RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN EASILY AVAILABLE CARBOHYDRATES, NITROGEN RECOVERY, AND GROWTH OF SUGAR BEETS FERTILIZED WITH SEVERAL GREEN MANURES By BURLEIGH CARLYLE WEBB A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michig State College of A g ric u ltu re and Applied Science in p a r t i a l fulfillm ent of the re q u ire m e n ts fo r the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY D epartm ent of F a r m 1952 Crops ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The au th o r w ishes C. M. H a r r is o n , planning to e x p r e s s P rofessor of F a r m s c r i p t and offering of A g r ic u ltu r a l C h e m is tr y , c h em ic al a n a ly s e s , of F a r m C ro ps, c ritic ism s; fo r and to M r. Crops, fo r to D r. his a p p r e c ia tio n C ro p s, fo r and conducting th is p ro blem ; R e s e a r c h P r o f e s s o r in F a r m fessor his to D r. for E. S. read in g J. advice T. advice in D ex te r, the m a n u ­ Benne, P rofessor and a s s i s t a n c e H. M. Brown, his help in the his to Dr, in A ssista n t P r o ­ s t a t i s t i c a l analy se s TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I N T R O D U C T I O N ........................................'............................................................... 1 R E V IE W 3 OF LITERATURE ........................................................................ E X P E R IM E N T A L PERIOD I - GROWING THE GREEN MANURES ................................................................; ............................ 11 . . •........................................................................ 11 Harvesting the P l a n t s ........................................................................ 15 M a te r ia ls and Methods P reparation of Samples for Biochemical ........................................................................................................... 16 Methods of Chemical A n a l y s i s ................................................ 17 Statistical A n a l y s i s ................................................................................ 18 Analysis E xperim ental Results .................................................................................... Observation of Growth 19 .................................................................... 19 Yield of m a n u r e s ........................................................................ 20 EX PER IM EN TA L PERIOD II - UTILIZATION OF GREEN MANURES IN GROWING SUGAR BEETS M a te ria ls and Methods 36 ....................................................................... 36 Harvesting the P l a n t s ....................................................................... 41 P reparation for Chemical A n a l y s i s ....................................... 41 Experimental Results . . . . . ................................................................................... 42 iv Page Growth O b s e r v a t i o n s ...................................................................... 42 Yield of sugar b e e t s .......................................................... 43 N itrogen re c o v e r y of g reen m anures tu rn ed into clean sand .................................................. 60 M anurial efficiency index of m anures .................................................. tu rn ed into clean sand 64 DISCUSSION . . ............................................................................................................... 73 SUMMARY 79 ........................................................................................................................ LITERATURE CITED ............................................................. 85 INTRODUCTION One of the chief re a s o n s for provem ent of the physical condition of the in bulk of soil organic m a t t e r . point of view, re la tio n sh ip s, m a tte r fu rnish es to function. sto re on an altogether different soil physical condition, base and w ater-holding It is then, ex­ capacity, for organic the food and chem ical energy for soil o rg an ism s the dynamic action of soil org an ism s on m in e ra liz a tio n which d ete rm in es timate soil by the in c re a s e However, from a soil fe rtility g reen manuring takes asp ect fro m that of improving change green manuring is the i m ­ of organic m a t t e r , soil fertility , and not the u l ­ except as physical condition - might be a fa c to r. The m o s t abundant chem ical elem ents in the m a tte r whether are carbon, one is oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. However, concerned with protection against leaching of read ily soluble n u trien ts in an inorganic form , tion of added n itro gen to in c re a s e d rela tiv e soil organic crop yields, or the the question of availability of in c o rp o rate d organic m a te r ia l s into prom inence. contribu­ comes 2 The investigation r e p o r te d herein was to what extent the rela tiv e set up to determ ine a c c e ss ib ility of nitrogen to different plant species m ight influence the carb o hy d rate -n itro gen ships obtained in tr e a te d plants. F u r th e r , r e la tio n ­ this investigation was designed to a s c e r ta in the a s s im ila tio n of m in e ra liz e d organic n itrogen by sugar beets, dance of ea sily available and the influence energy so urces covery of nitrogen fro m green m a n u re s . the of the rela tiv e on the percentage The author rela tio nsh ip s between the total nitrogen and total s ta r c h content of g reen m an ure plants. of two experim ental periods and E xperim ental P e r io d II. abun­ re­ considered su gars The investigation and consisted designated as E xperim ental P e r io d I REVIEW OF LITERATURE P ie te rs m a n u re s and McKee can be found in the e a r l i e s t record ings p ractices. A c r it ic a l review of l i te r a t u r e can experim ent (1917). (1938) stated that the use As stations p r i o r seen from the to 1917 was m e n t stations were significance. of a g r ic u ltu r a l rep o rte d from A m e r i ­ given by A. J. P i e t e r s re p o r t of P i e t e r s , vestigations on green manuring of green p r io r to 1917, i n ­ conducted a t A m erican e x p e r i­ scant and often very lim ited in scope and Up to that time, m o s t work had been conducted at ex perim en t stations located in southeaste rn United States. investigations conducted in so uth easte rn United States were limited to only a few sum m er legumes, principally cowpeas. No consid eration was given to the m a n u re s, not, Even resid u al effects and r e s u lts indicated only that in m o re the use of legume of green c a s e s than g reen m a n u re s in c re a s e d the immediate crop yield. Jenson (1917) re p o rte d that the phosphorus was solubility of lime and ra is e d 30 to 100 p ercen t by the addition of 3 p e r c e n t organic m a tte r to the phosphorus in the soil. This in c re a s e of lime and soil solution did not include the m in e r a l 4 constituents which, came m a n u re crop. in the sam e d irec tly fro m the decomposing P o ta s s iu m , magnesium , green and iron were influenced way. Chang (1939) rep o rte d that the decomposition