased. Considering the protein content to
be the most important factor in determining the nutritive
value of a plant, followed by the phosphorus, calcium, crude
fiber, ash, and iron contents in this general order, it
would appear that liming increased the nutritive value of
the soybeans only slightly.

Since liming resulted in a definite increase in only
the percent calcium but decidedly decreased the ash, boron,
iron, manganese, and copper contents of the oats, the inform-
ation in Table XI suggests that this soil treatment may have
decreased the nutritive value of this crop.

For the alfalfa, liming increased the dry weights and
the percentages of ash, protein, and calcium. Since these
constituents are very important from the nutritional point
of view, and since only iron, boron, and manganese were de-
finitely decreased by liming, liming appeared to increase
nutritive value of the alfalfa.

88.

Effects of Magnesium upon Plant Compgsition

The effects of liming with the calcium-magnesium car-
bonate mixture upon plant composition and nutrient produc-
tion are expressed in Figures 16, 17, and 18. For all three
crops, with but a few exceptions, very little difference
could be seen between the effects of the two types of lime.
The calcium content of the soybeans was slightly lower
where the calcium-magnesium lime was applied than where the
liming material was all calcium carbonate, but the greatest
difference resulting from the two types of lime was in the
magnesium content of the plants. There was a steady in-
crease in the percent magnesium in the soybeans as the soil
pH was raised with the mixed lime so that, at a pH of 6.8,
the magnesium content of the soybeans was almost twice that
obtained with the use of the calcium lime.

There were considerable variations between the effects
of the two types of lime upon the copper, phosphorus, boron,
and ash contents of the soybeans at each pH level, but since
these variations were not consistent, these differences are
probably of no importance. It is of interest to observe
that the addition of magnesium to the liming material appeared
to have no appreciable effect upon the uptake of phosphorus
by the soybeans. The percent phosphorus in the plants was
greatly decreased by the addition of the first increment of
either kind of lime. Thus, these data for the soybeans do

Map (is 1.1.. .En ‘4llllraivl- 1 D1¢fi

‘3 “.1 - i.

89.

not support the theory that increasing the supply of soil
magnesium (especially when the soil is low in this element
as this soil was) stimulates the uptake of phosphorus by
the plant.

Similar observations may be made regarding the effect
of magnesium on the composition of oats (Figure 17). Al-
though, in the comparison of the two liming materials, the
percentages of sodium, iron, c0pper, and phosphorus all
varied considerably as the soil pH was increased, the net
differences could not be traced to variations in kind of
lrme. This leads to the belief that the type of lime had
no significant effects upon the concentration of these ele-
ments in the plants. The phosphorus content of the oats was
considerably higher at a pH of 6.3 with the mixed lime than
with the calcium lime, but most of this difference had dis-
appeared at pH 6.8. Therefore, like the soybeans, the data
on the oats crop do not support the idea that magnesium
stimulates phosphorus uptake.

The only appreciable differences that can be seen be-
tween the effects of the two types of lime on the oats com-
position were in percentages of calcium and magnesium. As
in the soybeans, the use of the calcium-magnesium mixture
almost doubled the magnesium content of the oats and caused
a small decrease in the calcium as compared to the effects

Of the calcium lime. The increase in magnesium in the oats

_ 1...

.1».

90.

was almost a direct function of the percent magnesium
saturation of the soil. Also, the mixed lime did not reduce
the calcium content of the oats appreciably until the soil
pH had been raised to 6.8.

The effects of increasing the supply of soil magnesium
upon alfalfa composition may be determined from the graphs
in Figure 18. The response of the alfalfa to the two dif-
ferent types of lime varied to a larger extent than did that
of the other two crops. While calcium lime caused a slight
decrease in the percent of ether extract, the mixed lime
caused an increase. The increase in protein content was
also more definite with the mixed lime. Variations in both
the calcium and magnesium contents of the alfalfa were
similar to those observed with the other crops.

The correlation coefficients between plant composition
and the degree of magnesium saturation of the soil are listed
in Table XII. The fact that very few of these "r" values
were significant indicates that increasing the percent mag-
nesium, and the total bases per 100 grams of dry material
resulted in significant correlation coefficients. The per-
cent magnesium and milliequivalents of total bases in the
oats were also significantly correlated with the percent
m8Enesium saturation of the soil. In the alfalfa, only the
maEl'iesium content was positively correlated with percent
s02131magnesium. In this crop the percentages of boron, phos-

Phot‘us, iron, and manganese were significantly reduced by

91.

TABLE XII

Correlation Coefficients Between Percent Magnesium
Saturation of the Soil and Plant Composition

 

 

 

Chemical "r" Values for:

constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash ~0.0752 -0.0276 -0.2389
Crude Fiber 0.0629 0.1302 0.2274
Ether Extract 0.1366 0.0948 0.0482
Protein 0.0284 0.0400 0.1887
N-free Extract -0.0492 -0.0772 -0.0417
Potassium -0.1658 -0.ll76 -0.0788
Sodium -0.0110 0.1048 0.0606
Boron -0.0151 -0.1684 -0.2963*
Phosphorus -0.2l46 -0.0694 -0.3027*
Iron 0.0454 -0.1688 ~0.2639*
Magnesium 0.6450## 0.6337** .0.5088#*
Manganese -0.2671* -0.0958 -0.2424*
Calcium 0.0170 0.1897 -0.l986
Copper 0.0284 -0.1450 0.2297
“-0. bases per 100

grams 0.2479: 0.424344 -0.0521

__

* ESignificant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

92.

applications of magnesium. The "r" values were negative
and significant at the 5% level. The negative value obser-
ved for phosphorus content definitely contradicts the pro-
posed positive relationship between soil magnesium supply
and phosphorus uptake by the plant.

Because of the manner in which the coefficient of
likelihood was calculated, it was impossible to determine L
values for the effects of magnesium treatments on plant
composition. These effects are included in the listing of
L values in Table X, so they contributed to the signifi-
cance of many of those values. Also, since all sources have
indicated that increasing the magnesium supply of the soil
had only minor effects on plant composition, no summary
table was prepared. The conclusions stated in Table XI
serve this purpose with the exception that increasing soil
magnesium resulted in an increase of magnesium in the plant

tissue.

Efltects of SQil_Phosphorus upon Plant Composition

The effects of increasing the supply of available soil
Phosphorus upon the composition of soybeans are expressed by
the graphs in Figure 19. In this and the following figures
“h 1ch express the relationship between the supply of soil
Phosphorus or potassium and plant composition, care must be

Used in interpreting the effects of the addition of the

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

93.

araara/wa”v’df”" ASh

 

 

 

} Ether extract
e—-JS::________
e
P . I””,rrrrzr//r4¢/’
/.
9
-3
B(x10 )
'1
1 :Protein (x10 )
-—e
#.
A.—r

 

 

 

,_11_ 1 . £1 1
13 30 45 60 75 90
'Available Soil Phosphorus, lb/acre

 

 

Figure 19. Effect of Available Soil Phosphorus upon
Percentage Composition of Soybeans.

1b
1

Percentage Composition of Soybeans
ca

94.

 

I
*~—-~.~__.~. (r-N(x1011 extract

  
 
   

 

 

 

 

Na (x10'2)

h,

I

 

 

 

Crudelfiber
(x10 )
e e 0

 

 

 

 

 

2
\ '1 .
1 C‘ .
1 P
O ._._ - __.___L_. Mtg-*J‘ M4 1 J
13 30 45 60 75 90

Available Soil Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 19. (continued)

 

.s

01

Percentage Composition of Soybeans
to

95.

   

 

.
. '/ ZHxlO'l) ‘
O

 

:/:—:'Fe(x102)

 

 

 

 

 

1.b ' —~—e
O l 1 ‘1. JV. 1
13 30 45 60 75 90

Available Soil Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 19. (continued)

96.

first increments of the fertilizers. These changes express
the effects of the addition of the first increments of both
the phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, not Just one of
them alone, since there was no treatment in this experiment
in which phosphorus was added to the soil without potassium,
or vice versa. Thus, in this range, these graphs represent
the combined effects of the two nutrients.

Increasing soil phosphorus resulted in rather large in-
creases in the percent ash, sodium, ether extract, and phos-
phorus in the soybeans. Definite decreases occurred in per-
centages of boron and N-free extract. Protein and magnesium
(at phosphorus levels above 30 pounds per acre) showed a
slight but steady increase, while it appeared that the crude
fiber, potassium (above the 30 pound per acre phosphorus
level), calcium, and iron contents were not influenced by
phosphorus fertilization. The percentage of both manganese
and copper reached a maximum at the 60 pound per acre level
of phosphorus, then suddenly decreased, indicating that the
60 pound per acre level was optimum for the uptake of these
two minor elements. The noticeable decreases in the calcium
and magnesium contents and the similar increase in potassium
content that occurred upon raising soil phosphorus from 13
to 30 pounds per acre probably resulted mainly from the
potassium fertilizer that was added at the same time instead
of from the phosphorus fertilizer, since higher levels of

soil phosphorus failed to alter the concentration of these

, 1113!...

, » 31‘5
.—

 

97.

bases appreciably.

The effects of phosphorus fertilization upon the com-
position of oats are shown graphically in Figure 20. Those
materials which increased in concentration as a result of
increasing the supply of soil phosphorus included N-free
extract, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and manganese.
Those which decreased were iron, copper, protein, and ash.
The percentages of crude fiber, ether extract, potassium,
sodium, and boron were either fairly constant, or varied in
no regular manner. Therefore, these results were contrary
to the general belief that phosphorus fertilization in-
creases the protein content of a plant but decreases the
carbohydrate content. Although the total changes in these
two constituents were small, nevertheless, they were very
consistent, indicating that these trends may be significant.
However, it should also be recognized that an increase in
N-free extract content does not necessarily indicate a
shmilar increase in carbohydrates since this chemical frac-
tion contains other constituents as well.

The fact that phosphorus fertilization increased the
uptake of the three principal divalent cations, calcium,
magnesium, and manganese, may be of some significance. How-
ever, increasing soil phosphorus caused a decrease in the
uptake of calcium and magnesium up to the 60 pound per acre
phosphorus level. Then the addition of the last increment

of phosphorus resulted in large increases in the uptake of

Percentage Composition of Oats

q
I

98.

3: Ash
“0 O

 

Y N- frie extract
(x10 )
e

.

Crude f ber
(x10 )
e e

 

 

 

1.....‘2

cProte in (x101)
O

 

c ~~~' L 1 i ___.1

13 30 45 6O 75 90
Available 8011 Phosphorus, 1b/acre

Figure 20. Effect of Available Soil Phosphorus Upon

Percentage Composition of Oats.

Percentage Composition of Oats

99.

 

 

 

 

 

 

0- 1
13 30 4
Available Soil Ph

Figure 20. (continue

 

5 60
osphorus, lb/acre

d)

 
 

Percentage Composition of Oats

     

100.

 

 

O.— -1
‘“' Mg(x10 )

‘---------n .
.(
8(x10‘3)

 

 

 

 

 

“r _.__t .

Fe(x10‘2)
O-M i “l i _ .3
13 30 45 60 75 90

Available Soil Phosphorus, 1b/acre

Figure 20. (continued)

101.

these bases. If magnesium were necessary for the utiliza-
tion of phosphorus by the plant, this rapid increase in
magnesium content should have occurred with the addition
of the first increment of phosphorus rather than at higher
phosphorus levels. Thus, these data do not support the
proposed magnesium-phosphorus relationship.

In Figure 21 are presented graphs representing the
changes in the composition of the alfalfa that occurred
upon applying increasing amounts of phosphorus to the soil.
The ash, phosphorus, and iron concentrations were increased
but the percent sodium, N-free extract, and copper de-
creased slightly. Very few of these changes in plant com-
position were large, so significance is questioned. The
increase in the phosphorus content of the alfalfa as a re-
sult of phosphorus fertilization was much less definite than
it was with the other two crops. It might be observed that
these graphs suggest no relationship between magnesium and
phosphorus.

The correlation coefficients between the level of
available soil phosphorus and plant composition are presen-
ted in Table XIII. Significant positive correlations were
found for the percent ash, crude fiber, ether extract, pro-
tein, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, and cepper in the soy-
beans. The percent N-free extract gave a highly significant

negative correlation. It is somewhat surprising that the

102.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 P
1
6 r-
5
CN- frei extract
___ <__. '!__ (x10 ) '
s
2:
G 4 P
‘H 1
H
«a
$0 _
° 5" Ether extract
5 \ i 1....
e
I13
v, .
8
3' Sit-Crude fiber
- e
8 1.. '
:52 ___ __’ A_ e e
9 1
.2 2;!Protein (x10 )
3
‘3 §:Ash (x101)
a. .w—e
e

 

H
~*'r
e

 

‘ L L l l l
0

13 30 45 60 75 90
Available Soil Phosphorus, 1b/acre

 

Figure 21. Effect of Available Soil Phosphorus upon
Percentage Composition of Alfalfa.

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

103.

 

 

 

 

 

v

 

13 30 45 60
Available Soil Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 21.(continued)

75

 

 

90

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

104.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 p-
6 +-
5 r
1 e
)— / P X10-
4 O f: ( A"
. .
3 B(x10'3)
{\. _—
‘V. .____ C
2
4. £14
0 O
1 7. ? Na(x1o‘1)
e e fl.
0 __1 A L LL 2 J I
13 30 45 60 75 90

Available Soil Phosphorus, lb/acre

Figure 21. (continued)

105.

TABLE XIII

Correlation Coefficients Between Supply of Available Soil
Phosphorus and Plant Composition

W

 

Chemical "r" Values for:

constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.8062** 0.0010 0.2619:
Crude Fiber 0.2563* -0.0l65 0.0103
Ether Extract 0.3381** -0.0457 -0.1990
Protein 0.8130** -0.6328** -0.0221
N-free Extract -0.6872*# 0.4892** -0.l782
Potassium 0.3245** 0.0830 0.2265
Sodium 0.4246#* —0.6ll7** -0.2784*
Boron -0.0459 -0.2286 -0.0507
Phosphorus 0.3811** 0.6616** 0.3389#*
Iron 0.1870 -0.2674* 0.2961:
Magnesium 0.0005 0.1949 -0.2401*
Manganese 0.0478 0.1152 0.0420
Calcium -o.0722 0.334144 -0.0063
COpper 0.2687# -0.2245 -0.3397**
M.e. total bases per

100 grams -0.0434 0.1114 0.0154

 

* SignIficant at 5% level
##Significant at 1% level

106.

sodium and potassium contents in the plant showed a re-
1ationship to the level of soil phosphorus. It may be
observed that the "r" values for both ash and protein were
extremely high, especially considering the number of treat-
ments involved. Since the percentages of these two consti-
tuents, plus phosphorus, gave highly significant correla-
tions, it appears that the phosphorus fertilization of the
soybeans definitely increased the nutritive value of the
plants.

- The "r" values for the oats crop listed in Table XIII
indicate that adding phosphorus to the soil increased the
percent N-free extract, phosphorus, and calcium in the
plant, but decreased the percent protein, sodium, and iron.
Comparison of these results to those obtained with the soy-
beans demonstrates some wide differences in the responses of
the two kinds of plants to the same soil treatment. This
was particularly true of the protein, N-free extract, and
sodium contents of the two plants. Therefore, it is doubt-
ful that phosphorus fertilization resulted in increasing
the nutritive value of the oats.

Those constituents in the alfalfa plants that showed
significant positive correlations to the level of available
soil phosphorus were ash, phosphorus, and iron. Those
showing negative correlations were sodium, magnesium, and
copper. Thus, the values listed in Table XIII suggested
that phosphorus fertilization probably only slightly

In:

t-1

. s

"1
3 -

107.

increased the nutritive value of the alfalfa. It is
interesting to observe that the "r" value relating plant
magnesium to soil phosphorus had negative significance, Just
as occurred with the correlation coefficient relating soil
magnesium supply to plant phosphorus content.