of plant m a terial outside of the during the e a r l i e r ganic phosphorus organic fractio n . r e g a r d le s s soil gave r e s u lt s stages of decomposition, the amount of o r ­ actually in c re a s e d at the expense of the in - ■ This in c re a s e of the n atu re to decomposition. in organic phosphorus o ccu rred and age of the plant m a te r ia l position of plant m a t e r i a l s P 32 as as the significant to the decom­ ratio of nitrogen to carbon. (1948) considered phosphorus in organic pounds to constitute in soils. subjected Chang also found that the ratio of organic nitrogen to organic phosphorus was as P ie rre which indicated that one-half or m o re White et al. com­ of the total amount p r e s e n t (1949) worked with alfalfa fo rtified with- a g reen m a n u re . Data obtained from th e ir work pointed out that green m an u re was as effective a source of phosphorus as p o ta ssiu m di-hydrogen phosphate on deficient so ils. Jenson (1917) and Mumford (1914) indicated that the activities of the soil m ic ro b ia l population were responsible for the m in e ra liz a tio n and re le a se of nitrogen and phosphorus from 5 some organic constituents. Mumford (1914) found that the s a t ­ is fa c to ry completion of the p r o c e s s e s nitrification in soils was e r a l fa c to rs , of ammonification and dependent upon the influence among which w ere the p re sen ce and a suitable of s e v ­ of soluble calcium, relationship between carbon and nitrogen. Lohnis (1926) did extensive work on nitrogen availability and n it r if ic a ­ tion of green m a n u re s which included both legumes legum es. According to Lohnis, leguminous g reen m a n u re s with an average the m a n u ria l the availability of nitrogen from v arie d between 16 and 87 percent, of 50 p e rc e n t of the total nitrogen content of crop. Waksman and Hutchins tra n s fo rm a tio n s of nitrogen were n atu re . on the soil organic m a tte r alm o st entirely m ic ro b ia l in However, to n it r a te s , soil m ic r o o r g a n is m s 1916). The m o s t gen available to plants act and b re a k it down, with the liberatio n som etim es sev ere o r oxidized also usable by higher plants. petition with higher plants for n u trie n ts , (Do ryland, soil o rg an ism s which may be utilized by higher plants, by autotrophic o rg an ism s were (1935) found that They rep o rte d that the hetero tro ph ic of ammonia, and non­ existed in d irec t com­ especially nitrogen competition was for the n i t r o ­ and soil m ic ro b e s , since re q u ire d by both the higher plants and the large amounts soil m icro b es. 6 Waksman (1938) rep o rte d that the existing ratio and the m anure chemical natu re of the plant m a te r ia l used as regulated the decomposition of plant re s id u e s subsequent r e le a s e of available nitrogen.. and Tenny (1927), the wider the the carb on-nitrogen same plant m a te r ia l, ate nitrogen as According to Waksman ratio of carbon to nitrogen of the longer the time ammonia. and the re q u ire d to l i b e r ­ T h eoretical calculations revealed that a carbon-n itro gen ratio in plant m a t e r i a l of about 3 0:1 was ficient to supply the nitrogen needs posing plant r e s id u e s . of m ic ro o rg a n is m s At a n a r r o w e r suf­ decom ­ ratio , n itro gen was lib erate d but if the ratio w ere wider than 3 0:1, additional nitrogen was re,quired fo r rapid decomposition of re sid u e s to take place. Rege (1927) contended that two fa c to rs which controlled biochemical decomposition of n atu ra l plant m a te r ia l in the p r e s ­ ence of a ssim ila b le nitrogen were the p re sen ce an energy supplier, substance. g r e a te r Where and the absence the ratio of pentosans as of lignin as an inhibitory of pentosans to lignin was num erically than unity, the plant m a t e r i a l was easily decomposed. Rege found that in c re a sin g the ratio of carb ohydrates in r e s i s t a n t m a te r ia l s by the addition of glucose, s ta r c h did not in c re a s e to lignin xylose, biochem ical decomposition. and Rege advanced 7 the th e s is that m ic r o o r g a n is m s nitrogenous plant ti s s u e s attacked nitrogenous o r non- only afte r the m ore easily available foodstuffs had been e n tir e ly consumed. R esults of experim ents re p o rte d by Allison (1927) r e ­ vealed that the addition to the soil of m a t e r i a l with a wide carb o n -n itro g en ratio made fo r in c re a s e d biological activity and a d e c re a se in o r g a n is m s . soil n it r a te s , due to a s s im ilia tio n by soil m i c r o ­ On the other hand, Collison and Conn (1925) a t ­ trib u ted low yields following application of low nitrogen m a te r ia ls to reduction in n it r a te s , pro d u cts as well as to the toxic effects of some of decomposition. Jensen (1929) found the varie d with the soil reaction. in alkaline soils was Jensen attrib ute d this c r it ic a l carbon-n itro gen ratio He re p o rte d th a t the c r itic a l 20 to 25, but in acid soil it was ratio 13 to 18. difference to the fact that fungi which p r e ­ dominated in acid soils had a higher nitrogen re q u ire m e n t. Salter (1931) contended that the nitrogen would not be available to grow­ ing p lants fro m plant r e s id u e s until the carb o n-n itrogen ratio in plant r e s id u e s was about 10:1. Rubins and B e a r (1942) showed that a n a tu ra l m a te r ia l of a given carb o n-n itro g en ratio yielded considerably le ss n itrate than 8 did a synthetic m ix tu re having the (1942), lulose same of ammonium sulphate and cellulose carb on -n itro gen ratio . a definite relationship decomposition. For According to Waksman existed between nitrogen and c e l­ every thirty p a r t s sumed by fungi and b a c te ria , of cellulose one p a r t of nitrogen was changed from an inorganic fo rm into m ic ro b ia l pro topla sm . used rye plants tained about as con­ a green m an ure 1.7 p e r c e n t nitrogen, Waksman and found that when it con­ there was ju st sufficient nitrogen to enable the m ic ro o rg a n is m s to bring about active d e ­ composition without any additional nitrogen so u rces, til re q uired fro m outside o r without any nitrogen being lib erated as considerable ammonia un­ reduction in bulk of the m a n u rial m a t e r i a l had taken place. Pinck, e_t al. (1948) r e p o rte d fro m their work that when f r e s h plant m a te r ia l was ratio was near at n a r r o w e r ra tio s g reen m a n u re . m a terials la rg e 35:1. considered, At wider the cro ps ra tio s , used c r itic a l carb on-n itro gen crop yields were d ecreased , some of the n itro gen fro m the During decomposition by m ic ro o rg a n is m s , with a carb o n -n itro g en ratio amounts of nitrogen as co rp o rate d the ammonia. of 3 0:1 or plant 20:1 lib erated Pinck et al. (1946) i n ­ straw and u r e a in various weight combinations into 9 the soil to d e te rm in e the to a growing crop fro m quantity of n itro gen that m u s t be added to cou n te ract the effects of the this in v estig ation indicated that the ra ti o v a r ie d with the c r it ic a l season of the y e a r . straw . R esults carb on -n itro gen Under w inter g re e n / house conditions, no in ju ry m er, if the c arb o n -n itro g en ratio were below 35:1, r e s u lte d to plant growth; w h ereas, in spring and sum ­ no in ju ry r e s u lt e d if the carb o n -n itro g en ratio w ere below 27:1. Bollen (1940) m e a s u r e d the organic m a t t e r in a r ti f ic i a l carbon dioxide evolution. dioxide like rate c u ltu re s by the quantity and r a te evolution was not in p ro p o rtio n to carbon content. conditions, p r e s e n t, and under the amount of carbon dioxide ganic m a t t e r was equivalent m o istu re evolved from native o r ­ and the carb o n -n itro g en support the did not n e c e s s a r i l y i n c r e a s e of a wide decomposition. sulphate and n it r a te s c a rb o n -n itro g e n ra tio , ra tio . Bollen also contention that the addition of n i t r o ­ gen to a soil containing organic m a t t e r tion of am m onium Under determ in ed by the amount of organic m a tte r soil te x tu re , cited evidence to of Bollen pointed to evidence that carbon conditions of te m p e r a tu r e , ratio, of decomposition of added carb o n -n itro g en Upon the ad d i­ to a soil of a wide Bollen a s s e r t e d that a d ep re ssiv e effect 10 m ay develop. that nitrogen This o c c u rre n c e compounds were was explained by the assum ption absorb ed by the humus complex in such a way as to te m p o r a r ily immobilize p reviously decom ­ posable carb on compounds. a ssim ila b le, organic The added nitrogen, being d irec tly relieved the m icro b es of the n e c e s s ity of decomposing compounds for nitrogen re q u ire m e n ts . With the advent of in c re a s e d i n t e r e s t in p rin cip les lying green m anuring, s u re the r a te the s e v e r a l methods have been devised to m e a ­ of decomposition of organic m a tte r in the subsequent ra te of r e le a s e nitrogen and radioactive re c e n t y e a r s u n d e r­ of nitrogen. carbon has P in ck et a l . (1945) used sudan g r a s s 1943; White et al., 1949). as in dicator M artin crop. carbon dioxide evolution which serv ed as a c r ite r io n of decomposition, Allison (1927) used a m e a s u r e The use of radioactive come into prominence in (Norman and Werkman, (1927) and Bollen (1940) m e a s u r e d soil and of n itr a te cato r of decomposition and nitrificatio n. while Mumford (1914) and accumulation as an ind i­ EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD I - GROWING THE GREEN MANURES M ate rials In E x p erim en t I, legumes and Methods selected plant species which, included and g r a s s e s were grown alone and in asso cia tio n under greenhouse conditions. tr e a tm e n ts . experim ent dealt with the effects tr e a tm e n ts the This They receiv ed th re e n u trie n t of n u trie n t on yield and carb o h y d rate -n itro g en rela tio n sh ip s of selected p lants. On October smooth b rom e 10, grass 1950, of alfalfa (Medicago (Bromus i n e r m i s ), ladino r e p e n s ), o rc h a rd g r a s s v illo s a ), and rye seeds (Dactylis (Secale clover sativ a), (Trifolium glome r a t a ) , h a iry vetch (Vicia c e rea le ) were planted alone and in m ix ­ tu re in clean, washed, No. 2 p l a s t e r e r s 162 fo ur-gallon glazed cro ck s. sand contained in each of Each crock was provided with one 3 /4 -in c h drainage hold located to the side and a t the bottom. G lass wool was used to cover the drainage hole in each crock so as to provide suitable All cu ltu res vetch, whether drainage for the cu ltu re s. which included alfalfa, ladino clover, grown in associatio n with selected g r a s s and species 12 or in pure c u ltu r e s , with c u ltu res w e re inoculated at the time of seeding of suitable Rhizobium in humus. The seeds were planted im m ed ia te ly a f te r inoculation. A fter com plete, a p erio d of th ree each culture weeks, was thinned to a uniform The e x p e rim e n t was a r r a n g e d (see Table 1). Each series stand. so as to provide nine contained a and co n siste d of eighteen c u ltu re s cated when germ in atio n appeared se rie s specified plant species with th r e e tr e a tm e n ts r e p li­ six ti m e s . Throughout the ceived T r e a tm e n t growing p erio d of each culture which 1, plants w ere fed ev ery q u art of Shive1s R5S2 n u trie n t solution, Re­ seven days with one M iller (193 8) which con­ tained the following: Reagent M olarity KH.PO 2 4 0.0180 Ca(NO ) J 0.0052 u M gS04 P la n ts 0.0150 which r e c e iv e d days with a modified Shive's not contain n itrogen. the following p r in c ip a l T re a tm e n t 2 were fed ev ery R5S2 n u trie n t seven solution which did This modified n u tr ie n t solution contained salts: 13 TABLE 1 SERIES DESIGNATIONS, PLANT SPECIES, AND NUTRITIONAL TREATMENTS S e rie s T reat- D esignations la Species Alfalfa 1 2a 3a 2 3 lb 2b 3b Alfalfa and Brom e G r a s s lc 2c 3c la Ila 1 2 3 Shive's complete solution Shive's solution le s s nitrogen Tap w ater Ladino 1 2 3 Shive's complete solution Shive's solution l e s s nitrogen Tap w ater Clover 111b G rass Ic lie O rc h a rd G r a s s 1 Shive's 2 3 Shive's solution le s s Tap w ater 1 Shive's complete solution Shive's solution l e s s nitrogen Tap w ate r 2 3 IIIc Vetch A2 A3 Lj> Vetch and Rye *3 c3 Shive's complete solution Shive's solution le s s nitrogen Tap w ater Brome G r a s s Ladino Clover and O rc h a rd C1 C2 T re a tm e n t Shive's complete solution Shive's solution le s s nitrogen Tap w ater lb lib B, 1 N utritional 2 3 Ilia A1 m ent No. Rye complete solution 1 2 3 S hive's Shive's 1 Shive's complete 2 Shive's solution le s s 3 Tap w a t e r - 1 Shive's Shive's 2 3 nitrogen complete solution solution le s s nitrogen Tap w ater solution nitrogen complete solution solution le s s nitrogen Tap w ater 14 Reagent Molarity KH PO 2 4 0.0180 CaCl 0.0052 b i MgS04 0.0150 All n u trie n ts were made with, tap water upon the dilution of each of four In all use, cases stock solutions rea g e n t grade sto ck solutions were chem icals were used. the However, upon stock solutions were discard ed solutions p re p a re d . The plants contained in those T re a tm e n t 3 serv ed as but th e se When not in kept in the greenhouse. the evidence of algal growth, and r e s h containing the individual s a lt s . cu ltu re s were checks, cultures which received and were fed no nutrie nt solution; kept w atered with tap w a te r throughout the duration of the experim ent. It was not found n e c e s s a r y in any case to add m inor elem ents to the T reatm en ts cu ltu res. Cultures of all s e r ie s which received 1 and 2 were flooded with tap water every twenty-one days in an effo rt to eliminate any ex cess salt accumulation brought about by differential absorption by growing plants. Daytime te m p e r a tu r e s in the greenhouse were maintained at approximately 68 degrees F ah renh eit throughout the experiment. 