In calculating the coefficients of likelihood for
both phosphorus and potassium fertilization, it was neces-
sary to omit the composition of the plants grown at the
lowest levels of these two nutrients ("0" treatments).
Therefore, these L values indicate only the variation in
plant composition between the three higher levels of both
fertilizers.

The L values for phosphorus fertilization are pre-
sented in Table XIV. Significant variations between the
various levels of soil phosphorus were found for the percent
protein, boron, phosphorus, sodium, iron, calcium, and
copper in the soybeans. Other sources of information in
this paper have indicated that the variations in iron and
boron content were in a negative direction.

In the oats plants, significant variations in the per-
cent iron and copper were produced by phosphorus fertiliza-
tion. Much of the variation in the other constituents
suggested by the graphs (Figure 17) and correlation coef-
ficients must have occurred in raising the level of avail-
able phOSphorus to 30 pounds per acre since such variations

were not significant at the three higher phosphorus levels,

108.

TABLE XIV

Coefficients of Likelihood for Variations in Plant
Composition Resulting from Phosphorus Fertilization of

the Soil

 

 

 

Chemical L Values for: _
constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.9691 0.9633 0.5321#*

Crude Fiber 0.9143 0.9274 0.9438
Ether Extract 0.9850 0.9999 0.6090**
Protein 0.8464*# 0.9438 0.8849*
N-free Extract 0.9958 0.9653 0.7925**
Potassium 0.9432 0.9913 0.9968
Sodium 0.8073** 0.9987 0.9976
Boron 0.7750#* 0.9398 0.9489
Phosphorus 0.6813** 0.9772 0.8600*
Iron 0.6649tt 0.7220** 0.8042**
Magnesium 0.9604 0.9793 0.9879
Manganese 0.9403 0.9947 0.8987:
Calcium 0.8206** 0.9101 0.8550:
Copper 0.7300#* 0.8969* 0.9903
M.e. total bases per

100 grams 0.7390#* 0.9349 0.8379**

 

* Significant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

4E

109.

according to this method of statistical analysis.

The L values in Table XIV indicate that the percent-
ages ash, ether extract, protein, N-free extract, phos-
phorus, iron, manganese, and calcium, and the total bases
per 100 grams of alfalfa varied significantly between the
three highest levels of soil phosphorus used. The varia-
tions in phosphorus content were significant at only the 5%
level, indicating that the response of alfalfa to phosphorus
fertilization in regard to this constituent was less deci-
sive than it was with the oats and soybeans.

A summary of the effects of phosphorus fertilization
upon the growth and composition of the soybeans, oats, and
alfalfa plants is presented in Table XV. The differences in
the response of the three crops may be ascertained from a
study of this table. Since the percent ash, protein, and
phosphorus in the soybeans definitely increased as a result
of phosphorus fertilization, it may be concluded that this
soil treatment definitely increased the nutritive value of
this crop. In the oats, the phosphorus and calcium contents
were increased, but the percent protein and iron was de-
creased by applying phosphorus to the soil, so it is doubt-
ful that this practice resulted in making this crop more
nutritious. Since the concentration of no major nutritive
constituent in the alfalfa was decreased by phosphorus
fertilization of the soil, and since the ash, phosphorus,

and iron contents were all increased, this soil treatment

.pcmonchHm mampficfimmu who; mcofipmasm>***
.pcmoamfiswfim mampmamcoa one: macapmfipm> *4

.oossoflwacwfim manssofipmosv mo one: mcoaumanm> *
.oocmofimdzmfim o: ho was: msofipmfism>a

 

iihmmmou
ssdoamo swsmsn
nonmmosm
owe ** sws
usmmcms asaoamo asfiuom
8:“
cmoswm: conom some 4*;
unmwssz cdoposm
saga espousp
cosom savom 5330 22500 .2258 1&9: amocwmz .53 .353
m Edam use 3.25 33.9.5 .333.“
1 530cm unspom nammcmz swasasom 4.1.83 .28.; nonsmozm 103593 ounce
amp: #0895. 63 *poEuXo :50» seam #33on
onsno sonpm -mosmmz songsz conm sssosom suspom oosmsz sssnmd
”Emacs can?“ Edam snows» *wpomsu 3.3533 .5230:
5.5 35.5 nmmuom -xo smnpm End .53 095.2 ssnmd 5.5 5.5

 

smamhas sumo masonaom shammad sumo masonzom «washad sumo mammnzom
Hpemmmm oz owsmsoom owmmsosH

 

 

acapdmoaaoo was
npsono pssam sons Haom can no soaumuuaausom mucosamonm no mpemmmm no assassm

>N wands

111.

appeared to have increased the nutritive value of the
alfalfa also. It may be observed from Table XV that the
response of the three crops to phosphorus fertilization
varied widely. Phosphorus was the only plant constituent

which varied in a similar manner in all three cr0ps.

Effects of Soil Potassium upon Plant Composition

The effects of increasing the supply of soil potassium
upon the chemical composition of soybeans are presented in
the graphs in Figure 22. Increases occurred in the contents
of ash, sodium, potassium, and manganese, while the percent-
ages of iron, magnesium, and N-free extract decreased. The
level of soil potassium appeared to have no effect upon the
percent crude fiber in the soybeans. Except for the addi-
tion of the first increment of potassium chloride, at which
time phosphorus was also applied to the soil, increasing
soil potassium caused no appreciable change in the percent
phosphorus, boron, copper, calcium, or protein in the plant
material. The ether extract content was slightly decreased
by the addition of potassium.

The results show that potassium fertilization did not
increase the N-free extract or decrease the protein content
of the soybeans. Also, above the 100 pound per acre level
of potassium, there was a definite decrease in the ether ex-
tract fraction. Thus, this is further evidence that potas-
sium fertilization did not promote the formation of

 

urban r»- J»
.r

 

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

‘1

112.

 

 

(b
\\\\\b
1

'Ash

N- frag extract
(x10 )

__._Q

—~e

 

 

fi.—-

I}

‘0
Ether extract

 

 

 

 

 

3+-
: T-Crude fiber (x101)
e
e— 2 8
,r””’ 1;, Protein (x101)
1r-
cl . J m A: .1
60 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium, 1b/ecre

Figure 22.

Effect of Available 8011 Potassium

upon Percentage Composition of Soybeans.

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

113.

5 - S)» Na(x1o'2)

 

 

80 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium, 1b/ecre

Figure 22. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Soybeans

 

0

114.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

e g
a Fe(x10°2)
L 1 . — . ___—J
60 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium, lb/ecre

Figure 22. (continued)

115.

carbonaceous materials as has been suggested (1, 37).

Some of the most striking changes shown by these re-
sults (Figure 22) were the increases that occurred in the
potassium, ash, and manganese contents, and the steady de-
crease in magnesium content resulting from potassium fer-
tilization. This last observation was expected since
potassium fertilization had no appreciable effect upon total
bases in the plant material. Therefore, since the percent
potassium increased, the percent of some other base should
decrease. The large increase in manganese content was
quite unexpected, and is unexplainable.

The effects of potassium fertilization upon the com-
position of oats are shown in Figure 23. Potassium fertili-
zation caused an increase in potassium and manganese, and
definite decreases in iron, copper, sodium, and ether ex-
tract. Above the 100 pound per acre level of potassium,
the percent ash increased, and N-free extract, crude fiber,
protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and boron changed
only slightly.

In most respects these graphs resemble those in Figure
22. As in the soybeans, the percent manganese increased
directly with increased soil potassium. This treatment did
not produce an increase in the carbonaceous fractions of
the oats, nor did it decrease the protein content. The

greatest difference between the response of these two crops

Percentage Composition of Oats

116.

\/

6”.
PN- free extract
(x10 )

sr/ ' .

 

9 Crude fiber
3L (x10 )
u-—-—-——- . .

%'

L/ AW '

&- J l J l

#
60 100 150 200 250 300
Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

 

 

 

 

Figure 23. Effect of Available Soil Potassium
upon Percentage Composition of Cats.

Percentage Composition of Cats

0

117.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.\ g Ether OXtPfiCt
w— e
._ C'B(X10-3)
fl. .
Protein (x101)
\: ,.
\ \: 7 .
C
T _ O
\ F0(x10 2)
e.._‘>'Nl
\ .
;J“ 1* j 1;, 1
60 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

Figure 23. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Cats

0

118.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\ __ _
w ——e
' (: P(x10'1)
S N-Mg(x10 )
_‘1 —~e e
"' C
\ 9 Cu(x10 3)
. .
fifi_.Aweac 49»._ 4%}.wv AL _fl_fl_!
60 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium 1b/acre

Figure 23. (continued).

119.

was that, in the oats, the percent sodium, instead of mag-
nesium, decreased as the percent potassium in the plant
increased.

The graphs presented in Figure 24, relating the supply
of soil potassium to alfalfa composition, indicate that in-
creasing soil potassium resulted in increased percentages of
ash and potassium, and decreased percentages of sodium,
boron, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. It is interesting
to note that this soil treatment decreased the uptake of the
other three principal bases (sodium, magnesium, and calcium).
It appeared to have only a small effect upon the uptake and
formation of the feedstuff constituents.

The alfalfa crop appeared to resemble the other two
crops so far as potassium fertilization was concerned. How-
ever, the percent manganese failed to show the definite
increase observed with the other two crops. Also, both the
sodium and potassium (as well as calcium) concentrations
decreased whereas only one of them was decreased in each of
the other two crops.

The correlation coefficients listed in Table XVI are a
measure of the effects of potassium fertilization of the
soil upon plant composition. For the soybean plants, it
may be observed that this soil treatment resulted in plants
significantly higher in percent ash and potassium, but lower

in magnesium and protein. The exceedingly large "r" value

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9..
8..
7..
r un(x10‘2)
6.. ‘——*
v—~e
5
r
- freelextract
(x10 )
4..
+ 3:.Ether extract
\W _..—
3 s ' ‘7"
Crude fiber
% (x10 )
2 —L 1~ +1
60 100 150 200 250 300

Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

Figure 24. Effect of Available 8011 Potassium

upon Percentage Composition of
Alf‘lf. e

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

121.

‘

 

 

 

 

 

 

S :’ Na(x10-1)
e

_ A L _J l 1

60 100 150 200 250 300
Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

 

Figure 24. (continued)

Percentage Composition of Alfalfa

122.

 

 

  

Cu(x10'3)

 

 

0.

Prote n
# (x10

1.:
r

 

0
60 100 150 200 250 300
Available Soil Potassium, lb/acre

Figure 24. (continued)

123.

TABLE XVI

Correlation Coefficients Between Percent Potassium Satura-
tion of the Soil and Plant Composition

 

 

 

 

Chemical "r" Values for:
_constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.3494#* 0.0241 0.0278
Crude fiber 0.1012 0.0131 -0.3200*
Ether extract -0.1950 -0.24l2# -0.1818
Protein -0.2396* -0.3083#* 0.4599##
N-free extract -0.2l40 0.1714 -0.3175a
Potassium 0.8527** 0.8845* 0.6040**
Sodium 0.1856 -o.9103a* -0.6492e*
Boron -0.0198 -0.0873 -0.l296
Phosphorus 0.1291 0.1253 -0.1822
Iron -0.1l5l -0.2523* 0.0606
Magnesium -0.2624* -0.0283 -o.5eoe*.
Manganese 0.0984 0.0499 -0.0096
Calcium -0.0737 -0.0484 -0.5338**
COpper -0.0824 -0.2611# 0.0851
M.e. total bases'

per 100 grams -0.0535 0.0317 -O.32ll*
* Significant at 5% level

**Significant at 1% level

124.

for the potassium content of the plants showed that the
percent potassium in the soybeans was almost a linear func-
tion of the supply of available soil potassium.

In the oats plants, potassium fertilization caused a
significant increase only in the percent potassium, and
decreases in the percentages of ether extract, protein,
sodium, iron, and copper. As in the soybeans, the percent
potassium in the oats showed a very high positive correla-
tion to the level of soil potassium. However, the sodium
content of this crop had an even higher negative correla-
tion coefficient.

The correlation coefficients listed in Table XVI in-
dicate that potassium fertilization significantly increased
the percent protein and potassium in the alfalfa, but de-
creased percentages of crude fiber, N-free extract, sodium,
magnesium, and calcium. The total bases per 100 grams of
plant material were also significantly decreased. The "r"
values for the alfalfa crop were quite similar to those of
the other two crops. For example, very highly significant
correlation coefficients were found between plant potassium
and soil potassium for all three species. Also, the percent
of at least one base in the plant was greatly reduced by
potassium fertilization. Alfalfa differed from the other
two crops in that this soil treatment resulted in increased
protein formation in the plant, while it was decreased in

the oats and soybean plants.

125.

The coefficients of likelihood calculated for the
variations in plant composition resulting from potassium
fertilization are reported in Table XVII. As mentioned for
the table of L values for phosphorus fertilization, the "0"
treatment (60 pound per acre potassium level) was omitted
in these calculations, so the values in Table XVII repre-
sent only the variations in plant composition resulting from
the three highest levels of potassium in the soil.

In the soybeans, only the percent crude fiber, potas-
sium, and iron showed significant variations in the plants
grown at the three different potassium levels. However,
the percent ash, crude fiber, potassium, sodium, and iron
in the oats varied significantly. In the alfalfa, potas-
sium fertilization yielded significant L values for the
variations in the percentages of ash, protein, potassium,
sodium, magnesium, and calcium.

The results of the statistical analyses of the data on
the effects of potassium fertilization upon plant composi-
tion are summarized in Table XVIII. This table shows many
similarities between the responses of the various crops to
potassium fertilization. This practice increased the ash
and potassium contents of all three crops. At the same
time, the ether extract, iron, and copper contents tended to
decrease in the soybeans and oats, but not in the alfalfa.
In the soybeans, the magnesium content was decreased, but

the sodium concentration was decreased in the oats. In

1

G"

C

6.

TABLE XVII

Coefficients of Likelihood for Variations in Plant
Composition Resulting from Potassium Fertilization
of the Soil

 

 

 

Chemical L values for:

constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.9369 0.586l** 0.6269sa
Crude Fiber 0.8593* 0.7977*# 0.9631
Ether Extract 0.9472 0.9999 0.9878
Protein 0.9931 0.9350 0.8749:
N-free Extract 0.9931 0.9521 0.9651
Potassium 0.7889** 0.4342** 0.5248aa
Sodium H 0.9938 0.8811# 0.1887**
Boron 0.9896 0.9930 0.9702
Phosphorus 0.9901 0.9606 0.9913
Iron 0.8540* 0.8372#* 0.9292
Magnesium 0.9687 0.9996 0.7400**
Manganese 0.9292 0.9902 0.9913
Calcium 0.9999 0.9654 0.8342**
Copper 0.8998 0.9096 0.9049
M.e. total bases

per 100 grams 0.9950 0.9847 0.8828:

 

*Significant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

cosmoamficmfim opasamou he one: acoapsdam>wsa
cosmoflmflcwdm opsaouoa no one; encapsuam> as
ooawofim«cmfim canscofipwmsw no one: msofiumaaw> a
mossonchHm on no one: maofipmaam>a

 

 

aoamoo asdeamo
one as“
-smwcmz newsman aduoaso
masons masons as»
conH smonm smonm ssfioaso eammmoo
. masons asses“ sass“ some **omo
mm amonm coaom soaom -mosmmz *aoaaoo sesame: usowcmz -cmwcsz
.l.
pomnuxo posapxo posauxo ewesdfim ewssdam
moahuz nonhuz seaguz esoaom assoaH scosH -msuom ammpom wasauom
woman was was enema» wade» s**asHm
nXo sonpm suspend :«opoam asavow Esavom -No nonpm uoam wanm4 unspom
unwdo; panda hogan *aonam saunas» «unwfimz spnwfio;
mam onsso ovsao ovsao.ku amnpm ham enmd use eased
smamma4 sumo masonSom suammam sumo masonhom smasmas mpso mcwmnzom
Hpoommm oz ammosooo ammoaosH

 

 

speeds added doe: seem one he

codpamoaaoo one
codpmuafidpaom adamwmuom no muookmm Mo mamaasm

HHH>N mqmde

128.

alfalfa, potassium fertilization definitely decreased the
percent of all three bases, calcium, magnesium, and sodium,
and likewise decreased the total milliequivalents of bases
per 100 grams of plant material (Table XXVI in appendix).