15 P la n ts under the of all c u ltu re s specified culture of the w ere p e r m itte d to grow conditions until flowering was several B which r e c e iv e d and s e r i e s se rie s. The vetch plants evident in any of s e r i e s A and T r e a tm e n t 2 w ere the f i r s t to give evidence of flowering. H arvesting the P la n ts Beginning on J a n u ary 26, H arv estin g p ro c e d u r e s w ere during the morning h o u rs 1951, all plants conducted as n early so as were h arv este d . as possible to elim inate undue v aria tio n s in carb ohydrate m e ta b o lism . H arv estin g the pla n ts of each cu ltu re m edium as consiste d p rin c ip a lly of removing as n e a r ly quantitatively fro m the conditions would p e r m i t. tionated into tops s p e c ie s. operation s The plants w ere then f r a c ­ and roots to include the nodules of the Roots w ere removed fro m the c u ltu res sand legume with m inim um loss by flooding each culture with tap w ater im m edia tely p r e ­ ceding and during of w ater was avoid lo ss rem o v a l. A continuous d ir e c te d upon the ro ots of nodular tis s u e fr o m the plants into designated p a r t s . as low p r e s s u r e they w ere the ro o ts p r i o r s tr e a m rem oved to to fractionating The e n tir e plants and fractions 16 w ere weighed im m ediately after n e a r e s t one-tenth gram . re c o rd e d sep arate ly for rem o val fro m the Green weights all p lants. sand to the of tops and roots were F rom each culture which involved asso ciate d growth, it was n e c e s s a r y to r e c o r d ro ot weights plants as "combined weight" of the a sso cia ted of the two species w ere species. entwined and very diffi­ cult to s e p a r a te . Top weights w ere the plants alone a n d /o r in asso ciation. grown Roots of re co rd ed sep arate ly fro m P r e p a r a ti o n of Samples for Biochemical Analysis After g reen weight yields w ere re c o rd e d fo r plants each cu ltu re, the sep arate d plant m a t e r i a l was bags in the oven and dried. d essication at a te m p e r a tu r e drying oven. sixteen h o u rs. The The drying period Reports placed in paper m a t e r i a l was subjected of 70° of to rapid Centigrade in a f o r c e d - a i r consisted of approxim ately of Loomis (1937) and Thomas (1927) indicated that this method does not m a te r ia l ly a l te r the status of the plant m e ta b o lite s. A fter the completion of the p eriod of dessication, plant m a te r ia l was allowed to atta in a state the m o istu re of the atm osphere. the of equilibrium with The d ry weights of the plant 17 m a t e r i a l were ial was r e c o r d e d as rough dry weight. sto red in covere d m a so n j a r s The d ry weight determ in ation s plant fra c tio n s of all plants until an aly se s w ere made. w ere m ade obtained f r o m ro o ts of the legume in a ss o c ia tio n w ere made a s was Dry weight d e t e r ­ and g r a s s and r e c o r d e d as of the en tire each culture, done in making g re e n weight d eterm in atio n s. m in atio ns of the The plant m a t e r ­ specie s grown dry weight of "com ­ bined r o o t s . 11 A pproximately 3 0 p e r c e n t of the re p lic a te d cultures p ro x im ate ly c u ltu re s was was r e s e r v e d for 70 p e r c e n t of the reserved dry weight yield of six chem ical an aly sis . Ap­ dry weight yield of six rep licate d as plant m a t e r i a l to be u sed as g reen m an u re. Methods of Chem ical Analysis Dried plant m a t e r i a l was ground in a Wiley m ill until all tiss u e would p ass which were a number r e s e r v e d for 20 sieve. Aliquots ch em ical analy sis w ere constant weight at a te m p e r a tu r e of 80 d eg rees of plant tissu e r e - d r i e d to a Centigrade. r e - d r i e d plant m a t e r i a l was placed in a d e s s ic a to r p r i o r ing out the aliquots for chem ical an aly sis . The to weigh­ 18 Total n itrogen was d e te rm in e d by the A.O.A.C. (1940) method of Kjeldahl, modified to include n it r a te s . Total su g a rs was d eterm in ed by the method of A.O.A.C. M unson-W alker ta b le s to tota l i n v e r t Total sulted fr o m the were used fo r su g ar. s ta r c h was d ete rm in ed by a p ro ced ure a collaborative of dissolved acid hydro ly sis calcium chloride s t a r c h as a sta rch -io d id e of s ta r c h to glucose. v e r te d to s ta r c h which r e ­ study by A.O.A.C. and b ased upon e x tra c tio n of s ta r c h with dilute p re c ip ita tio n conversion of sugar values values by the use solution, complex, Glucose values were of a suitable fa c to r and con­ (Hoffpauir). S ta tis tic a l A nalysis A nalysis Snedecor of v aria n ce (33) were in accordance used to evaluate with the methods of data concerning dry weight yie lds, both in E x p e rim e n ta l P e r io d I and E xp erim en ta l P e r io d II. The significance (MS e r r o r ) (Snedecor, of the derived 11F 1' values, F = (MS t r e a t . ) / was d eterm in ed by r e f e r e n c e to stand ard tables 1946). 19 E x p erim en tal R esu lts O b se rvation of Growth T r e a tm e n ts 1, Z, and 3 a r e NPK tr e a tm e n t, PK tr e a tm e n t, h ereafter r e f e r r e d to as and tap w ater tr e a tm e n t, respec­ tively. Approximately five weeks a f te r sp ecie s which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n t c h lo ro s is germ ination, all g r a s s showed varying d e g r e e s diagnosed by v is u a l symptoms as n itro g e n deficiency. The deficiency symptoms w ere quite pronounced, as shown by d is tin c t yellowing and subsequent browning which was app ro xim ately o n e -th ird of the the b a s e . w ere G rasses growth over the same grass species evident on the tip tow ard which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n ts o r which showed in c r e a s e d which receiv ed PK t r e a t ­ or which r e c e iv e d only tap w ater. In general, plants tr e a tm e n t, pure leaf blades fro m grown in a sso cia tio n with sele c te d legumes m e n ts , of whether legume culture than th e ir tap w ate r. of all c u ltu res which receiv ed NPK sp ecies o r in asso ciatio n , or grass sp e c ie s, grown in exhibited a m o re vigorous c o u n te rp a rts which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n ts Alfalfa and vetch made growth or only as m uch growth when fu rn ish ed 20 P K t r e a tm e n t as they did when nitrogen was fu rn ished in the n u trie n t solution. The pla nts of those c u ltu re s (T re a tm e n t 3) made v e ry little tom s receiving only tap w ate r growth. However, visual sy m p ­ of n utritio n al d efic ien cie s were not as pronounced as exhibited by g r a s s tr e a tm e n t. s p ecie s c u ltu res which receiv ed PK This was pro bably due to the f a c t that plants ceiving only tap w a te r m etabolic of those were m aintained in a state activity during the A fter course of the approxim ately eight w eeks' those re­ of v e r y low exp erim ent. growth, rye plants which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t showed evidence of mildew on the le av es and s te m s. This condition was weeks by reducing the tion of dusting sulphur frequency of w aterin g and by the a p p lic a ­ to the A c o m p a ris o n of the sentative c u ltu re s c o r r e c te d over a p eriod of two stem s rela tiv e and leaves of infected p la n ts . growth attained in r e p r e ­ can be obtained f r o m F ig u r e s I, II, III, and IV. Yield of m a n u r e s . weight p er culture sented in Table 2. The average of all p la n t species