Since potassium fertilization appeared to have very
little effect upon most of the constituents in the plants
that are important from the nutritional point of view, it
is doubtful that this practice altered the nutritive value
of the plants.

In an earlier part of this thesis, it has been sug-
gested that the percent base saturation of the soil exchange
complex be used as a measure of the combined base status of
the soil. In order to carry this idea further, the correla-
tion coefficients calculated for the effects of percent base
saturation upon plant composition are presented in Table
XIX. These values may then be used as a measure of the com-
bined effects of the three soil cations, calcium, magnesium,

and potassium, but they do not include the effects of the
fourth variable in this experiment, phosphorus, upon plant
composition.

The correlation coefficients in Table XIX closely re-
semble those reported in Table IX for the effects of the
percent calcium saturation of the soil. This is due to the
fact that most of the variation in percent total base satur-

ation of the soil was accounted for by variations in the

 

1'11“

129.

TABLE XIX

Correlation Coefficients Between Percent Base Saturation
of the Soil and Plant Composition

 

 

 

Chemical "r" Value for:

constituent Soybeans Oats Alfalfa
Ash 0.2487* -0.0935 -0.3126*
Crude Fiber 0.7588** 0.1171 -0.0730
Ether Extract 0.5386** 0.4946** 0.0423
Protein 0.5038*# 0.0871 0.2944*
N-free Extract -0.6421** -0.1838 0.0424
Potassium 0.0711 -0.0026 -0.1053
Sodium 0.1817 -0.0371 -0.0099
Boron ‘ -0.0506 -0.7580** -0.5403#*
Phosphorus -0.4181** -0.2l63 -0.1822
Iron 0.2587* -0.3989#e -0.1090
Magnesium 0.0525 0.3322** 0.0477
Manganese -0.7070** -0.2342* -0.457lea
Calcium O.3480** 0.4682*# 0.3463**
Copper 0.0819 -0.l938 0.0747

M.e. total bases per
100 grams 0.3704aa 0.3755ee 0.3244ae

 

* Significant at 5% level
**Significant at 1% level

130.

percent calcium saturation of the soil since calcium usually
represented about two-thirds of the bases present in the
soil. However, in general, it may be concluded that
slightly more significant variations in plant composition
were caused by the combined effects of the three soil bases,
calcium, magnesium, and potassium, than occurred when these
bases were considered separately.

The total bases in milliequivalents per 100 grams of
soybean tissue are presented in Table XXIV in the appendix.
These sums were not constant for all treatments, but varied
from 105 to 200 milliequivalents per 100 grams. Van
Itallie (101) and others (12, 41, 63) have concluded that
the sum of cations in a plant is a constant as long as the
nutrients "remain in balance." They concluded that the
nutrients can be considered to be out of balance for any
treatment that decreased the yield. Therefore, in order to
test this theory, first it was necessary to find at what
point the nutrients were "out of balance." This was done
by graphing the degree of base saturation against average
dry weights, using the degree of base saturation in an
attempt to find this point of nutrient unbalance. This
graph is presented in Figure 25. It may be seen that there
were no breaks in these curves, but that yield was propor-
tional to the degree of base saturation. Therefore, no

region of "nutrient unbalance" was shown.

Dry Weight Yields of Soybeans, gm/pot

131.

 

 

 

 

l2.dL a-Mg Linaz‘
/’
Ca line /’
' -- -- *Ca-Hg line /e
12.4%,
12.0 Ca line
r
ML
11.2L
10.6L
10.4 it i __L L, l .L __ _1
40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Percent Base Saturation

Figure 25. Effect of Percent Base Saturation upon Dry
Weight Yields of Soybeans

132.

The work of Mehlich (59) and the results of calcula-
tions made on the data presented by Chu and Turk (23) indi-
cate that the sum of cations per unit of plant material is a
function of the degree of base saturation of the soil and of
the type of soil colloid. In Figure 26 the average percent
base saturation of the soil for each lime treatment was cal-
culated and plotted against the average sum of cations of
the soybean plants grown at each of these pH levels. The
curve in Figure 26 shows that the sum of cations was increa-
sed as the percent base saturation was increased. This was
less obvious above about 75% saturation. Since this was an
illitic soil (92), these results were in agreement with the
conclusions of Mehlich (59) that, with the 2:1 clays, the
sum of plant cations increases as the degree of base satur-
ation of the soil is increased.

There was considerable variation in the milliequiva-
lents of bases per unit of dry oats material for the various
soil treatments (Table XXV in Appendix), the values ranging
from 86 to 144 milliequivalents per 100 grams. However,
these values appeared to fall into a fairly orderly arrange-
ment when considered in respect to the percent of base satur-
ation of the soil. Such arrangements are shown by the graphs
in Figure 27. Total bases in the oats were increased to a
much greater extent and much more uniformly by increasing the
degree of base saturation of the soil with the mixed calcium-

magnesium carbonate than by calcium carbonate alone. However,

Total Bases in Soybeans, m.e./100 gm.

133.

 

 

 

/ i.
e“"'~’.
155 '- -—---- Ca lime /
1"// O
- _""’ Ca-M lime
8 /
.l’
150 I- // O
1.5 .. /
140 p /
135
130
125
120
LP...“ l— -.___;____|___....|__
40 50 60 7 80 90 100

Percent Base Saturation

Figure 26. Effect of Percent Base Saturation of the
Soil upon Total Bases in Soybeans.

8189.5, h.9./IOO an.

Teta‘

134.
125 ,.

Ca lime /’

__._.._. Ca-M lime
8 /
120 b /

115 F
/

/
.- 1 /

[ /, . .
/ \
. I.
105 r /
/ .
/
/
/
.a”
100 A" \
~—-e

40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent Base Saturation ‘

H
l-'
O

 

Figure 27. Effect of Percent Base Saturation of the
Soil upon Total Bases in Cats.

135.

the application of either material indicated a definite in-
crease in total bases. Neither phosphorus nor potassium
fertilization appeared to alter the total bases in the oats

significantly.
The total milliequivalents of bases per 100 grams of

dry alfalfa plant material are presented in Table XXVI in the
appendix. As in the other two crops, the milliequivalents of
total bases in the alfalfa increased consistently as the
degree of base saturation of the soil was increased (Figure
28). In contrast to the results obtained with oats (Figure
27), the calcium lime gave the greater increases in total
bases. Although it is not shown graphically, the total bases
per 100 grams of plant material showed a continuous decrease as
more potassium was applied to the soil. Phosphorus fertiliza-
tion appeared to be without effect upon total bases in alfalfa.
Since the L values listed in Table XIX and the graphs
in Figures 26, 27, and 28 show a close relationship between
the percent base saturation of the soil and the total milli-
equivalents of bases in 100 grams of plant material for all
three crops, these data definitely support the conclusion of
Mehlich (59) that total bases in the plant is a direct func-
tion of the degree of base saturation of the soil. The slopes
of the curves varied somewhat for the different kinds of plants
and for the different ratios of basic cations, but all curves
showed definite increases in total bases as the degree of base

saturation of the soil was_increased.

Total Bases in Alfalfa, m.e./100 gm.

 

136.

 

 

185p- o
________ Ca lime
—- -- - Ca-Mg lime
180*-
e
175 h- /
/’
/’
_ /’
170 .20
I .
1’
165
160
155 ~7 fl L, 1 it“. 1, :J____
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent Base Saturation
Figure 28. Effect of Percent Base Saturation of the

Soil upon Total Bases in Alfalfa.

137.

DISCUSSION

In order that the results of this study may be com-
pared to the average composition of soybeans, oats, and

alfalfa, the standard values listed in Morrison's Feeds and

 

Feeding (65) are given in Table XX. Comparisons of those
figures with the data obtained in this work will serve to
demonstrate the variations in plant composition that may
result from soil treatment.

The results of the chemical analyses of soybeans
(Table XXI) show that the data obtained in this study dif-
fered from "average" composition in several respects. The
percentages of crude fiber, sodium, and iron given in Morri-
son's tables were higher than those found for almost any
treatment in this experiment. Also, his values for protein,
N-free extract, potassium, calcium, and copper were lower
than found here. It may be observed that those treatments
receiving intermediate amounts of lime and fertilizers (as
treatment VI-B2, for example) most closely approached the
values given for soybeans in Table XX. Therefore, in consi-
dering the magnitude of the changes that occurred in plant
composition with soil treatment, it might be more proper to
consider the intermediate treatments as the standards and
measure variations from them rather than from the controls.

The average values given in Table XX for the composi-

tion of oats hay agree very well with those found in this

138.
TABLE XX

Standard Values for the Percent Composition of
Soybean, Oat, and Alfalfa Hays1

 

 

Plant Stage of % % % % % N- % K
.Maturity Ash Crude Fat Pro- free
Fiber te in extract

 

Soybean Seed 2
develomd 6e2 26.7 407 15.2 35.2 0082
Oats Hay 6.9 28.1 2.7 8.2 42.2 0.83

Alfalfa 1/10-%
bloom 8.4 28.5 1.6 15.3 36.7 2.01

 

 

 

Plant Stage of % Na % P % Fe % Mg % Mn % Ca % Cu
Maturity

Soybean All
analyses .09 .24 .019 .44 .0105 .94 .0008

oats Hay 015 019 e049 e16 e0079 021 --

Alfalfa 1/10-§ 2 2
bloom .14 .22 .025 .23 .0024. 1.26 .0009

 

1Data from Morrison's Feeds and Feeding (65).

2Hay, average of all analyses

139.

work (Table XXII), except for the percent protein, N-free
extract, potassium, and sodium. The analyses of plants
grown at low to intermediate fertility levels corresponded
best to Morrison's data. The data for alfalfa did not
agree so well, however. This may have been due to the fact
that only the first cutting of alfalfa was analyzed in this
experiment while Morrison's values included later cuttings
also. Bear (11) has shown that considerable variation
exists in alfalfa composition with the different cuttings.
The results of a chemical analysis of a plant may be
used in many ways. However, two of the most common uses are:
1) to determine the adequacy of the nutrient supply of the
soil; and, 2) to determine the effects of various treatments
upon plant composition. Many assumptions and precautions are
necessary in order to make a valid statement concerning the
nutrient supply of the soil by considering only the results
of a chemical analysis on the plant material. Once a defin-
ite procedure has been chosen and standardized in regard to
such things as stage of maturity of the plants at the time of
sampling, portion of plant sampled, method of analysis, and
concentration of nutrients in normal tissue grown with an
adequate nutrient supply, reasonably accurate predictions
of plant response to soil treatments may be made for some
crops at least. This conclusion is not always valid however,

since it is based upon the assumption that altering the

 

140.

supply of one nutrient in the soil will result in changing
the concentration of only that one nutrient in the plant,
but will have only minor effects upon the uptake of other
nutrients. This theory is dependent upon Liebig's "Law of
the Minimum" in that it assumes that the concentration of
the limiting element in the plant is proportional to the
soil supply of that element up to the point at which it is
no longer limiting growth. It also assumes that the levels
of the other nutrients in the soil determine only the length
of range over which this response of the limiting element
may be observed (or, in other words, the height of the
growth curve). Using this as a basis, then, it may be
possible to predict plant response to soil treatment from a
study of the plant composition (38, 47, 98). Average per-
centages of the various constituents within the tissue of
plants grown with adequate nutrient supplies are considered
to be normal. Plants containing lower percentages of these
are considered to be growing in a soil deficient in those
nutrients, so a response from fertilization of the soil with
those materials is predicted. Values of the percentages of
various elements in a plant required for optimum growth are
presented by Goodall and Gregory (38), Macy (47), and Ulrich
(98), among others.

This study, however, is more concerned with the
second reason listed above for making a plant analysis;

that is, to determine the effect of soil treatment upon

141.

plant composition. This problem has been approached from
many directions. One of the concepts that has been employed
is that of nutrient balance. Shear, Crane, and Myers (81)
presented a thorough analysis of this concept. In studying
the effects of nutrient supply upon plant growth and com-
position, two important factors must be considered; they
are, the balance between the various nutrients in the
growth medium, and the intensity of each nutrient. If the
balance is maintained constant and the intensity altered,
the growth of the plant is altered, but not the composition.
If the intensity is kept constant and the balance altered,
the composition, or quality, of the plant is altered. If
both the factors are altered, both the quality and quantity
of plant material may change. The minor elements as well as
the major elements must be considered in the balance and
intensity factors (40, 81, 83, 98), since there is an opti-
mum balance and intensity for each nutrient.

Although this theory is logical, its applicability is
greatly limited. In the first place, the optimum balance
and intensity for each factor is unknown. Secondly, these
optimums change with different conditions, so values appli-
cable in one case are not necessarily useful under other
conditions. Third, and most important, experience has taught
the plant nutritionist that it is almost impossible to obtain

and maintain desired balances and intensities between only

142.

two plant nutrients. Therefore, the vastness of the pro-
blem of producing certain balances between all 15 or so
elements required for plant growth may be appreciated.

For these reasons, this author, like other workers
(38, 60, 98, 101, 102), does not advocate the use of nutri-
ent ratios as measures of the nutrient supplying power of a
soil. Such ratios may often be misleading because of the
wide ranges over which no differences in response can be
detected. For example, Mehlich and Reed (63) found that
varying the Ca/K ratio of the soil from ten to one hundred,
or varying the Ca/Mg ratio from four to twenty-five, had no
effect on either the growth or total cations in both soy-
beans and oats. Similar results were obtained by Sahu (76)
and Hunter (41). Only when the Ca/Mg ratio was less than
one was any difference observed. In the experiment reported
here the Ca/Mg ratios of the soil varied from two to twenty
(Table V). The average ratios for both the four levels of
phosphorus and the four levels of potassium were about the
same, around four. The ratios for the mixed lime treat-
ments all averaged slightly over two, regardless of the soil
pH. Therefore, since the data presented in this paper indi-
cated that the different treatments of phosphorus, potassium
and magnesium had considerable effect upon plant growth and
composition, and since these treatments did not alter the
Ca/Mg ratio of the soil, it may be concluded that these

ratios are not a measure of plant response to soil treatment.

143.

Although the other cation ratios listed in Table V
may have some value as measures of plant response, it must
be realized that they are only one method of expressing the
base status of a soil. In the opinion of this author, other
methods are more practical. For example, the percent satur-
ation of a soil by a given base is as valid a measure since
both the percent saturation and the cation ratios are cal-
culated from basically the same data. Also the percent base
saturation is more readily interpreted since it expresses
the concentration of the base in relation to the whole soil,

not Just in relation to another base. In addition, percent
saturation is a measure of both the balance and intensity
factors while a cation ratio measures only balance, but not
intensity. For these reasons, and since the literature

also shows relationships between base saturation and plant
response not detected when cation ratios are used, in this
thesis the percent base saturation rather than cation ratios
has been relied upon as a measure of soil treatment.

Much work has been done relating the percent base
saturation of the soil to plant growth and composition,
particularly by Mehlich and co-workers. Starting from the
fact that the percent base saturation of the soil is a
factor in determining the activity of a base (10, 44, 48,
49, 50, 60), it has been found that the availability of a
cation to a plant is dependent upon the activity of that

cation on the soil colloid. Therefore, since the uptake of

144.

a cation is conditioned by its availability, a relationship
should exist between the percent of a given cation in the
plant and the percent saturation of the soil by that cation.
Many such relationships have been found (2, 7, 44, 59, 60,
61, 62, 63, 74, 100, 102, 106).

The data presented in this thesis showed that the per-
cent calcium plus magnesium and percent potassium saturation
of the soil was almost directly proportional to soil pH and
pounds per acre of available potassium respectively (Figures
4 and 5). Therefore, the curves relating plant composition
to soil pH or potassium (Figures l6, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24)
also expressed the relationship between plant composition
and the percent base saturation of the soil by these bases.
Therefore, the discussions pertaining to these graphs are
also applicable to a discussion of the effects of base
saturation on plant composition.

The results of this experiment are then in agreement
with those of Allaway (2) who found that calcium uptake by
soybeans increased as the degree of calcium saturation of an
illitic soil was increased. Similar data have been reported
by Mehlich and Coleman (60) and others. The work reported
here also definitely supports the conclusion of Mehlich (59)
that the sum of total bases in plants grown on an illitic
soil is a function of the degree of base saturation of the
soil. The papers of Welch and Nelson (106), Allaway (2),
Mehlich and Coleman (60), Mehlich and Colwell (61, 62), and

145.

and Mehlich (59) among others also have shown some of the
effects that the different types of soil colloids have upon
plant (quite frequently soybean) composition and growth.

In addition, these papers have shown that the type of colloid,
as well as the percent base saturation, is important in
determining the availability and uptake of cations. These
differences probably arise from the differences in the bond-
ing energies of the different types of colloids. Thus, the
availability of a cation would be determined not only by its
quantity in the soil, but also by its relative attraction to
the soil colloid and plant root. Its relative attraction
would be determined by the valence and size of the cation,
strength of the electrostatic attraction of both the colloid
and root (that is, type of colloid and kind of plant), kind
and concentration of complementary ions, plus many more
factors unknown as yet.

The data in this study have demonstrated some definite
differences in the composition of the different types of
plants. One of the most noticeable of these differences was
the higher percentage of divalent cations and lower mono-
valent cation content of the legumes as compared to the oats.
Drake, et al (29) and Elgabaly and Wilklander (35) attempted
to explain this phenomenon upon the basis of the differences
in the cation exchange capacity of the roots of the different
kinds of plants. According to this theory, the distribution

of cations is determined by a Donnan equilibrium, the cell

146.

well being the semi-permeable membrane. Thus, the divalent
ions, because of their greater charge, would tend to accumu-
late on the material having the highest cation exchange
capacity. For a given type of soil colloid, then, the legumes
would accumulate divalent ions to a greater extent than the
grasses since the cation exchange capacity of the legume
roots is higher than that of the grass roots (29). However,
recent work by McLean and Adams (58) indicates that this
picture is over-simplified. They found that calcium was
held almost twice as strongly as potassium by both oats and
alfalfa roots, and that the strength of this bond was not
related to the cation exchange capacity of the roots.

The basic mechanisms by which soil nutrients enter into
the plant cells are unknown. However, there is growing evi-
dence that the concept presented by Lundegradh (46, 69, 102)
has considerable merit in explaining these mechanisms. This
theory was developed upon the assumption that cations and
anions enter into a plant independently of each other.
According to the theory, soil cations are merely adsorbed by
exchange reactions with cations, mainly hydrogen ions pro-
duced by dehydrogenase activity in plant metabolism (102),
in the plant root. An "exchange track" is visualized exten-
ding from the root hair into the vacuole of the cell, and
the adsorbed cations move into the cell along this track in
a wave motion. It must be possible for this process to occur

independently of aerobic respiration of the cell because it

147.

has been shown that cations may be adsorbed in an atmos-
phere of nitrogen gas. Also, it has been demonstrated that
cation uptake occurs with dead roots (42, 46, 102), and that
the uptake of cations is only slightly increased by increas-
ing the temperature of the roots from 0° C to 250 C (43).
Since these facts indicate that exothermic chemical react-
ions in the cell are not necessary for this process, cation
uptake would merely be a Donnan situation.

Lundegradh's theory views the anions as entering the
plant through the action of the cytochrome-cytochrome oxi-
dase system. The Fe‘z cytochrome, because it is in a redu-
ced condition, will migrate toward a region of high oxidiza-
tion potential, or toward the surface of the cell. Meanwhile,
the oxidized Fe’3 cytochrome will move to the interior of
the cell where a lower oxidization potential exists, setting
up a cyclic movement in the cytochrome system. As the oxi-
dized cytochrome moves inward, three milliequivalents of
anions are carried in with the Fe'3. The reduced cytochrome
carries two equivalents of anions and one electron outward,
so the net result would be the accumulation of one equiva-
lent of anion for each electron removed from the system.
Since the initial source of these electrons is from the ex-
ternal oxygen molecule, each mole of oxygen used in the
respiration of the plant roots should result in the accumula-
tion of four equivalents of anions in the plant. Evidence

has been obtained supporting this conclusion (69, 102).

148.

Overstreet and Jacobson (69) related Lundegradh's
theory to other theories of ion uptake (68, 75) by showing
that cation and anion uptake are not strictly independent.
Since each cation taken into the root releases one hydrogen
ion and each anion taken into the root requires one-fourth
mole of oxygen, and since total cations in the plant must
equal total anions to maintain chemical neutrality, the net
relationship between the cation and anion reactions may be

expressed by the equation:

40 4— 20' --r“ 28"P-—-~e2c" «+80

2 2

2 cytochrome, and C" - Fe’3 cytochrome.

where C' e FeI
Although total equivalents of cations in the plant must
equal total equivalents of anions, the uptake of the two
kinds of ions need not necessarily be equal. An excess of
mineral cations, for instance, may be neutralized in the
plant by the production of organic acids (41, 43, 95, 96).
In an extensive study of this phenomenon, Jacobson and Ordin
(42) found that most of this increase in organic acids was
accounted for by an increase in malic acid. They showed
that the addition of potassium bromide to the substrate pro-
moted the uptake of both potassium ions and bromide ions in
almost equal quantities, so had very little effect upon the
organic acid content of the roots. This occurred presumably

because the activities of these two ions were about the same.

However, with potassium bicarbonate, cation uptake was

149.

greater than anion uptake, so the organic acid content
(especially malic acid) increased to the extent that it
neutralized the excess anions. 0n the other hand, the addi-
tion of calcium bromide caused a greater uptake of anions,
so organic acids decreased through oxidization, resulting in
a respiration quotient of over one. Ulrich (95, 96) had
also noticed this increased respiration quotient under
similar conditions. The source of the malic acid is unknown,
but it is presumably from alterations in the reaction rates,
caused by changing conditions controlling enzyme activity,
of the steps in glycolysis and the Kreb's cycle.

Applying this concept to this experiment, the addition
of large amounts of potassium chloride to the soil should
not seriously have altered the organic acid content of the
plant since both potassium ions and chloride ions have
about the same activities. However, large applications of
potassium chloride in combination with phosphate might re-
sult in an increase in organic acids. If this happened,
this increase would be accounted for mainly in the N-free
extract content of those plants grown at high levels of soil
potassium and phosphorus (C3 treatments). The data on the
chemical analyses of the three crops studied here do not
support this conclusion. However, recalling the fact that
N-free extract was calculated by difference and that the
organic acids constitute only a small part of the N-free ex-
tract fraction, these data do not necessarily disprove this

1deae

150.

One of the objectives of this experiment was to deter-
mine the effects of liming and fertilization upon the
nutritive value of forage plants. The degree to which such
a study could be made form the previous data reported in
this paper is valid only to the extent that the composition
of a plant is a valid measure of its nutritive value. How-
ever, it is well known that such determinations do not
always give reliable results when compared to feeding trials
or other methods of biological assay (15, 52, 83). An in-
crease in protein content, for instance, does not necessarily
indicate that the plant has greater nutritive value (64),
although this is generally true if fed in a balanced ration
(70).

Probably the best individual measures of the nutritive
value of a plant are the percent protein, phosphorus, and
calcium, in that order. Also, the ash, magnesium, N-free
extract, and iron contents may have some value in this re-
spect. 0n the other hand, lower nutritive value is usually
associated with an increase in crude fiber content., How-
ever, the relative importance of variations in each of these
constituents is dependent upon other conditions and chemical
changes in plant composition. For example, it has been
shown previously in this thesis that phosphorus fertiliza-
tion resulted in increased phosphorus and calcium content

but decreased protein content in oats. From these data

151.

alone, it is impossible to state without qualification that
phosphorus either increased or decreased the nutritive value
of the oats. If the oats hay were supplemented in the
cattle ration with such material as bone-meal, feeding
trials would probably indicate that phosphorus fertiliza-
tion resulted in producing oats plants of lower nutritive
value. 0n the other hand, if the hay were supplemented with
a protein supplement, the feeding trials would probably in-
dicate positive effects for phosphorus fertilization. Thus,
it may be seen that it is impossible to make relative com-
parisons as to the effects of fertilization upon the nutri-
tive value of plants without defining the conditions under
which the comparison is made. Since these conditions are
not constant, it is quite difficult to make unqualified
statements with respect to the nutritive value of the plants
grown under different fertility treatments. Before such
generalizations can be made, the relative importance of in-
creased phosphorus content at the expense of decreased

protein content, for example, must first be ascertained.

152.

CONCLUSIONS AND SUMMARY

A study was made concerning the effects of liming and
fertilization upon plant growth and composition in an
attempt to evaluate the influence of these soil treatments
upon altering the nutritive value of forages. Generally,
the percent protein, phosphorus, calcium, crude fiber, iron,
and ash are most often used as measures of the nutritive
value of a plant. In making this summary of the results of
this work, variations in the percentages of these six con-
stituents were considered primarily in determining the
effects of soil treatment upon the nutritive value of the
plants. In general, the importance given to variations in
the percent of these constituents were in the same order as
listed above; that is, protein was considered as being most
important, and iron and ash as least important.

The variations in dry weight and plant composition of
the soybeans, oats, and alfalfa grown in the greenhouse with
varying levels and kinds of lime and levels of monocalcium
phosphate and potassium chloride treatments are summarized
as follows:

1. Under the conditions of this experiment, the type
of lime used had very little influence upon plant growth or
composition. The only differences of significance were that
the addition of magnesium carbonate to the soil generally
resulted in a plant higher in percent magnesium and lower in

percent calcium.

153.

2. The effects of changing soil pH upon plant growth
varied with the different plants. With soybeans, dry
weight yield was proportional to soil pH. With oats and
alfalfa, only a slight response to liming was noted at a
soil pH above 5.8.

3. With the legumes, plant growth failed to respond
significantly to phosphorus fertilization when available
phosphorus was above 30 pounds per acre. However, for the
oats, a definite positive response was observed.

4. Potassium fertilization appeared to have a quite
varied effect upon plant growth. Increasing available
potassium to 100 pounds per acre or above resulted in de-
creased growth for soybeans; initially an increase followed
by a decrease in the growth of oats; and no significant
change in alfalfa growth.

5. In most cases, phosphorus fertilization in com-
bination with’the calcium-magnesium liming mixture increased
dry weight production significantly, indicating that in-
creasing the supply of soil magnesium may increase the
effectiveness of phosphate fertilization upon plant growth.
However, there was little evidence to indicate that in-
creasing the magnesium supply of the soil increased the
percent phosphorus in the plant.

6. In general, changes in plant composition resulting

from liming or phosphating varied considerably for the

1540

different species of plants, and even more so for the
different families of plants. Potassium fertilization
appeared to have much the same effect on plant composition
in all three species.

7. The addition of lime to the soils increased the
percentage of crude fiber, ether extract, protein, iron,
and calcium, and decreased the percent N-free extract,
boron, phosphorus, and manganese in the soybeans.

8. Adding lime to the soil increased only the per-
cent calcium in the oats, but decreased the percent ash and
all the minor elements. Thus, it appeared that liming may
have slightly decreased the nutritive value of the oats
plants.

9. When lime was applied to the soil in which alfalfa
was grown, it caused an increase in the percent ash, protein,
and calcium, but a decrease in boron, iron, and manganese
contents of the hay. This shows that liming undoubtedly
improved the nutritive value of the alfalfa.

10. Increasing the supply of soil phosphorus resulted
in increased percentages of ash, ether extract, protein,
sodium, and phosphorus in the soybeans. Since only the N-
free extract and boron contents were definitely decreased,
this treatment resulted in plants of higher nutritive values.

11. Phosphorus fertilization of the oats increased

the N-free extract, phosphorus, and calcium contents while

155.

decreasing the iron and protein contents, so probably had
very little net effect upon altering the nutritive value
of the plants.

12. The effects of adding phosphates to the soil
upon alfalfa composition included an increase in ash, phos-
phorus, and iron contents, but a decrease in the percent
sodium and copper. Therefore, this practice increased the
nutritive value of the alfalfa.

13. Potassium fertilization produced soybeans con-
taining a higher percentage of ash, potassium, and manganese.
Since only the percent magnesium was reduced, this soil
treatment had very little effect upon the nutritive value
of this crop.

14. An increase in available soil potassium increased
ash and potassium, but decreased the ether extract, sodium,
boron, and iron contents of the oats. Thus potassium ferti-
lization failed to alter appreciably the feeding value of
the oats.

15. Increasing soil potassium increased only the per-
cent potassium in the alfalfa while decreasing the percent
of the other three bases, sodium, calcium, and magnesium.
Therefore, its effect upon the nutritive value of the al-

falfa was very slight.
16. In general, phosphorus fertilization had the

greatest tendency of all the soil amendments to produce

156.

plants of higher nutritive value, especially with the le-
gumes. The effects of liming appeared to be quite dependent
upon the nature of the plant, while potassium fertilization
had the least effect.

17. The percent base saturation of the soil exchange
complex was a better measure of soil fertility status than
were cation ratios because the former measured both the
balance and intensity of nutrients while the latter measured
only the balance.

18. The results of the chemical analyses of all three
crops supported the theory that the total milliequivalents
of bases per 100 grams of dry plant material is a direct

function of the degree of base saturation of an illitic

soil.

19. The fertility status of the soil is only one of
many variables determining plant composition. Also, the
value of plant composition as a criterion of the nutritive
value of the plant is dependent upon many external variables.
Therefore, feeding trials or other methods of biological
assay would be of great value in confirming these conclu-

sions in regard to the effects of soil treatments upon the

nutritive value of plants.

2.

3.

10.

11.

12.

157.
LITERATURE CITED

Albrecht, W. A. Potassium in the soil colloid complex
and plant nutrition. Soil Sci. 55:13-21. 1943.

Allaway, W. H. Availability of replaceable calcium from
different types of colloids as affected by degree of
calcium saturation. Soil Sci. 59:207-217. 1945.

g__ and Nelson, G. H. Influence of phos-
phorus deficiency of the soil on the protein content
of alfalfa. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 37:555-569. 1945.

 

Arnon, D. I. Mineral nutrition of plants. Ann. Rev.
Biochem. 12:493-528. 1943.

, Frutzke, W. E., and Johnson, C. M. Hydro-
gen ion concentration in relation to adsorption of
inorganic nutrients by higher plants. Plant

 

, and Johnson, C. M. Influence of hydrogen
ion concentration on growth of higher plants under
controlled conditions. Plant Physiol. 17:525-539.
1942.