g reen weight and dry and asso cia tio n s are p re­ 21 iLADINO NPK F ig u re I. iLADIMO PK LADINO CK Growth resp o n se gen. of ladino clover and alfalfa to n i t r o ­ NPK Culture receiv ed Shive's complete n u trien t solution. PK Culture r e c e iv e d Shive’s solution minus nitrogen, CK C ultures receiv ed tap w a te r. F ig u re II. Growth resp on se to nitro gen of c u ltu res involving a s ­ sociated growth of a lfa lfa -b ro m e g r a s s and ladino c lo v e r - o r c h a r d g r a s s . NPK C ultures r e c e iv e d Shive's complete n u trie n t solution. PK C ultures r e c e iv e d Shive's solution minus nitrogen,. CK C ultures e rra ta : r e c e iv e d tap w ate r. O rch PK to L a d -O rc h PK. 23 ORCH PK F ig u r e III. Growth resp o n se NPK C ultures PK C ultures CK Cultures to nitro gen of rye receiv ed Shive's ORCH CK and o rc h a rd g r a s s . complete n u trie n t solution. receiv ed Shive's solution minus nitrogen. receiv ed tap w ate r. I 24 JA : VETCH , I NPK Figure IV. Growth, re sponse NPK Cultures ■r k vn MUCH -PK MUCH CK to nitrogen of rye and vetch. receiv ed Shive's complete n u trien t solution. PK C ultures received Shive's solution minus nitrogen. CK Cultures received tap w ater. 25 TABLE 2 AVERAGE GREEN WEIGHT AND DRY WEIGHT OF PLANTS P E R CULTURE AT TIME OF HARVEST S e rie s D e sig ­ Spe cie s nation la 2a Alfalfa 3a lb 2b 3b Alfalfa and Brom e G r a s s lc 2c 3c B rom e G r a s s la Ila Ilia Ladino lb lib Ladino Clover and O rc h a rd Mb G rass Ic lie O rchard G rass T re a t­ ment Weight Average Dry Weight gm s. gm s. NPK PK 66.5 69.3 H20 10.9 NPK PK 157.1 h 2o 125.9 15.8 NPK PK 135.5 20.3 h 2o Clover Ave rage G reen 7.1 11.8 12.2 1.7 23.2 13.6 3.3 22.5 5.1 1.7 NPK 195.7 PK h 2o 104.5 12.3 NPK 204.1 PK h 2° 112.9 22.8 NPK PK h 2o 192.0 32.1 35.0 12.5 7.9 2.1 Vetch NPK PK • h 2o 275.1 297.8 64.0 34.6 31.4 9.8 B1 B2 b3 Vetch and Rye NPK 314.2 38.3 PK h 2o 310.4 3 6.6 39.4 6.7 Cl Rye NPK PK h 2o 191.8 36.5 22.7 30.1 7.6 5.3 IIIc Al A2 a 3 c2 C3 19.1 16.4 1.6 29.0 17.3 3.5 Difference r e q u ir e d for significance between m ean dry weights in g ra m s of plants which received NPK and P K tr e a tm e n ts . P .05 = 4.86. 26 With the weight yield p er crease over exception of alfalfa cu ltu res which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n ts o r which and which did not include a source The i n c r e a s e in d r y weight of the legume which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n ts receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n ts was as of legume species used as which receiv ed of no s ta tis tic a l species significance. dry weight yield p e r checks, T re a tm e n t of com pared to those which The difference between the av erage sp ecie s the av erag e dry culture which r e c e iv e d nitrogen showed an in ­ re c e iv e d only tap w ater nitro gen. c u ltu re s , culture T re a tm e n t 3, and the legume 1 or 2 was of outstanding sig n ifican ce. Of the mixed um es cu ltu res which involved the growth of le g ­ and nonlegumes in a s s o c ia te d r e c e iv e d NPK tr e a tm e n ts yields than cultures growth, the showed significantly cu ltu res which g r e a te r which receiv ed PK tre a tm e n t. which involved vetch and rye asso cia tio n s, dry weight In the se rie s th e re w ere no signif­ ican t differences in dry weight yields between the cu ltu res which re ceiv ed NPK and those which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n t. In a ll cases to n itrogen as the g r a s s sp ecie s showed decided re spo n se evidenced by a com paratively la rg e g reen and dry 27 weight yield difference between the c u ltu re s which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t and c u ltu res which re c e iv e d PK tr e a tm e n ts or only tap w ater. In all c a s e s the d ry weight yield was in c u ltu re s which receiv ed only tap w ater significantly le s s than in cu ltu res which receiv ed NPK o r PK treatm en ts.. It is generally observed that with an in c r e a s e in n i t r o ­ gen supply to growing plants th e re is root ratio . this The rela tio n ship r e s u lt s h ere except in the The rela tio n sh ip s developed a wide sh o o t/ as p r e s e n te d in Table 3 confirm case of vetch p la n ts . of shoot to r o o t in m ixed cu ltu res which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n t approached that of the p lants c u ltu res which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t. lationships a r e source affected, of nitrogen is r e s u lts h ere As the of no p a r ti c u la r combined nitrogen or fixed n itrogen is s h o o t-ro o t rela tio n ship s With the are sh o o t-ro o t r e ­ support the view that the concern available to and a s s im ila b le by growing plants. the contained in so long as F u r th e r , i t is whether utilized by legume species, com parable. exception of vetch plants, the p erc en ta g e of total n itro gen contained in the plants was higher in those plants re ceiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n ts m e n t. which than in those which receiv ed P K t r e a t ­ However, the difference between the total nitrogen found TABLE 3 PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL NITROGEN IN ENTIRE PLANT AND THE SHOOT/ROOT RATIO OF PLANTS AT TIME OF HARVEST S e rie s D esig­ nation Species T re a t­ ment T otal Nitrogen Shoot/ ro o t Ratio % la 2a Alfalfa 3a lb 2b Alfalfa and Brom e G r a s s 3b 1c Brome G rass 2c 3c la II a Ladino Clover lb lib Ladino Clover and O rch ard Illb G ra s s Ic lie IIIc O rc h a rd G r a s s A1 A2 a 3 Bl Vetch NPK PK h 2o 2.86 2.79 1.52 0.71 NPK 2.72 2.70 PK h 2o 0.72 1.18 0.37 0.59 NPK 3.48 2.96 7.50 5.30 2.01 0.92 NPK PK h 2o 2.69 1.94 2.30 2.10 1.40 NPK PK h 2o 2.70 0.58 1.36 2.60 0.71 0.96 NPK PK 3.20 3.22 6.50 9.10 2,3 7 0.73 2.56 2.47 1.66 3.30 3.80 2.42 0.76 2.90 h Vetch and Rye B2 B3 C1 3.34 3*02 PK h 2o Ilia 2o NPK PK H2 ° Rye 2.90 NPK PK h 2o NPK PK 3.15 1.49 2.50 1.00 1.80 1.20 0.71 0.80 29 in the legume legume s p ecie s which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t and the species which receiv ed PK tr e a tm e n t was significance. of dubious Likew ise, in cu ltu res which involved a s s o c ia te d growth of legum es and nonlegumes the difference between the p ercen ta g e nitrog en in the plants which receiv ed NPK t r e a t ­ m e n t and those which r e c e iv e d PK tr e a tm e n t was significance. These included legume specie s o r fixed nitrogen, nitro g en was resu lts probably indicate w ere able to utilize no m a t e r i a l that whether the combined n itro gen change in the p erc en ta ge of total evident. Relationships between total carb o hy d ra te s gen within the plants a r e tion of a v ery p re s e n te d in Table 4. slight deviation in the and vetch and ry e carb o h y d rate s of doubtful series grown in associatio n, and total n itro g en was and total n i t r o ­ With the excep­ which involved vetch, the ra ti o between total generally wider in plants which receiv ed P K tr e a tm e n t than in plants which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t. the As in the case of n itrogen s h o o t-ro o t r e la tio n s h ip s , have had no outstanding lation ship s, the effect on the However, it a p p ears growth of legum es so urce source and its of nitrogen effect on seem ed to carb o h y d ra te -n itro g e n r e ­ that in cu ltu re s which involved and nonlegumes in asso cia tio n th ere probably TABLE 4 CARBOHY DRATE-N ITRO GEN RELA TIONSHIPS O F P L A N T S AT TIME O F HARVEST S e ries D e s ig ­ n a tio n S p e c ie s T re a t­ m ent T o ta l 1 C arbo­ h y d ra te T o ta l C arbo­ h y d ra te Total* N itro g e n T otal N itr o g e n 1c gm s. % g m s. C /N * R atio la 2a 3a A lfalfa NPK PK h 2o 10,47 13.14 6.91 1.24 1.60 0.12 3.34 3.02 3.15 0.39 0.37 0.05 3.13 4.35 2..19 lb 2b 3b A lfalfa B ro m e G rass H PK PK 4.61 10.67 10.06 . 