 

and Meagher, W. R. Factors influencing
availability of plant nutrients from synthetic ion-
exchange materials. Soil Sci. 64:213-221. 1947.

 

Association of Official Agricultural Chemists. Official
and tentative methods of analysis, ed. 6. Washing-
ton, D. C. 1945.

Attoe, 0. J. and Tru0g, E. Rapid photometric determina-
tion of sodium and potassium. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer.
PPOC. 11:221’226e 1946e

Barber, S. A. and Marshall, 0. E. Ionization of soils
and soil colloids: II. Potassium-calcium relation-
ships in montmorillonite group clays. Soil Sci.
72:373-385. 1951.

Bear, F. E. Cation and anion relationships in plants

and their bearing on crop quality. J. Am. Soc.
Agrone 42:176’178e 19500

and Prince, A. L. Cation-equivalent con-
stancy in alfalfa. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 37:217-222.
1945.

 

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

158.

and Toth, S. J. Influence of calcium upon
availability of other soil cations. Soil Sci.

 

Beckenbach, J. R., Wadleigh, C. H., and Shive, J. w.
Nutrition studies with corn: I. A statistical
interpretation of the nutrient ion effect upon
growth in artificial culture. Soil Sci. 41:
469-486. 1936.

Beeson, K. C. The effect of mineral supply on the
mineral concentration and nutritional quality of
plants. Botan. Rev. 12:424-455. 1946.

Bennett, J. P. Iron in leaves. Soil Sci. 60:91-105.
1947.

Blair, A. W. and Prince, A. L. Studies on the nitro-
gen, phosphorus, and mineral requirements of
alfalfa. Soil Sci. 47:459-466. 1939.

Blue, W. G., Sheldon, V. L., and Albrecht, W. A.
Microbiological assay of hays for their amino
acids according to soil type and treatments.
Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 13:318-322. 1948.

Bonnet, J. A. Tracing the calcium, phosphorus, and
iron from a limed and unlimed lateritic soil to
the grass and to the animal blood. Soil Sci.
Soc. Amer. Proc. 11:295-297. 1946.

Bouyoucos, G. J. A recalibration of the hydrometer
method for making mechanical analysis of soils.
J. Am. Soc. Agron. 43:434-438. 1951

Burstrdm, H. Physiology of root growth. Ann. Rev.
Plant Physiol. 4:237-252. 1953.

Cheng, K. L. and Bray, R. R. Determination of calcium
and magnesium in soil and plant material. Soil
Sci. 72:449-458. 1951.

Chu, T. S. and Turk, L. M. Growth and nutrition of
plants as affected by degree of base saturation
of different types of clay minerals. Mich. Agr.
Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 214. 1949.

Collander, R. Selective adsorption of cations by
plants. Plant Physiol. 16:691-720. 1941.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

159.

Carolus, R. L. Effect of certain ions, used singly
and in combination, on the growth and potassium,
calcium, and magnesium adsorption of the bean
plant. Plant Physiol. 13:349-363. 1938.

Croxton, F. E. and Cowden, D. J. Applied General Sta-
tistics. Prentice-Hall, Inc., New York. 1939.

Dewan, M. L. and Hunter, A. S. Adsorption of P by soy-
beans and sudan grass: I. Comparison of effects
of Mg, Ca, and Na salts. Soil Sci. 68:401-410.
1949.

Dexter, S. T., Duncan, C. W., Cedarquist, D. 0., Dunn,
K. M., Miller, C. E., Turk, L. M., Weaver, E.,
and Prior, R. Nutritive values of crops and cow's
milk as affected by soil fertility: I. The re-
search problem and procedures. Mich. Agr. Exp.
Sta. Quart. Bul. 32:352-359. 1950.

Drake, M., Vengris, J., and Colby, W. G. Cation-ex-
change capacity of plant roots. Soil Sci. 72:
139-147. 1951.

Duncan, G. W., Watson, G. I., Dunn, K. M., and Ely, R.E.
Nutritive value of crops and cow's milk as affected
by soil fertility: II. The essential amino acids
in colostrum and milk proteins. J. Dairy Sci. 35:
128-139. 1952.

Eaton, S. V. Effects of phosphorus deficiency on the
growth and metabolism of sunflowers. Bot. Gaz.
110:449-464. 1949.

Effects of phosphorus deficiency on the

 

growth and metabolism of soybeans. Bot. Gaz. 111:
426'436e 1950a

Effects of phosphorus deficiency upon the

 

growth and metabolism of black mustard. Bot. Gaz.
113:103-109.

Effects of potassium deficiency upon the

 

growth and metabolism of sunflower plants. Bot.

Elgabaly, M. M. and Wilklander, L. The effects of the
base exchange capacity of roots on calcium and
sodium uptake. Soil Sci. 67:419-424. 1949.

36.

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

46.

47.

160.

Evans, 0. E., Lathwell, D. J., and Mederski, H. J.
Effect of deficient or toxic levels of nutri-
ents in solution on foliar symptoms and mineral
content of soybean leaves as measured by spect-
rographic methods. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 42:25-32.
1950.

Gilbert, F. A. Mineral Nutrition of Plants and Animals.
Univ. of Okla. Press, Norman, Okla. 1949.

Goodall, D. W. and Gregory, F. G. ~Chemica1 composition
of plants as an index of their nutritional status.
Tech. Com. No. 17. Imp. Bur. Hort. and Planta-
tion Crops. Aberyswyth, Wales. 1947.

Hamner, K. C. Minor elements and vitamin content of
plants. Soil Sci. 60:165-171. 1945.

Holmes, M. V. L' alimentation minerals des vegetaux.
Soc. Royale de Bot. de Belgique. 83:55-76.
950.

Hunter, A. S. Yield and composition of alfalfa as
affected by variations in the calcium-magnesium
ratio in the soil. Soil Sci. 67:53-62. 1949.

Jacobson, L. and Ordin, L. Organic acid metabolism
and ion adsorption in roots. Plant Physiol. 29:
70-75. 1954.

and Overstreet, R. A study of the mechan-

 

ism of ion adsorption by plant roots using radio-
aCtive elementSe Am. Je BOtany 34:415'420e 1947a

Jenny, H. and Ayers, A. D. Influence of degree of
saturation of soil colloids on the nutrient in-
take by roots. Soil Sci. 48:443-459. 1939.

Lucas, R. E. and Scarseth, G. D. Potassium, calcium,
and magnesium balance and reciprocal relation-
ships in plants. J. Am. Soc. Agron. 39:887-896.
1947.

Lundegradh, H. Mineral nutrition of plants. Ann. Rev.
BIOChem. 16:503‘528e 1947e

Macy, P. The quantitative mineral nutrient require-
ments of plants. Plant Physiol. 11:749-764.
1936.

48.

49.

50.

51.

52.

53.

54.

55.

56.

57.

58.

59.

161.

Marshall, C. E. Mineral Nutrition of Plants, Chapt 3.

E. Truog, editor. Univ. of Wise. Press, Madison,
Wise. 1951.

Ionization of calcium from soil col-
loids and its bearing on soil-plant relationships.
Soil Sci. 65:57-68. 1948.

 

and Ayers, A. D. Clay membrane elec-
trodes for determining calcium activities. Soil
Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 11:171-174. 1946.

 

Mathis, W. T. Spectrochemical analysis of plant mater-
ial using spark excitation. Anal. Chem. 25:943-
947. 1953.

Matrone, G., Lovvorn, R. L., Peterson, W. J., Smith,
F. H., and Weybrew, J. A. Studies on the effect
of phosphate fertilization on the composition and
nutritive value of certain forages for sheep. J.
Ana SCI. 8:41-51e 1949e

Maynard, L. A. Relation of soil and plant deficiencies
and of toxic constituents in soils to animal
nutrition. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 10:449-470. 1941.

and Beeson, K. 0. Causes for variations

 

in the vitamin content of plants. Nutrition Abs.
and Rev. 13:155-164. 1944.

and Smith, S. E. Mineral metabolism.

 

McClure, F. J. Mineral metabolism. Ann. Rev. Biochem.
18:335-354. 1949.

McCoy, T. A., Free, S. M., Jr., Langston, R. G., and
Snyder, J. Q. Effect of major elements on the
niacin, carotene, and inorganic content of young
oats. Soil Sci. 68:375-380. 1949.

McLean, E. 0., and Adams, D. Further studies involving
cationic activities in systems of plant roots.
Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 18:273-275. 1954.

Mehlich, A. Soil properties affecting the proportion-
ate amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium
in plants and H01 extracts. Soil Sci. 62:393-410.
1946.

60.

61.

62.

63.

64.

65.

66.

67.

68.

69.

70.

71. '

162.

and Coleman, N. T. Type of soil colloid
and the mineral nutrition of plants. Advances
in Agrone 4:67-99e 1952e

 

and Colwell, W. E. Influence of nature of

 

soil colloids and degree of base saturation on
growth and nutrient uptake by cotton and soy-
beans. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 8:179-184.
1943.

and Adsorption of calcium

 

by peanuts from kaolin and bentonite at varying
levels of calcium. Soil Sci. 61:369-374. 1946.

and Reed, J. F. Effect of cation-exchange

 

properties of soil upon the cation content of
plants. Soil Sci. 66:289-306. 1948.

Mitchell, H. H., Hamilton, T. S., and Beadles, J. R.
The relationship between the protein content of
corn and the nutritional value of the protein.
J. of Nutrition 48:461-475. 1952.

Morrison, F. B. Feeds and Feeding, ed. 21. Morrison
Publ. 00., Ithaca, N. Y. 1949._

Mulder, E. G. and Gerreston, F. C. Soil manganese in
relation to plant growth. Advances in Agron.
4:221-277. 1952.

Noggle, G. R. and Watson, S. A. The relationship of
riboflavin and ascorbic acid to carbohydrate and
nitrogen fractions in immature oats plants as
influenced by mineral deficiencies. Plant
Physiol. 24:265-277. 1949.

Osterhout, W. J. V. Cold Springs Harbor Symposia
Quant. Biol. 8:51-62. 1940. (cited by Over-
street and Jacobson (69), original not seen).

Overstreet R. and Jacobson, L. Mechanisms of ion ad-
sorption by roots. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol.
3:189-206. 1952.

Phillips, T. G., and Loughlin, M. E. Composition and

digestable energy of hays fed to cattle. J. Agr.
Research 78:389-395. 1949.

Pierre, W. H. and Bower, C. A. Potassium adsorption by
plants as affected by cationic relationships.
Soil Sci. 55:23-36. 1943.

72.

73.

74.

75.

76.

77.

78.

79.

80.

81.

82.

163.

Reeve, E. and Shive, J. W. Potassium-boron and calcium-
boron relationships in plant nutrition. Soil
Sci. 57:1-14. 1944.

Richards, F. J. and Berner, E. Physiological studies
in plant nutrition. Annals of Bot. 18:15-33.
1954.

Romo, L. A. The cation exchange capacity and percent
calcium saturation in relation to the release and
uptake of exchangeable calcium and potassium.
Ph.D. Thesis, Mich. State College. 1951.

Rosenberg, T. Acta Chem. Scand. 2:14-33. 1948. (Cited
by Overstreet and Jacobson (69), original not
seen).

Sahu, B. Lime content of soil in relation to crop re-
sponse to magnesium. Ph.D. Thesis, Mich. State
College. 1949.

Schmel, W. R., Peech, M., and Bradfield, R. Causes of
poor growth of plants on acid soils and benefi-
cial effects of liming. 1. Evaluation of
factors responsible for acid-soil injury. Soil
SCie 70:393-410e 1950.

Schollenberger, C. J. and Simon, R. H. Determination
of exchange capacity and exchangeable bases of
soils- ammonium acetate method. Soil Sci. 59:
13'24e 1945a

Seay, W. A., Attoe, 0. J., and Truog, E. Elimination
of calcium interference in photometric determin-
ation of sodium in soils and plants. Soil Sci.
71:83-90. 1951.

, , and Correlation
of the potassium content of alfalfa to that
available in soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc.
14:245-249. 1949.

 

 

 

Shear, C. 8., Crane, H. L., and Myers, A. T. Nutrient
element balance: A fundamental concept in plant
nutrition. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc. 47:239-
248. 1946.

Sheets, 0. A., et al. Effect of fertilizer, soil compo-
sition, and certain climatological conditions on
the calcium and phosphorus content of turnip
greens. J. Agr. Research 68:145-190. 1944.

83.

84.

85.

86.

87.

88.

89.

90.

91.

92.

93.

94.

164.

Shive, J. W. The balance of ions and oxygen tension
in nutrient substrates for plants. Soil Sci.
51:445-457. 1941.

Smith, G. E. and Albrecht, W. A. Effect of fertili-
zers upon the yield and feeding value of
timothy. Mo. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 444, pp.
79. 1939.

and Feed efficiency in

 

terms of biological assays of soil treatments.
Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. Proc. 7:322-330. 1942.

and Hester, J. B. Calcium content of

 

soils and fertilizers in relation to composi-

tion and nutritive value of plants. Soil Sci.
65:117-128. 1948.

Smith, J. C., Kapp, L. C., and Potts, R. C. The
effects of fertilizer treatment upon the yield
and composition of wheat forage. Soil Sci. Soc.
Amer. Proc. 14:241-245. 1949.

Snedecor, G. W. Statistical Methods. Ed. 4. The
Collegiate Press, Ames, Iowa. 1946.

Somers, I. I. and Shive, J. W. The iron-manganese
relation in plant metabolism. Plant Physiol.
17:582-602. 1942.

Spiers, M., et al. Effect of fertilizer and environ-
ment on the iron content of turnip greens.
Southern Co-op. Series Bul. No. 2:5-24. 1944.

Spurway, C. H. and Lawton K. Soil testing, a practi-
cal system of soil fertility diagnosis. Mich.
Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 132 (4th rev.). 1949.

Stolzy, L. H. The effects of mechanical composition
and clay mineral types on the moisture proper-
ties of soils. Ph.D. Thesis, Mich. State
College. 1954.

Truog, E. Lima in relation to availability of plant
nutrient80 8011 5010 65:1-70 19480

=_, Goates, R. J., Gerloff, G. C., and Berger,
K. C. Magnesium-phosphorus relationships in
plant nutrition. Soil Sci. 63:19-27. 1947.

95.

96.

97.

98.

99.

100.

101.

102.

103.

104.

105.

106.

107.

165.

Ulrich, A. Metabolism of non-volatile organic acids
in excised barley roots as related to cation-
anion balance during salt accumulation. Am. J.
Botany 28:526-537. 1941.

Metabolism of organic acids in excised
barley roots as influenced by temperature,
oxygen tension, and salt concentration. Am. J.
Botany 29:220-226. 1942.

 

Physiological basis for assessing the

nutritional requirements of plants. Ann. Rev.
Plant Physiol. 3:207-228. 1952.

 

Plant analysis as a diagnostic procedure.

 

Soil Sol. 55:101-112. 1943.

Vandecaveye, S. C. and Baker, G. 0. Chemical composi-
tion of certain forage crops as affected by
fertilizers and soil type. J. Agr. Research
68:191-220. 1944.

Vanderford, H. B. Effect of different lime levels on
the growth and composition of some legumes. J.
Ame 5060 Agrone 32:789'7930 19400

Van Itallie, T. B. Cation equilibria in plants in re-
lation to soils. Soil Sci. 65:393-416. 1948.

Wadleigh, C. H. Mineral nutrition of plants. Ann. Rev.
Biochem. 18:655-678. 1949.

Wall, M. E. The role of potassium in plants: II.
Effects of varying amounts of potassium on the

growth status and metabolism of tomato plants.
Soil Sci. 49:315-331. 1940.

Watson, A. J. The effect of varied levels of nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, and boron in soil on the
yield and chemical composition of greenhouse
tomatoes. Ph.D. Thesis, Mich. State College. 1949.

Watson, S. A. and N0ggle, G. R. Effect of mineral defici-
encies upon the synthesis of riboflavin and ascorbic
acid by the oats plant. Plant Physiol. 22:228-243.
1947.

Walsh, 0. D. and Nelson, W. B. Calcium and magnesium re-
quirements of soybeans as related to the degree of
base saturation of the soil. J. Am. Soc. Agron.
42:9-130 19500

Zimmerman, M. Magnesium in plants. Soil Sci. 63:1-12.
1947.

166.

APPENDIX

167.

0 0 0 0
0 0 e 0
a a a 0
e e 0 e
O 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0
I O . O
0 0 0 a
0 I O O
a e 0 a
e u 0

0 0 0

O 0 0 O
4 O I a
a e I 0
I O O

O 0 , 0 0
0 e 0 0
0 0 O O
0 0 0 0
0 O O 0
0 e 0 a

TABLE XXI.

Chemical Composition of Soybeanst

 

 

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free Na K
ment Fiber Extract Extract

I-O 4.65 20.07 2.86 16.13 56.29 .027 1.00
II-o 5.27 19.72 3.41 14.81 56.79 .030 0.758
III-0 6.08 20.38 3.28 16.00 54.26 .033 0.799
IV-O 5.71 19.91 3.96 17.25 53.17 .031 0.814
v-o 5.79 19.85 4.28 16.38 53.70 .031 0.820
VI-O 5.58 20.76 4.54 16.75 52.37 .033 0.740
VII-0 5.92 20.72 3.81 16.56 52.99 .045 0.720
I-Al 4.99 19.28 2.33 16.13 57.27 .031 1.110
II-Al 5.36 20.95 4.12 16.94 52.63 .040 1.21
III-A1 5.65 21.27 3.97 17.38 51.73 .058 0.968
IV-Al 5.65 21.75 14.62 18.94 49.94 .040 1.07
V-Al 5.52 21.80 4.53 18.19 49.57 .039 1.01
VI-Al 5.25 20.33 4.29 16.63 53.50 .049 0.953
VII-Al 5.61 20.94 3.96 17.75 51.74 .038 0.909
I-A2 5.41 18.28 1.86 15.31 59.14 .044 1.18
II-A2 5.60 20.94 3.53 16.81 53.12 .051 1.14
III-A2 5.86 22.07 3.79 18.56 49.72 .054 1.15
IV-A2 5.63 21.21 4.82 17.69 50.65 .046 1.15
V-A2 5.29 20.95 4.06 16.81 52.89 .038 1.19
VI-A2 5.82 20.90 4.34 18.19 50.75 .046 1.10
VII-A2 5.67 20.79 4.52 18.31 50.71 .034 1.12
I-A3 6.57 15.21 1.35 16.56 60.31 .048 1.34
II-A3 6.58 21.70 4.82 19.69 47.21 .044 1.37
111-A3 6.09 22.55 3.18 17.38 50.80 .041 1.40

 

*Values expressed as percent

168.

 

 

 

Table XXI. (continued)
Treat- B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
ment
I-0 .0043 .270 .0142 .462 .0810 1.30 .0017
II-0 .0032 .082 .0062 .327 .0125 1.17 .0010
III-0 .0029 .052 .0085 .322 .0092 1.25 .0015
IV-O .0040 .170 .0121 .456 .0117 2.33 .0015
V-O .0042 .167 .0163 .572 .0138 1.63 .0020
VI-O .0039 .203 .0096 .710 .0110 2.06 .0014
VII-O .0035 .214 .0128 .803 .0098 2.12 .0012
I-Al .0027 .343 .0088 .329 .132 0.92 .0009
'II-Al .0026 .277 .0067 .293 .0162 1.29 .0009
III-A1 .0030 .224 .0090 .311 .0177 2.04 .0009
IV-Al .0029 .271 .0127 .347 .0112 1.85 .0016
V-A1 .0032 .218 .0090 .520 .0180 1.50 .0011
VI-Al .0026 .306 .0121 .585 .0125 1.66 .0010
VII-A1 .0026 .250 .0298 .670 .0115 1.62 .0011
I-A2 .0029 .341 .0088 .278 .163 0.79 .0012
II-A2 .0029 .171 .0074 .278 .0167 1.22 .0013
III-A2 .0026 .210 .0103 .310 .0148 1.53» .0010
IV-A2 .0031 .309 .0183 .306 .0108 1.60 .0020
V-A2 .0032 .238 .0088 .470 .0177 1.56 7.0010
VI-A2 .0032 .344 .0122 .550 .0145 1.64 .0013
VII-A2 .0028 .322 .0114 .561 .0120 1.81 .0011
I-A3 .0030 .353 .0063 .306 .204 0.76 .0011
11-43 .0026 .220 .0095 .282 .0182 1.24 .0013
III-A3 .0036 .258 .0124 .316 .0200 2.07 .0012

169.

 

 

 

Table XXI. (continued).
Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free Na K
ment Fiber Extract Extract
IV-A3 5.91 21.80 4.53 18.19 49.57 .040 1.24
V-A3 6.07 21.24 4.98 18.81 48.90 .044 1.30
VI-A3 6.12 21.80 3.60 19.06 49.42 .049 1.25
VII-A3 6.32 20.61 4.25 18.63 50.73 .029 1.20
I-Bl 5.98 18.47 3.45 17.19 54.91 .033 1.11
II-Bl 6.62 21.07 5.21 20.13 46.97 .039 0.994
III-Bl 7.11 22.02 5.34 20.31~ 45.22 .039 1.01
IV-Bl 6.42 21.41 6.06 21.94 44.17 .043 1.18
V-Bl 5.86 20.85 5.28 19.25 48.76 .042 1.11
VI-Bl 6.04 19.68 4.23 19.50 50.55 .044 0.964
VII-Bl 6.32 20.31 4.62 20.38 48.37 .046 0.896
I-B2 6.32 19.09 2.78 16.94 54.87 .034 1.31
II-B2 6.46 20.83 6.01 20.69 46.01 .040 1.23
III-B2 6.51 20.51 5.16 19.81 48.01 .044 1.21
IV-B2 6.65- 21.11 5.74 22.75 43.75 .046 1.29
V-B2 6.04 20.25 4.54 17.94 51.23 .042 1.16
VI-B2 6.01 22.01 4.06 18.95 48.98 .044 1.13
VII-B2 6.10 20.40 4.45 20.50 48.55 .050 1.20
I-B3 7.26 17.60 1.64 16.44 57.06 .038 1.39
II-B3 6.76 21.96 5.07 18.50 47.71 .039 1.29
III-B3 6.65 21.72 4.69 20.00 46.94 .042 1.50
IV-B3 6.87 21.23 6.25 22.56 43.09 .043 1.42
V-BS 6.75 20.37 5.37 20.25 47.26 .045 1.38
VI-B3 6.66 20.95 4.29 20.38 47.72 .052 1.31
VII-B3 6.80 20.13 5.63 23.56 43.88 .045 1.33

170.

 

 

 

Table XXI (continued)
Treat- B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
_Jment
IV-A3 .0033 .412 .0162 .308 .0118 1.83 .0021
V-A3 .0029 .210 .0072 .440 .0188 1.39 .0012
VI-A3 .0029 .323 .0111 .536 .0142 1.62 .0012
VII-A3 .0025 .249 .0097 .575 .0128 1.86 .0012
I-Bl .0042 1.026 .0137 .408 .187 1.39 .0019
II-Bl .0020 .289 .0092 .401 .0230 1.40 .0026
III-Bl .0023 .360 .0111 .417 .0185 1.83 .0029
IV-Bl .0022 .321 .0105 .395 .0135 2.07 .0039
V-Bl .0029 .308 .0098 .501 .0185 1.21 .0027
VI-Bl .0030 .268 .0147 .574 .0135 1.30 .0035
VII-Bl .0026 .214 .0109 .675 .0130 1.43 .0032
‘I-B2 .0048 .934 .0137 .403 .233 1.27 .0019
LII-B2 .0040 .375 .0122 .372 .0241 1.83 .0021
III-B2 .0032 .346 .0134 .326 .0180 1.91 .0022
IV-B2 .0025 .361 .0113 .479 .0140 1.44 .0015
V-B2 .0027 .179 .0076 .503 .0197 1.27 .0018
VI-B2 .0025 .200 .0091 .558 .0142 1.40 .0017
VII-B2 .0028 .257 .0113 .479' .0140 1.44 .0015
I-B3 .0046 .958 .0097 .413 .290 1.43 .0024
II-B3 .0020 .241 .0109 .293 .0218 1.33 .0024
III-B3 .0032 .446 .0129 .293 .0190 1.82 .0017
IV-B3 .0027 .296 .0075 .280 .0130 1.78 .0019
V-B3 .0027 .285 .0072 .474 .0212 1.47 .0014
VI-B3 .0023 .274 .0072 .455 .0142 1.16 .0035
VII-B3 .0023 .340 .0098 .601 .0142 1.40 .0016

171.

Table XXI.

(continued)

 

 

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free Na K
ment Fiber Extract Extract

I-Cl 6.23 19.72 4.92 24.13 45.00 .047 -1.33
II-Cl 6.85 20.19 5.17 28.88 48.91 .053 0.903
III-Cl 7.10 21.75 5.24 21.13 44.78 .050 0.810
IV-Cl 7.63 21.92 4.88 23.63 41.94 .053 0.854
V-Cl 8.65 21.35 3.95 21.88 44.17 .055 1.15
VI-Cl 7.01 21.72 4.58 21.25 45.44 .045 0.888
VII-Cl 6.99 21.24 5.96 22.13 43.68 .052 0.836
I-C2 6.65 19.66 2.66 17.06 53.97 .048 1.27
II-C2 7.05 20.97 5.19 19.63 46.16 .052 1.21
III-C2 7.10 22.05 5.00 21.44 44.41 .054 1.25
IV-C2 7.62 22.18 5.02 23.00 42.18 .056 1.24
V-C2 6.66 19.70 4.79 18.75 50.10 .054 1.12
VI-02 6.51 22.14 4.45 20.75 46.15 .050 1.11
VII-C2 6-88 21.25 5.11 22.31 44.45 .052 1.16
1-03 6.99 19.65 2.11 15.75 55.50 .048 1.41
II-C3 7.22 22.49 4.36 20.81 45.12 .066 1.37
III-C3 7.73 23.01 4.32 23.88 41.06 .052 1.45
IV-C3 7.56 20.83 5.67 23.38 42.56 .059 1.38
V-C3 7.13 20.84 4.32 20.19 47.52 .054 1.32
VI-C3 7.12 21.41 4.76 22.50 44.21 .053 1.32
VII-C3 7.34 20.43 5.31 22.31 44.61 .051 1.38

 

172.

 

 

 

T2225- B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu

I-Cl .0030 .650 .0068 .420 .112 1.08 .0018’
II-Cl .0023 .330 .0073 .360 .0190 1.58 .0020
III-Cl .0024 .371 .0111 .396 .0167 1.86 .0018
IV-Cl .0020 .199 .0098 .353 .0128 1.79 .0012
V-Cl .0036 .645 .0104 .757 .0265 1.90 .0021
71-01 .0027 .434 .0088 .730 .0150 1.50 .0018
VII-Cl .0019 .299 .0069 .685 .0101 1.21 .0020
1-02 .0037 .648 .0064 .358 .177 1.26 .0016
11-02 .0025 .366 .0112 .324 .0225 1.47 .0020
III-C2 .0024 .285 .0098 .324 .0172 1.68 .0020
IV-C2 .0017 .258 .0113 .286 .0122 1.53 .0014
v-cz .0028 .394 .0086 '.626 .0202 1.39 .0020
VI-C2 .0029 .503 .0136 .514 .0133 1.82 .0016
VII-C2 .0018 .202 .0081 .509 .0113 1.15 .0016
1-03 .0030 .348 .0082 .330 .177 1.26 .0016
II-C3 .0027 .247 .0092 .299 .0200 1.81 .0012
III-C3 .0029 .681 .0136 .303 .0148 1.97 .0017
17-03 0017 .347 .0149 .357 .0118 1.55 .0014
v-c3 .0024 .398 .0089 .587 .0185 1.31 .0020
v1-c3 .0020 .317 .0088 .568 .0142 1.29 .0021
VII-C3 .0020 .300 .0112 .464 .0125 1.27 .0011

 

173.

TABLE XXII

Chemical Composition of 0ats$

 

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free K Na
ment Fiber Extract Extract

1-0 10.22 25.64 4.01 15.69 44.44 1.92 .956
II-O 6.55 28.68 3.27 11.38 50.12 0.99 1.19
III-0 7.85 27.27 3.33 13.75 47.80 1.36 1.12
IV-O 7.69 28.69 3.25 13.75 46.62 1.40 1.03
V-O 7.34 30.39 2.69 11.56 48.02 1.20 1.21
VI-O 7.34 28.71 2.90 12.13 48.92 1.21 1.07
VII-0 6.72 28.88 3.10 13.69 47.61 1.15 1.09
I-Al 6.55 28.80 1.97 9.81 52.87 1.52 .742
II-Al 6.50 30.22 2.92 10.44 49.92 1.37 .984
III-Al 5.84 28.37 3.42 10.69 51.68 1.15 .742
IV-Al 5.93 29.93 3.06 11.25 49.83 1.08 .818
V-Al 6.43 29.12 2.93 10.19 51.33 1.37 .744
71-11 6.54 28.52 2.93 10.44 51.57 1.33 .800
VII-A1 6.23 28.95 3.07 10.19 51.56 1.28 .940
I-A2 6.83 29.02 1.73 9.25- 53.17 2.05 .364
II-A2 6.71 29.00 2.74 9.81 51.74 2.12 .376
III-A2 7.07 28.39 2.33 11.63 50.58 2.39 .286
IV-A2 7.03 29.61 2.24 9.50 51.62 2.20 .446
V-A2 6.90 28.98 2.03 9.06 53.03 2.25 .316
VI-A2 6.80 29.85 2.26 10.31 50.78 2.09 .492
VII-A2 6.54 28.55 3.46 10.25 51.20 2.00 .304
I-A3 7.90 29.92 1.58 11.44 49.16 2.86 .098
II-A3 7.41 28.69 2.79 10.25 50.90 2.75 .070
III-A3 7.51 30.38 3.12 9.69 49.30 2.79 .062
*Values expressed as percent

174.

 

 

 

Table XXII. (continued)

T8238- B P Fe M8 Mn Ca Cu
I-0 .0046 .359 .2550 .215 .0370 0.43 .0100
II-O .0024 .278 .0111 .168 .0065 0.21 .0022
111-0 .0021 .219 .0118 .220 .0050 0.49 .0022
IV-O .0022 .207 .0192 .162 .0075 0.38 .0017
v-o .0022 .191 .0053 .214 .0040 0.12 .0016
v1-0 .0017 .181 .0250 .265 .0051 0.27 .0013
VII-0 .0020 .239 .0086 .400 .0059 0.57 .0016
I-Al .0021 .340 .0178 .180 .0440 0.14 .0013
II-Al .0026 .303 .0162 .173 .0092 0.43 .0022
III-A1 .0019 .219 .0072 .155 .0073 0.37 .0022
IV-Al .0019 .213 .0058 .132 .0062 0.32 .0019
V-Al .0012 .197 .0038 .187 .0059 0.10 .0015
VI-Al .0024 .305 .0107 .314 .0067 0.36 '.0019
VII-A1 .0017 .274 .0047 .336 .0073 0.46 .0015
1-12 .0021 .338 .0168 .148 .0385 0.18 .0015
II-A2 .0017 .228 .0061 .125 .0089 0.19 .0018
III-A2 .0022 .251 .0064 .175 .0084 0.40 .0017
IV-A2 .0019 .247 .0072 .146 .0069 0.39 ’ .0019
V-A2 .0011 .174 .0046 .228 .0089 0.13 .0015
71-42 .0019 .278 .0072 .360 .0079 0.36 .0019
VII-A2 .0018 .340 .0072 .360 .0090 0.57 .0019
1-13 .0028 .417 .0181 .158 .0610 0.18 .0015
II-A3 .0013 .213 .0053 .121 .0147 0.14 .0028
III-A3 .0018 .254 .0056 .165 .0099 0.36 .0013

175.