1.07 1.45 0.33 2.86 2.79 1.52 0-.70 0.38 .0.05 1.60 3.81 6.60 lc 2c 3c B ro m e G r a s s NPK PK H2° 3.85 9:35 11.99 0.87 0.48 0.20 2.72 0.72 1.18 0.61 0.04 0.02 1.41 13.05 10.17 la Ha Ilia L adino C lo v er NPK PK h 2° 5.07 5.27 5.77 0.97 0.86 0.09 3.48 2.96 2.01 0.66 0.49 0,03 1.45 1.77 2.78 lb lib Illb L adino and O rchard G rass NPK PK 3.04 5.44 6.42 0.88 0.94 0.51 2.69 1.94 1.49 0.78 0.34 0.05 1.12 2.80 4.30 H2 ° H2 ° • TABLE 4 (Continued) S eries D e s ig ­ n a tio n S p e c ie s T re a t­ m ent T o ta l 1 C arbo­ h y d ra te T otal C arbo­ h y d ra te T o ta l 1 N itro g e n T o tal N itro g e n % gm s. % gm s. 2.70 0.58 1.36 0.87 0.05 0.03 1.07 9.29 3.86 3.20 . 3.22 2.37 1.10 1.04 0.23 0.98 0.98 0.50 C /N * R atio Ic lie IIIc O rchard G rass NPK PK h 2° 2.89 5.44 5.29 0.93 0.43 0.11 A1 a 2 a3 V etch NPK PK h 2o 3.18 3.17 1.19 1.10 ' 0.96 0.01 B1 b2 b3 V etch and Rye NPK PK h 2o 4.31 3.67 4.56 1.66 1.45 0.31 2.56 2.47 1.66 0.98 0.97 0.11 1.68 1.51 2.74 Cl C2 C3 V etch NPK PK h 2o 2.99 7.49 6.87 0.90 0.57 0.36 2.42 0.76 0.80 0.73 0.06 0.04 1.24 9.87 8.58 P e r c e n t a g e of d r y w eight. C /N r a tio = (C a rb o h y d ra te %) / (N itro g e n %). 32 w ere significant differences, in the ratio of carbo h yd rate s to n itro g en between plants which receiv ed NPK tr e a tm e n t and those which r e c e iv e d PK tr e a tm e n t. bility of legum es com m en su rate R esu lts suggested that the i n a ­ to supply nitro g en to nonlegumes in amounts with the ability of the nonlegume to a s s im ila te fixed nitro g en m akes for a d is crep an c y in the nitro g en rela tio n sh ip carbohydrate - d ifferen c es. R esults which show the rela tio n sh ip s between total n i t r o ­ gen and total in Table 5. c o n sid ers s u g a rs , The tota l nitrogen and total same s ta r c h a r e p r e s e n te d g e n e ra l rela tio n sh ip s p r e v a il when one re la tio n s h ip s between total n itrogen and total s u g a r s , and total n itro g en and s t a r c h as when combined values the total ca rb o h y d ra te s . It is significant to note th a t the rye p lants which r e c e iv e d NPK tr e a tm e n t w ere an a ly sis to contain no NPK tr e a tm e n t s a ly s is s ta r c h . rep resen t shown by chem ical The ry e plants which r e c e iv e d and PK tr e a tm e n ts w ere shown by chem ical a n ­ to be re la tiv e ly poor in content of read ily available carbo­ h y d ra te s. B rom e grass, and PK tr e a tm e n t s orchard g rass, and rye which r e c e iv e d NPK showed a tendency toward re la tiv e ly low s ta r c h TABLE 5 RELATION SH IPS O F T O TA L NITROGEN AND TOTAL SUGARS AND STARCH O F P L A N T S A T TIME O F HARVEST S e r ie s D e s ig ­ n a tio n S p e c ie s la 2a 3a A lfalfa lb 2b 3b A lfalfa B ro m e lc 2c 3c T re a t­ m ent NPK PK T o ta l 1 S ugar S ta rc h 1 % % T o ta l 1 N itr o g e n R a tio s^ S u g a r/N : S t a r c h / N 2.98 3.17 4.82 7.49 9.97 2.09 3.34 3.02 3.15 o;89 1.05 1.53 2.24 3.30 0.66 N PK PK h 2o 2.67 5.08 8.98 1.94 5.59 1.08 2.86 2.79 1.52 0.93 1.82 5.91 0..68 2,00 0,71 B ro m e NPK PK h 2o 3.37 9.01 11.59 0.48 0.34 0.40 2.72 0.72 1.18 1.24 12.51 9.82 0.18 0.47 0.38 la Ha Ilia L adino C lo ver NPK PK h 2° 3.74 3.37 3.22 ' 1.33 1.90 2.55 3.48 2.96 2.01 1.07 1.14 1.60 0.38 0.64 1.27 lb lib 111b L adino C lo v er and O r c h a r d G rass NPK PK h 2o 2.49 4.25 5.23 0.55 1.19 1.19 2.69 1.94 1.49 0.93 2.19 3.51 0.20 0.61 0.80 H2 ° TABLE 5 (Continued) S e ries D e s ig ­ n a tio n S p e c ie s Ic lie IIIc A1 % S u g a r /N : S t a r c h / N 0.33 0.31 0.31 2.70 0,58 1.36 0.95 8.84 3.66 0.12 0.53 0.23 V etch N PK PK h 2o 2.72 2.64 0.95 0.46 0.53 0.24 3.20 3.22 2.37 0.85 0.82 0.40 0.14 0.17 0.10 V etch Rye NPK PK h 2o 3.99 • 2.92 4.25 0.32 0.75 0.31 2.56 2.47 1.66 1,56 1.18 2.56 0.13 0.30 0.19 Rye N PK PK h 2o 2.99 7.03 6.84 0.00 0.46 0.03 2.42 0.76 0.80 1.24 9.25 8.55 0.00 0.61 0.04 B2 3 c 3 % R a tio s ^ 2.56 5.13 4.98 b C2 S ta rch 1 T o ta l 1 N itro g e n N PK PK h 2° A3 Cl T o ta l 1 Sugar O rchard G rass A2 Bl T re a t­ m ent P e r c e n t a g e of d ry w eight. 2 S u g a r /N = (T o ta l S ug ar %) / (T o ta l N itro g e n % ). S t a r c h / n = (T o ta l S ta rc h % ) / (T o tal N itro g e n % ). • • 35 v alues when c o m p a re d to le g u m es ciatio n s which re c e iv e d or co m p arab le legum e-nonlegum e tr e a t m e n t s . asso- EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD II - UTILIZATION OF GREEN MANURES IN GROWING SUGAR BEETS M aterials A p p ro x im ate ly p la n ts as the from and Methods seventy p e r c e n t of the total six r e p lic a te d c u ltu re s of E x p e rim e n t I w ere g r e e n m a n u re in E x p e r im e n t II. six r e p li c a te d and Snyder c u ltu r e s w ere com posited. quan titativ ely into The six equal p o rtio n s These However, P o t t e r g reen m a n u r e s com posited lot was low­ divided and mixed in tim a te ly with sand inclu d ed in each of 6 fo u r-g a llo n a 3 / 4 - in c h drain ag e hole. used The d rie d m a t e r i a l f r o m (1917) found that drying legume e r e d t h e i r m a n u r i a l efficiency. d ry weight of glazed pots provided with six c u ltu re s m ade up a single se ries. In each of the se rie s, quots w e r e in c o r p o r a te d into was i n c o r p o r a t e d into the ing p la n ts w ere w ere c o n tro ls clean, unused a li­ sand and o ne-h alf sand m e d iu m in which the grown f o r g re e n m a n u re which had r e c e iv e d u sed a s one-half of the g reen m a n u re correspond­ in E x p e r im e n t I, c o rresp o n d in g t r e a t m e n t s . C u ltu res and to be in E x p e r im e n t II r e c e iv e d no g r e e n m a n u re , but w a te r e d with tap w a te r . Twelve pots w ere s e t up as co ntrols 37 A sch em atic in Table 6. tim e s . r e p r e s e n ta tio n of tr e a tm e n ts i s Each, t r e a tm e n t except co ntrols was T r e a tm e n ts the m a n u r e s , r e f e r r e d to a r e w hether into m eth o d s. set up as of inc o rp o ratin g a s p lit plot design in the G re e n m a n u re s were in c o rp o ra te d by two different O ne-half of the g reen m a n u re E x p e rim e n t I was in c o rp o rated into half was in c o rp o ra te d into the fro m any one clean, sub-p lo ts of the The g re e n m a n u re unused sand, aliquots were in c o rp o ra te d into ap p ro x­ twelve inches in height. of g reen m a n u re s m a n u re and one- split plot design. The crock s w ere In the case clean