 

 

 

Table XXII. (continued)-

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free K Na
ment Fiber Extract Extract
IV-A3 7.36 29.53 3.60 11.31 48.20 2.78 .110
V-A3 7.37 30.34 2.54 9.81 49.85 2.77 .193
VI-A3 7.51 29.76 2.99 10.25 49.49 2.62 .112
VII-A3 7.30 30.31 2.60 12.44 47.35 2.57 .126
I-Bl 6.54 30.99 1.68 9.06 51.73 1.31 .822
II-Bl 6.42 29.42 3.39 9.31 51.46 1.16 .882
III-B1 6.56 29.37 2.36 10.38 51.33 1.26 .824
IV-Bl 6.23 28.96 3.07 10.94 50.80 1.19 .916
V-B1 6.21 28.08 3.69 9.50 52.52 1.21 .840
VI-Bl 6.49 28.62 3.43 9.31 52.15 1.18 .930
VII-B1 6.32 29.36 3.46 10.38 50.48 1.07 .828
I-B2 7.69 28.69 1.53 10.25 51.84 2.62 .290
II-B2 6.87 30.66 2.61 9.63 50.23 2.21 .420
III-B2 6.78 30.17 2.87 9.81 50.37 2.34 .392
IV-BZ 6.83 29.70 2.76 9.94 50.77 2.30 .400
V-B2 6.83 28.93 2.70 9.00 52.54 2.12 .297
VI-B2 7.02 29.53 3.26 9.94 50.25 2.12 .320
VII-B2 6.49 30.22 3.07 9.31 50.91 1.89 .387
I-B3 7.42 28.58 1.55 10.50 51.95 2.52 .236
II-B3 6.81 27.50 2.49 9.19 54.01 2.58 .150
III-B3 7.08 28.71 2.74 9.38 52.09 2.61 .164
IV-B3 6.84 27.57 2.80 10.56 52.23 2.52 .160
V-B3 6.97 29.79 2.23 9.06 51.95 2.48 .178
VI-B3 7.11 28.52 2.55 10.13 51.69 2.43 .200
VII-B3 7.65 27.77 2.71 11.38 50.49 2.50 .208

176.

 

 

 

Table XXII. (continued)

Treat- B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
ment

Iv-A3 .0017 .222 .0055 .157 .0095 0.47 .0019
v-A3 .0017 .152 .0054 .191 .0105 0.17 .0015
VI-A3 .0015 .253 .0055 .255 .0091 0.30 .0025
VII-A3 .0017 .233 .0052 .411 .0092 0.44 .0015
1-51 .0021 .330 .0255 .151 .0450 0.22 .0030
11-51 .0015 .253 .0050 .135 .0055 0.14 .0025
III-B1 .0019 .234 .0054 .175 .0053 0.41 .0022
IV-Bl .0017 .174 .0145 .133 .0054 0.32 .0029
V-Bl .0014 .259 .0094 .194 .0059 0.24 .0023
VI-Bl .0015 .475 .0070 .335 .0050 0.35 .0021
VII-Bl .0015 .257 .0102 .250 .0052 0.25 .0019
1-52 .0017 .355 .0155 .137 .0552 0.15 .0014
11-52 .0012 .197 .0039 _ .111 .0095 0.10 .0021
III-B2 .0015 .205 .0042 .155 .0054 0.33 .0015
Iv-52 .0017 .190 .0043 .135 .0079 0.32 .0015
V-BZ .0013 .271 .0050 .235 .0093 0.23 .0013
VI-52 .0019 .440 .0115 .305 .0074 0.35 .0011
VII-52 .0015 .320 .0054 .253 .0057 0.25 .0013
1-53 .5020 .351 .0132 .159 .0402 0.19 .0015
11-53 .0013 .242 .0054 .123 .0140 0.17 .0019
111-53 .0017 .171 .0034 .152 .0110 0.45 .0015
Iv-53 .0013 .237 .0055 .137 .0053 0.20 .0013
v-B3 .0015 .254 .0055 .225 .0151 0.25 .0015
v1-53 .0017 .259 .0050 .319 .0099 0.42 .0012
VII-53 .0015 .312 .0094 .371 .0113 0.35 .0015

177.

 

 

 

Table XXII. (continuedY

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free

ment Fiber Extract Extract K Na
I-Cl 5.47 29.22 1.92 5.55 53.53 1.05 .754
11-01 5.55 29.42 2.93 7.51 53.25 0.950 .930
III-Cl 5.75 25.75 2.55 10.35 52.41 0.735 .944
IV-Cl 5.70 30.32 3.57 10.75 49.55 0.772 .942
v-c1 5.57 25.70 3.19 9.53 51.91 1.24 .512
v1-01 5.99 25.75 3.75 10.50 50.97 0.575 1.05
VII-Cl 5.97 29.27 3.75 10.50 50.45 0.952 .550
1-02 7.54 29.55 1.94 10.44 50.13 2.49 .325
11-02 5.94 27.51 3.51 9.19 52.55 2.19 .405
III-C2 5.52 25.55 3.44 9.50 51.35 2.25 .405
IV-c2 5.54 30.13 3.04 9.53 50.55 2.21 .420
v-02 7.04 25.52 3.05 5.51 52.57 2.25 .339
71-02 5.71 25.79 3.05 15.59 52.73 2.11 .440
VII-02 5.75 29.45 2.75 9.55 51.47 2.15 .474
1-03 7.34 25.95 1.59 9.19 52.53 2.57 .244
11-03 7.40 25.25 2.50 9.13 52.39 2.59 .241
111-03 7.15 25.00 3.51 5.53 52.70 2.45 .224
Iv-c3 7.34 25.55 3.41 10.35 50.15 2.45 .252
v-c3 7.54 25.55 2.77 5.55 52.45 2.55 .170
71-03 7.52 29.45 3.12 9.05 50.55 2.53 .244
VII-03 5.91 29.51 2.92 9.44 51.12 2.54 .252

 

178.

 

 

 

Table XXII. (continued)

T323" 5 P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
1-01 .0016 .442 .0098 .195 .0425 0.36 .0013
II-Cl .0018 .342 .0064 .192 .0097 0.47 .0016
III-C1 .0020 .400 .0084 .215 .0062 0.43 .0019
IV-Cl .0017 .361 .0078 .206 .0073 0.48 .0021
V-C1 .0023 .438 .0109 .415 .0182 0.50 .0016
VI-Cl .0026 .582 .0128 .450 .0068 0.48 .0019
VII-01 .0021 .387 .0133 .412 .0062 0.45 .0021
I-02 .0017 .540 .0098 .168 .0500 0.47 .0010
II-C2 .0017 .400 .0055 .181 .0128 0.36 .0012
III-02 .0017 .480 .0062 .218 .0106 0.57 .0016
IV-C2 .0019 .349 .0074 .185 .0088 0.40 .0020
V-C2 .0020 .480 .0110 .320 .0153 0.54 .0015
VI-C2 .0019 .430 .0085 .398 .0099 0.55 .0015
VII-C2 .0022 .471 .0112 .410 .0088 0.70 .0016
I-03 .0015 .459 .0092 .155 .0564 0.33 .0011
II-C3 .0015 .524 .0068 .191 .0218 0.43 .0017
III-C3 .0016 .519 .0066 .206 .0086 0.44 .0016
IV-C3 .0019 .294 .0069 .219 .0093 0.32 .0021
V-C3 .0019 .560 .0078 .340 .0178 0.46 .0013
VI-C3 .0022 .441 .0084 .327 .0105 0.48 .0013
VII-C3 .0020 .327 .0082 .373 .0086 0.44 .0019

 

179.

TABLE XXIII. Chemical Composition of Alfalfat

 

 

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free

ment Fiber Extract Extract K Na
I-0 --** -- -- 23.13 -- -- ~-
II-O 8.79 24.26 3.32 18.46 45.17 .582 .218
III-0 12.92 22.28 3.19 18.76 42.85 .656 .218
IV-0 9.78 23.56 3.54 18.59 44.53 .759 .193
v.0 9.47 24.12 3.32 19.82 43.26 .719 .197
VI-O 8.99 22.96 3.75 19.12 45.18 .746 .161
VII-0 8.21 23.93 3.93 18.73 45.20 .847 .143
I-Al -- -- -- 15.97 -- 1.37 .134
II-Al 9.84 22.71 3.68 18.43 45.34 .968 .089
III-A1 8.31 23.95 3.79 19.23 44.72 .805 .140
IV-Al 9.00 23.26 3.15 19.73 44.87 .730 .211
V-Al 9.07 22.83 3.05 19.66 45.39 .833 .127
VI-Al 9.58 22.61 3.30 19.39 45.12 .778 .134
VII-A1 8.70 22.39 3.27 20.65 44.99 .720 .165
I-A2 -- -- -- 15.03 -- 2.05 .044
II-A2 9.69 22.46 3.42 18.80 45.63 1.80 .018
III-A2 8.78 21.76 3.69 19.85 45.95 1.83 .012
IV-A2 9.94 22.14 3.36 20.36 44.24 1.94 .020
V-A2 8.64 24.28 3.59 19.76 43.73 1.81 .017
VI-A2 9.43 22.09 3.36 20.11 45.01 1.58 .014
VII-A2 9.34 21.34 3.81 20.32 45.20 1.72 .025
I-A3 -- -- -- 18.48 -- -- --
II-A3 10.23 22.49 3.51 18.91 44.86 1.95 .017
III-A3 9.65 22.17 3.44 19.85 44.89 1.95 .014

 

*Values expressed as percent

**Insufficient sample for a determination

180.

 

 

 

Table XXIII. (continued)

ngfifi' B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
I-0 .0039 .59 .065 .48 .200 2.15 .0042
II-O .0029 .31 .039 .42 .019 3.00 .0055
III-0 .0032 .31 .071 .37 .023 2.67 .0059
IV-O .0018 .22 .032 .31 .016 3.02 .0046
V-0 .0031 .29 .049 .67 .018 2.00 .0054
VI-0 .0026 .20 .032 .68 .016 2.14 .0046
VII-0 .0017 .17 .029 .72 .013 2.05 .0044
I-Al .0037 .36 .048 .42 .120 1.81 .0051
II-Al .0029 .31 .050 .25 .018 2.45 .0051
III-A1 .0026 .33 .038 .25 .016 2.45 .0055
IV-Al .0024 .44 .047 .25 .018 2.90 .0052
V-A1 .0027 .27 .040 .50 .018 1.75 .0051
VI-A1 .0029 .31 .053 .57 .020 2.15 .0060
VII-A1 .0025 .34 .050 .67 .018 2.58 .0045
I-A2 .0043 .42 .054 .22 .160 1.55 .0076
II-A2 .0031 .22 .036 .18 .017 2.15 .0052
III-A2 .0027 .36 .032 .15 .014 2.27 .0043
IV-A2 .0016 .21 .029 .11 .013 1.90 .0050
V-A2 .0024 .23 .025 .34 .013 1.45 .0050
VI-A2 .0018 .13 .019 .27 .010 1.32 .0046
VII-A2 .0015 .15 .019 .29 .011 1.32 .0039
I-A3 .0055 .34 .063 .27 .250 1.33 .0031
II-A3 .0020 .15 .025 .11 .009 1.34 .0054
III-A3 .0027 .29 .053 .17 .015 1.92 .0082

181.

Table XXIII.

(continued)

 

 

H

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free K Na
ment Fiber Extract Extract

IV-A3 9.51 22.41 3.37 9.96 44.75 1.95 .014
V-A3 9.34 24.95 3.26 17.70 44.75 1.99 .013
VI-A3 9.36 22.90 3.27 18.78 45.69 1.95 .015
VII-A3 9.53 23.51 2.98 20.05 43.93 1.95 .015
I-Bl -- -- -— 13.02 -- 1.44 .111
II-Bl 10.27 22.34 3.33 20.12 43.94 .793 .153
III-Bl 8.89 23.38 2.97 20.25 44.51 .921 .140
IV-Bl 9.02 24.16 2.28 19.23 45.31 .742 .252
V-BI 8.89 22.74 2.79 18.77 46.81 1.03 .069
VI-Bl 10.65 23.57 2.83 19.94 43.01 .926 .111
VII-Bl 8.61 22.72 3.27 20.23 45.17 .845 .111
I-B2 -- -- -- 21.83 -- -- --
II-BZ 10.05 22.63 3.32 19.80 44.20 1.85 .023
III-B2 9.12 22.31 3.31 19.23 46.03 1.79 .013
IV-B2 9.31 23.86 2.87 19.53 44.43 1.72 .023
V-B2 8.48 23.37 3.34 18.99 45.82 1.84 .017
VI-BZ 9.39 23.70 2.99 20.13 43.79 1.79 .019
VII-B2 9.86 22.87 2.68 20.73 43.86 1.71 .017
I-B3 -- -- -- 20.36 -- -- --
II-BS 11.88 23.80 2.91 19.10 42.31 2.21 .019
III-B3 9.75 21.81 3.07 19.34 48.03 2.09 .015
IV-B3 10.59 23.64 2.71 19.26 43.80 2.06 .013
V-B3 9.76 22.99 3.05 19.31 44.89 2.11 .017
VI-B3 8.98 22.63 3.09 19.42 45.88 1.96 .013
VII-B3 10.26 21.43 3.48 19.26 45.57 1.98 .014

182.

 

 

 

Table XXIII. (continued)

ngit' B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
IV-A3 .0019 .29 .043 .13 .013 1.70 .0060
V-A3 .0026 .19 .031 .27 .015 1.61 .0072
VI-A3 .0022 .19 .030 .30 .014 1.92 .0081
VII-A3 .0014 .22 .031 .19 .012 1.45 .0070
I-Bl .0034 .27 .036 .18 .100 1.41 .0057
II-B1 .0021 .24 .038 .23 .023 2.17 .0048
III-Bl .0017 .24 .024 .26 .017 2.72 .0058
IV-B1 .0024 .26 .042 .49 .020 2.17 .0062
V-Bl .0018 .39 .033 .24 .020 3.13 .0070
VI-B1 .0021 .40 .050 .46 .018 2.10 .0070
VII-B1 .0016 .36 .028 .63 .014 2.42 .0065
I-B2 . -- -- ~- -- -- -- --
II-B2 .0031 .36 .051 .20 .016 2.27 .0027
III-B2 .0034 .40 .049 .18 .015 2.64 .0031
IV-B2 .0019 .37 .040 .13 .013 2.38 .0026
V-B2 .0038 .40 .051 .40 .015 1.99 .0034
VI-B2 .0023 .31 .040 .35 .011 2.07 .0026
VII-B2 .0022 .31 .047 .39 .013 1.83 .0032
I-B3 .0030 .67 .065 .29 .260 1.30 .0016
II-B3 .0036 .35 .049 .13 .019 2.00 .0032
III-B3 .0032 .36 .038 .13 .012 2.25 i .0036
IV-B3 .0022 .42 .044 .13 .014 2.83 .0034
V-B3 .0029 .35 .044 .31 .018 1.92 .0034
VI-B3 .0023 .32 .035 .31 .013 2.17 .0037
VII-B3 .0022 .42 .052 .28 .013 1.85 .0044

183.

Table XXIII.

(continued)

 

 

 

Treat- Ash Crude Ether Protein N-free K Na
ment Fiber Extract Extract

I-Cl -- -- -- 18.74 -- -- --

II—Cl 9.13 23.79 3.72 17.87 45.49 .689 .168
III-Cl 9.07 23.97 3.39 18.54 45.03 .898 .091
IV-Cl 11.15 23.46 3.35 18.00 44.04 .659 .168
V-Cl 9.74 24.18 3.46 20.51 42.11 .811 .183
VI-Cl 10.61 24.16 3.00 19.47 42.76 .912 .084
VII-Cl 9.05 23.15 ' 3.90 19.57 44.02 .555 .117
I-C2 -- -- -- 20.54 -- -- --

II-C2 10.09 22.87 4.05 19.13 43.86 1.85 .018
III-C2 9.77 23.26 3.88 18.98 44.11 1.88 .016
IV-02 17.62 22.51 2.22 17.96 39.70 1.69 .016
V-C2 9.24 22.51 3.42 18.77 46.06 1.92 .009
VI-C2 13.76 22.63 2.71 18.72 42.18 1.80 .010
VII-C2 9.32 21.81 3.35 18.88 46.64 1.85 .013
I-C3 -- -- -- 20.25 -- -- --

II-C3 9.43 24.19 3.29 17.63 45.46 2.09 .008
III-C3 12.25 24.31 2.19 20.34 40.91 2.24 .011
IV-C3 10.73 21.59 2.84 18.81 46.03 1.86 .015
V-C3 9.48 22.76 3.23 20.02 44.51 2.08 .013
VI-C3 10 .34 22.78 3.33 19.38 44.17 2.00 .009
VII-C3 10.15 21.74 3.40 19.89 44.82 2.04 .008

 

Table XXIII. (continued)

184.

 

 

Treat-

 

ment B P Fe Mg Mn Ca Cu
1-01 .0037 .59 .055 .34 .290 2.13 .0025
11-01 .0025 .40 .045 .27 .020 2.70 .0025
III-Cl .0030 .50 .050 .24 .017 3.40 .0029
IV-Cl .0025 .55 .055 .25 .025 4.57 .0034
v-01 .0027 .43 .029 .45 .019 2.25 .0039
71-01 .0042 .45 .055 .59 .017 2.24 .0040
VII-Cl .0030 .47 .044 .70 .015 2.39 .0039
1-02 .0031 .55 .055 .23 .370 1.50 .0024
II-C2 .0025 .42 .045 .15 .015 2.39 .0037
III-C2 .0020 .40 .045 .15 .015 2.02 .0033
Iv-cz .0032 .49 .120 .13 .029 2.25 .0025
v-02 .0029 .33 .034 .29 .019 1.59 .0035
v1-02 .0031 .44 .052 .33 .023 1.59 .0039
VII-C2 .0020 ' .30 .030 .34 .015 2.13 .0035
1-03 .0027 .43 .095 .21 .070 1.35 .0075
11-03 .0021 .17 .029 .14 .015 1.40 .0049
III-C3 .0021 .21 .071 .15 .012 1.25 .0054
Iv-03 .0017 .22 .050 .15 .012 1.91 .0055
v-c3 .0015 .13 .024 .19 .009 1.10 .0025
71-03 0015 .19 .054 .24 .012 1.17 .0070
VII-C3 .0019 .23 .045 .25 .012 1.50 .0052

 

185.
TABLE7XXIV

Total Bases in Soybeans, Milliequivalents per 1C0 gms.

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Mg Na K Total
I-O 65 4O 2 26 133
II-O 59 28 2 19 108
III-O 63 28 2 21 114
IV-O 137 40 2 21 200
V-O 82 50 2 21 165
VI-O 103 61 2 19 185
VII-0 106 70 3 18 197
I-Al 46 29 2 28 105
II-Al 65 25 2 31 123
III-Al 102 27 3 25 157
IV-Al 93 30 2 27 152
V-Al 75 45 2 26 148
VI-Al 83 51 3 24 161
VII-A1 81 57 2 23 163
I-A2 4O 24 2 30 96
II-A2 61 24 3 29 117
III-A2 77 26 3 30 136
IV-A2 80 26 3 30 139
V-A2 78 38 2 31 149
VI-A2 82 45 3 28 158
VII-A2 91 46 2 29 168
I-A3 38 27 3 34 102
II-A3 62 25 2 35 124
III-A3 104 27 2 36 169

186.

 

 

 

Table XXIV. (continued)

Treatment Ca Mg Na K Total
IV-A3 92 26 3 30 151
V-A3 70 36 2 33 141
VI-A3 81 45 3 32 161
VII-A3 93 47 2 31 173
I—Bl 70 34 2 28 134
II-Bl 70 33 2 25 130
III-B1 92 35 2 26 155
IV-Bl 104 33 2 30 169
V-Bl 61 41 2 28 132
VI-Bl 65 47 2 24 138
VII-Bl 72 56 3 22 153
I-B2 64 33 2 34 133
II-BZ 92 31 2 32 157
III-B2 96 27 2 31 156
IV-B2 93 27 3 33 156
V-B2 64 42 2 30 138
VI-B2 70 46 2 29 147
VII-82 72 40 3 31 146
I-B3 72 34 2 36 144
II-B3 67 24 2 33 126
III-B3 91 24 2 38 155
IV-B3 89 23 2 36 151
V-B3 74 39 3 35 149
VI-B3 58 38 3 34 133
VII-B3 70 50 3 34 157

187.

 

 

 

Table XXIV. (continued)

Treatment Ca Mg Na K TotaI
I-Cl 54 35 3 29 121
II-Cl 79 3O 3 26 138
III-Cl 93 ' 33 3 21 150
IV-Cl 90 29 3 22 144
V-Cl 95 62 3 30 190
VI-Cl 75v 60 3 23 161
VII-C1 61 56 3 21 141
I-C2 48 30 3 33 114
II-C2 74 27 3 31 135
III-C2 84 27 3 32 146
IV-C2 77 24 3 32 126
V-02 7O 52 3 29 154
VI-CZ 91 42 3 29 165
VII-C2 58 42 3 30 133
I-C3 63 27 3 36 129
II-C3 91 25 3 35 154
III-C3 99 25 3 37 164
IV-C3 78 29 3 35 145
V-C3 66 48 3 34 151
VI-C3 65 47 3 34 149
VII-C3 64 38 3 35 140

 

188.

TABLE XXV.

Total Eases in Cats, Milliequivalents per 100 grams

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Ms K Na Total
I-O 21.4 17.7 49.2 41.6 129.9
II-O 14.7 13.8 24.9 51.8 105.2
III-O 24.4 18.1 34.8 48.7 126.0
IV-O 18.9 13.3 35.9 44.8 112.9
V-O 6.0 17.6 30.8 52.6 107.0
VI-O 13.4 21.8 31.0 46.6 112.8
VII-0 38.4 32.9 29.5 47.4 148.2
I-Al 7.0 14.6 39.0 32.3 92.9
II-Al 21.4 14.2 35.1 42.8 113.5
III-A1 18.4 12.8 29.5 32.2 93.0
IV-Al 15.9 10.9 28.7 35.6 91.1
V-Al 5.0 15.4 35.1 32.4 87.9
VI-Al 17.9 25.8 34.1 34.8 112.6
VII-A1 22.9 27.6 32.8 40.9 124.2
I-A2 8.0 12.2 52.5 15.8 88.5
II-A2 9.5 10.3 54.4 16.3 90.5
III-A2 19.9 14.4 61.3 12.4 108.0
IV- A2 19.4 12.0 56.4 19.4 107.2
V-AZ 6,5 18.8 57.6 13.7 96.6
VI-A2 17.9 29.6 53.6 21.4- 122.5
VII-A2 28.4 29.6 51.3 13.2 122.5
I-A3 8.0 13.0 73.3 4.3 98.6
II-A3 7.0 9.9 70.5 3.0 90.4

189.

 

 

 

Table XXV. (continued)

Treatment Ca Ms K Na Total
III-A3 17.9 13.4 71.5 2.7 105.5
IV-A3 22.9 12.9 71.2 4.8 111.8
V-A3 8.5 15.7 71.0 8.4 103.6
VI-A3 14.9 21.8 67.1 4.9 108.7
VII-A3 21.9 33.8 65.7 5.5 127.1
I-Bl 11.0 12.4 33.6 35.8 92.8
II-Bl 7.0 11.3 29.8 38.5 86.5
III-Bl 20.4 14.6 32.3 35.9 103.2
IV-Bl 15.9 10.9 30.5 39.8 97.1
V-Bl 12.0 16.0 31.0 36.6 95.6
VI-Bl 17.9 27.7 30.3 40.4 116.3
VII-Bl 12.4 20.6 27.4 36.0 96.4
I-B2 9.0 11.3 67.2 12.6 100.1
II-B2 7.0 9.1 56.6 18.3 91.0
III-B2 16.5 13.7 60.0 17.0 107.3
IV-B2 15.9 11.4 58.9 17.4 103.6
V-B2 11.5 19.6 54.3 12.9 98.3
VI-BZ 17.4 25.4 54.3 13.9 111.0
VII-B2 14.0 23.3 48.4 16.8 102.5
I-B3 9.5 13.1 64.6 10.3 97.5
II-BS 5.0 10.1 66.1 6.5 87.7
III-B3 22.4 15.0 66.9 7.1 111.4
IV-B3 9.8 11.3 64.4 7.0 92.7
V-B3 12.4 18.8 63.6 7.7 102.5

190.

 

 

 

Table XXV. (continued)

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
VI-B3 20.9 26.2 62.2 8.7 118.0
VII-B3 18.9 30.5 64.1 9.1 122.6
I-Cl 17.9 16.1 27.2 32.8 94.0
II-Cl 23.4 15.8 24.6 40.4 104.2
III-Cl 21.4 17.7 18.8 41.1 99.0
IV-Cl 23.9 17.0 19.8 41.0 101.7
V-Cl 24.9 34.2 31.8 26.6 117.5
VI-Cl 23.9 37.0 17.3 46.1 124.3
VII-C1 22.4 33.9 25.2 38.3 119.8
I-C2 23.4 13.8 63.8 14.3 115.3
II-C2 17.9 14.9 56.1 17.7 106.6
III-C2 28.4 17.9 57.6 17.7 121.6
IV-C2 19.9 15.2 56.6 18.3 110.0
V-C2 26.9 26.3 58.4 14.7 126.3
VI-C2 27.4 32.7 54.1 19.1 133.3
VII-C2 34.8 33.7 55.4 20.6 144.5
I-C3 16.4 12.8 65.9 10.6 105.7
II-C3 21.9 15.7 76.4 10.5 114.5
III-C3 21.9 17.0 63.1 9.7 111.7
IV-C3 15.9 18.0 63.6 11.4 108.9
V-C3 22.9 28.0 68.4 7.4 126.5
VI-C3 23.9 26.9 67.4 10.6 128.8
VII-C3 21.9 30.7 67.6 11.4 131.6

 

191.
TABLE XXVI.

Total Bases in Alfalfa, Milliequivalents per 100 grams

 

 

 

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
I-O 107.0 39.5 --- --- ---

II-O 148.0 34.6 14.9 9.5 207.0
III-0 132.7 30.5 16.8 9.5 189.5
IV-O 150.0 25.5 19.5 8.4 203.2
V-O 99.9 55.2 18.4 8.6 182.1
VI-O 106.3 56.0 19.1 7.0 188.4
VII-0 101.9 59.3 22.6 6.2 190.0
I-Al 90.3 34.6 35.0 5.8 165.7
II-Al 121.8 20.6 24.8 3.9 171.1
III-A1 121.8 20.6 20.6 6.1 169.1
IV-Al 140.7 20.6 18.7 9.2 89.2
V-Al 87.3 41.1 21.3 5.5 155.2
VI-Al 107.0 46.9 19.9 5.8 179.6
VII-A1 128.2 55.2 18.4 7.2 209.0
I-A2 77.3 18.1 52.5 1.9 149.8
II-A2 107.0 14.8 46.1 0.8 168.7
III-A2 112.9 12.3 46.9 0.5 172.6
IV-A2 94.8 9.2 49.7 0.9 154.6
V-A2 72.3 28.0 46.3 0.7 147.3
VI-A2 65.9 22.2 40.4 0.6 129.1
VII-A2 65.9 23.9 44.0 1.1 134.9
I-A3 66.3 14.0 --- --- ---

II-A3

66.8

9.2

49.8

126.5

192.

 

 

 

Table XXVI. (continued)

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
III-A3 95.8 14.0 49.8 0.6 160.2
IV-A3 84.8 10.8 49.8 0.6 146.0
V-A3 80.3 22.2 50.9 0.6 154.0
VI-A3 95.8 24.7 49.8 0.7 171.0
VII-A3 72.3 15.6 49.8 0.7 138.4
I-Bl 70.4 14.8 36.9 4.8 126.9
II-Bl 107.9 18.9 20.3 6.7 153.8
III-Bl 135.1 21.4 23.6 6.1 186.2
IV-B1 107.9 40.3 19.0 11.0. 178.2
V-Bl 155.6 19.8 26.4 3.0 204.8
VI-B1 104.3 37.9 23.7 4.8 170.7
VII-B1 120.2 51.9 21.6 4.8 198.5
I-B2 .2- ~-- --- --- ---
II-B2 112.9 16.5 47.4 1.0 177.8
III-B2 131.1 14.8 45.8 0.6 192.3
IV-B2 118.2 10.7 44.0 1.0 173.9
V-B2 99.3 32.9 47.2 0.7 180.1
VI-B2 102.9 28.8 45.8 0.8 178.3
VII-B2 91.3 32.1 43.7 0.7 167.8
I-B3 64.8 23.9 --- --- ---
II-B3 99.9 10.7 56.6 0.8 168.0
III-B3 111.9 10.7 53.5 0.7 176.8
IV-B3 140.7 10.7 52.7 0.6 204.7
V-B3 95.8 25.5 54.0 0.7 176.0
VI-B3 107.9 25.5 50.1 0.6 184.1

193.

 

 

 

Table XXVI. (continued)

Treatment Ca Mg K Na Total
VII-B3 92.3 23.1 50.6 0.6 166.6
I-Cl 106.3 28.0 49.1 4.7 188.1
II-Cl 134.9 22.2 17.6 7.3 182.9
III-C1 169.8 19.8 23.0 4.0 216.6
IV-Cl 233.2 21.4 16.8 7.3 278.7
V-Cl 113.8 39.5 20.8 8.0 182.1
VI-Cl 111.9 56.9 23.3 3.4 195.5
VII-Cl 119.3 57.6 22.7 5.1 204.7
I-02 74.8 18.9 --- --- ---
II-C2 119.3 13.2 47.4 0.8 180.7
III-C2 100.9 12.3 48.1 0.7 162.0
IV-02 112.2 10.7 43.3 0.7 166.9
V-02 88.9 23.9 49.2 0.4 162.4
VI-CZ 94.4 27.2 46.1 0.4 168.1
VII-02 106.3 28.0 47.3 0.6 182.2
1-03 67.9 17.3 --- --- —--
II-CS 69.8 11.5 53.5 0.4 135.2
III-C3 63.9 12.3 57.3 0.5 134.0
IV-C3 ' 95.3 12.3 47.6 0.7 155.9
V-C3 54.9 15.6 53.2 0.6 124.3
VI-C3 58.4 19.8 51.1 0.4 129.7
VII-C3 89.9 23.1 52.2 0.4 165.6

388M USE 8152...

U“

 

S
E
R
A
R
m.
L
Y
T
R
F.
w
N
U
E
T
A
T
5
N