sand, appro x im ately four inches organic m a tte r of These m ethods w ere im a te ly fifteen kilos of m o is t sand. ated into se rie s sand m edium in which the c o r ­ responding m a n u re plants o rig in ally grew. tr e a te d as re p lic a te d th ree clean sand or into used sand. E x p e rim e n t II was greenhouse. the methods p r e s e n te d appro xim ately in c o rp o r­ of sand f r e e was placed in the bottom of each cro ck. of G reen aliquots w ere m ix ed intim ately with a volume of sand n e c e s s a r y to b rin g the level of the in c h es. the la y e r sand in the cro ck s The s a n d - g r e e n m a n u re m ix tu re to eight was placed on top of of sand to which no organic m a t t e r had been added. A tw o-inch la y e r of sand was placed on top the s a n d -g re e n 38 TABLE 6 SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF EXPERIMENT II G r e e n M an ure T re a t­ m e n t in Expt. I S e r ie s D e s ig ­ nation TREATMENTS IN Sand Used M anure Added g m s./p o t A lfalfa NPK NPK la - 1 la -2 clean used 10.70 10.70 A lfalfa PK PK 2a-1 clean used 8.00 8.00 0.51 Alfalfa * 2a-2 h 2o 3 a-1 h 2o 3a-2 clean used clean used 13.10 13.10 0.51 A lfalfa and B ro m e G r a s s NPK NPK lb -1 lb - 2 A lfalfa and B ro m e G r a s s PK PK 2 b-1 2b-2 clean used 7.60 7.60 A lfalfa and h 2° h 2° 3b- 1 3b-2 clean used 2.14 2.14 NPK NPK lc - 1 - lc - 2 clean used 15.10 15.10 B ro m e G rass B ro m e G rass B rom e G rass PK PK 2c- 1 2c-2 clean used 3.58 ‘3.58 B ro m e G rass h 2o h 2o 3 c- 1 3c-2 clean used 1.16 1.16 Ladino Clover NPK la -1 12.30 NPK la -2 clean used 12.30 PK PK II a - 1 IIa-2 clean used 11.22 11.22 h 2o h 2o Ilia - 1 Ilia -2 clean used 1.10 1.10 NPK NPK Ib-1 Ib-2 clean used 19.30 19.30 Ladino Ladino Clover Clover Ladino Clover and O rchard G rass 39 TABLE 6 (C o n tin u ed ) T re a t­ G re e n M anure m e n t in Expt. I S e r ie s D e s ig ­ nation Sand Used Manur e Added g m s. /p o t Ladino Clover and O rch ard G rass PK PK lib - 1 IIb-2 clean used 10.40 10.40 Ladino C lover and O rch ard G rass H2 ° HzO Illb -1 IIIb-2 clean u sed 2.29 2.29 O rch ard G rass NPK NPK Ic-1 Ic-2 clean u sed 21.98 21.98 PK PK IIc-1 l i e -2 clean u sed 5.20 H29 h 2o IIIc-1 IIIc-2 clean used 1.30 1.30 NPK NPK Ax-1 A x-2 clean u sed 23.50 PK a 2- PK A2-2 clean u sed 22.26 22.26 4.70 4.70 O rch ard G rass O rch ard G rass Vetch V etch V etch Vetch and Rye Vetch and Rye 23.50 h 2o a h 2o A3 -2 clean used NPK NPK B x-1 B x-2 clean used 22.60 PK b 2- i B 2-2 clean u sed 25.80 25.80 PK 3- i 5.20 i 22.60 Vetch and Rye Hz ° h 2o b 3- i B3 -2 clean u sed 6.40 6.40 Rye NPK NPK C j-I Cx-2 clean u sed 20.70 20.70 Rye PK c 2-i 7.80 PK C2-2 clean used 7.80 C3 - l C3-2 clean used 3.60 3.60 clean 0 .00 Rye None h 2o h 2o Control 40 m a n u re m i x tu r e . This a r r a n g e m e n t of g r e e n m a n u re p la c e m e n t was done in an effort to reduce the cu ltu re which contained the eral procedure u sed g reen m a n u r e . was u s e d for th o s e sand was included. crocks, was m ix e d , included some some m o d u la r tissu e from sam e g en ­ c u ltu r e s in which p re v io u s ly of sand which and w ith which the ro o t fra g m e n ts the p la n ts A ll g r e e n m a n u re m i x t u r e s wetted with tap w ater The However, the f i r s t la y e r co v e re d the bottom of the n u re drying out of th a t p o rtio n of and p robably grown in E x p e r im e n t I. included in the and kept m o i s t for during which time the org anic m a t t e r green m a ­ cro ck s w ere a period of ten days, additions w ere p e r m i tte d to begin decom position. Seeds fla ts of sugar b e e ts containing m o is t planted on M a r c h 3, and to sand alone. th r e e seed lin gs any kind was sand. (Beta v u lg a ris ) were T e n -d a y -o ld 1951, to the Seedlings p e r pot. g e r m in a te d in seedlings w ere tran s­ s a n d - g r e e n m a n u re m ix tu r e s w ere tr a n s p la n te d at the r a te No n u tr i e n t solution or f e r t i l i z e r applied except the g r e e n m a n u r e s . w e r e w a te r e d with tap w a te r only. of of A ll c u ltu res 41 H a rv e s tin g Beginning on May 24, h a r v e s te d . p la n ts the 1951, During the h a r v e s tin g were all o p e ra tio n s sand m e d iu m in which they grew . the each w ere culture weights w e r e ro o ts . Tops p la n ts fo r f r a c tio n s d r ie d A dhering and ro o ts recorded as w ere s u g a r beet sand was of the pla nts f r o m c u ltu re , to f a c ilita te the b e tte r at a t e m p e r a t u r e gram and g reen weight y ie ld s. C hem ical A nalysis g r e e n weight d e te r m in a tio n s each in a fo rc e d the weighed to the n e a r e s t o n e-te n th P re p a ra tio n for A fte r su g ar b eet p la n ts re m o v e d as n e a r l y q uantitatively as p o s s ib le f r o m w ash ed f r o m the the P la n t s larg er ro o ts drying. r e c o r d e d fo r w ere cut into sm aller The pla n t m a t e r i a l was of a p p ro x im a te ly d r a f t drying oven. w ere 70 d e g r e e s The p la n t m a t e r i a l Centigrade contained in p a p e r bags w as weighed im m e d ia te ly a f te r i t was ta k en fr o m the oven. c u l tu r e . was m ill. until Oven d ry weights Im m e d ia te ly a f te r recorded, the w ere the r e c o r d e d fo r p la n ts dry weight fo r any one of each cu ltu re d r ie d p la nt m a t e r i a l was ground in a Wiley The p la n t m a t e r i a l was then ch em ic al a n a ly s e s w ere m ade. s to r e d in closed Mason j a r s 42 At the tim e t e r i a l was of ch e m ic a l a n a ly sis the s to r e d plant m a ­ r e d r i e d to a co nstan t weight and d eterm in atio n s to ta l n itr o g e n w e r e m ade by methods E x p e r im e n ta l of A.O.A.C. fo r (1940). R esu lts Growth O b se rv a tio n s Throughout the v ary ing degrees s e r v e d th a t of le a f c h lo ro s is signs noticeable. of leaf c h l o r o s i s . grow th p e r io d a la rg e the m o r e w ere sug ar b eet p la n ts, It was ob­ s u g a r b eet p la n ts which showed e a r l i e s t growth also showed e a r l i e s t of the growing p e r io d of the p e r c e n ta g e vigoro us p la n ts had d rie d . During the l a t t e r p a r t of the T hese o ld er le av es d r ie d le av es were c o lle c te d and la beled, to be added to the d r y m a t t e r y ield of the p a r t i c u l a r from a t the tim e vigorous tro ls which they were p la nts had b e e n and those rem oved. In all c u ltu r e s form in g the sam e p la n ts a T herefo re the m o s t except con­ which r e c e iv e d c o m p a ra tiv e ly s m a ll am ounts o ld e r le av es s h a rp g re w angle The younger le av es out in an a l m o s t e r e c t position, with the of a p p e a re d to have grown out fr o m crow n in a n e a r l y h o riz o n ta l positio n. on the taken. of h a r v e s t m o s t of the o ld e r le a v e s f r o m g r e e n m a n u re , the cu ltu re fr o m crown. thus 43 At the time of h a r v e s t , re c e iv e d c o m p a r a tiv e ly la rg e la rg e r s m a ll in s iz e in r e p r e s e n t a t i v e c u ltu re data p r e s e n t e d of the c u l tu r e s Yield of s u g a r p re se n te d b eets. in Table g reen m anures se rie s was p ro b ab ly In th o s e sand, amounts c u ltu r e s co m p arativ e ly 7. the a v e ra g e V throu g h XII. d r y weight of su g ar When co m paring the re co g n ized th a t the av erag e w ere c u ltu r e s or w e re in which into cle an to methods due to the p r e s e n c e contained in the m a n u re s d ry weight yields sand. of turning the of r e s id u a l u s e d sand. w ere tu rn e d voider of b e e ts c o n s is te d of o r c h a r d g r a s s and which r e c e i v e d n itro g en in E x p e r im e n t I. y ield d if fe re n c e s d ry tu rn ed u n d er into u sed were tu r n e d u n d e r in which the h ig h e st when the m a n u r e s chard g ra s s were of growth attained in F i g u r e s av erag e in y ie ld a ttr ib u ta b le n itro g e n and p la n t f r a g m e n t s alone The 7 it is sand than when the m a n u r e s into cle an of g r e e n m a n u re was h ig h e r in those of any one The d if f e r e n c e s re la tiv e is p r e s e n t e d in Table weight of s u g a r b e e ts m a n u re s q u an tities which of g r e e n m a n u re . A c o m p a r is o n the sugar b e e t plants than th o se p la n ts which r e c e iv e d q u an tities b e e ts p e r those were grown However, s m a ll between beets f e r t i l i z e d with o r ­ vetch which r e c e iv e d n itro g en in E x p erim en t I. 44 F ig u r e V. G row th r e s p o n s e m en ts . Upper p h o to g rap h of s u g a r b e e t s shows c u ltu r e s the low er ph otograph shows the have b e e n taken f r o m Ia-1 the to d e s ig n a te d t r e a t ­ inta ct, w h ereas s a m e p la n ts which c u l tu r e s . g r e e n m a n u re c o n s is te d of ladino clover which re c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t 1 in E x p e r im e n t I. IIa-1 g r e e n m a n u re c o n s is te d of ladino which re c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t clo ver 2 in E x p e rim e n t I. IIIa-1 g r e e n m a n u re c o n s is te d of ladino which r e c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t clover 3 in E x p e rim e n t I. la -1 g r e e n m a n u re c o n s is te d of alfalfa which re c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t 1 in E x p e r i m e n t I. Za-1 g re e n m a n u re c o n s is te d r e c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t 3a-1 of alfalfa which 2 in E x p e r i m e n t I. g r e e n m a n u re c o n s is te d of alfalfa which r e c e iv e d t r e a t m e n t 3 in E x p e r i m e n t I. A ll g reen m a n u r es w ere s a n d i n E x p e r i m e n t II. tu r n e d u n d e r in to c le a n 45 L a d in o NPK W eig h t PK of M a n u r e 12.30 F ig u r e C lo v e r 11.22 V. A lf a lf a H zO A d d ed 1.10 NPK W eight PK of M a n u r e 10.70 8.00 G row th c o m p a r iso n of su g a r b e e ts fr o m n u r e s tu r n e d in to c le a n s a n d . H zO A d d ed 0.51 green m a ­ 46 F ig u r e V I. G row th r e s p o n s e m en ts. of su g a r b e e t s Upper p h o to g ra p h the shows c u ltu res lo w e r p h o to g ra p h shows have b een ta ken f r o m lb - 1 to d e s i g n a t e d t r e a t ­ the the in ta c t, sam e w h e re a s p la n ts which c u ltu re s. g reen m anure c o n s i s t e d of a l f a l f a - b r o m e grass which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t m i x tu r e 1 in E x p e r i m e n t I. 2 b-1 green m anure c o n s is te d grass m i x tu r e which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t of a l f a l f a - b r o m e 2 in E x p e r i m e n t I. 3b-1 green m a n u re c o n s i s t e d of a l f a lf a - b r o m e grass m ix tu re w hich r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 3 in E x p e r i m e n t I. Ib-1 green m anure c o n s is te d of lad in o orch ard m i x tu r e g rass tre a tm e n t lib -1 green clo v e r- which r e c e i v e d 1 in E x p e r i m e n t I. m a n u re c o n siste d of ladin o clo v er- o r c h a r d g r a s s m i x tu r e which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 2 in E x p e r i m e n t I. Illb -l g reen m an u re c o n s i s t e d of ladino orchard m i x tu r e grass tre a tm e n t A ll g r e e n m a n u r e s clo v er- which r e c e i v e d 3 in E x p e r i m e n t I. w ere sand in E x p e r i m e n t II. tu r n e d un d er into cle an 47 A lfalfa and B ro m e G rass NPK PK H20 Weight of M an ure Added 13.10 F ig u r e 7.60 V I. 2.14 Ladino Clover and O r c h a r d G r a s s N PK PK HzO Weight of M an u re Added 10.30 10.40 2.29 G r o w th c o m p a r is o n o f s u g a r b e e t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith g r e e n m a n u r e tu r n e d in to c le a n s a n d . 48 F ig u r e V II. G r o w th , r e s p o n s e m en ts . U pper p h o to g ra p h the of su gar b e e ts shows lo w e r p h o to g ra p h have b e e n ta k en f r o m B ^-l g r e e n m a n u re c u ltu re s shows the the to d e s ig n a t e d t r e a t ­ in ta c t, s a m e p la n ts g re e n m anure which c u ltu res. c o n siste d of v e t c h - r y e t u r e which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t m e n t I. B ^-l w hereas 1 in E x p e r i ­ c o n s i s t e d of v e t c h - r y e t u r e which r e c e i v e d m e n t I. tre a tm e n t m ix ­ m ix ­ 2 in E x p e r i ­ B ^-l g r e e n m a n u re c o n s i s t e d of v e t c h - r y e m i x ­ tu r e which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 3 in E x p e r i ­ m e n t I. A ^-l g r e e n m a n u r e c o n s i s t e d of v e tc h which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 2 in E x p e r i m e n t I. A ^-l g r e e n m a n u re c o n s i s t e d of v e tc h which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 2 in E x p e r i m e n t I. A ^-l g r e e n m a n u re c o n s i s t e d of v e tc h which r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 3 in E x p e r i m e n t I. A ll g reen m an u res w ere s a n d i n E x p e r i m e n t II. tu r n e d u n d e r in to c le a n 50 F ig u r e V III. G row th r e s p o n s e trea tm en ts. U pper th e of p h o to g ra p h sugar show s lo w e r p h o to g ra p h h av e been C ^-l ta k e n green green C ^-l green green w h ic h th e d e s ig n a te d in ta c t, sam e w hereas p la n ts w h ic h c u ltu re s. c o n s is te d tre a tm e n t of r y e 1 in tre a tm e n t of r y e 2 in c o n s is te d w h ic h E x p e r i m e n t I. c o n s is te d tre a tm e n t m an u re re c e iv e d Ic-1 the m an u re receiv ed to c u ltu re s sh o w s m an u re re c e iv e d C ^-l fro m b eets w h ic h E x p erim en t of r y e I. w h ic h 3 in E x p e r im e n t I. m a n u r e c o n s i s t e d of o r c h a r d g r a s s r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t 1 in E x p e r im e n t I. lie - 1 green m an u re w h ic h receiv ed c o n siste d of o r c h a r d tre a tm e n t 2 in g rass E x p erim en t I. IIIc-1 green m an u re w h ic h receiv ed c o n siste d of o r c h a r d tre a tm e n t 3 in g rass E x p erim en t I. A ll g r e e n m a n u r es w e r e s a n d in E x p e r i m e n t II. tu rn ed u n d er in to c le a n Rye NPK PK HzO Weight of M anure Added 20.70 7.80 3.60 O rchard G rass NPK PK HzO Weight of M anure Added 21.98 5.20 1.30 m F ig u r e V I II . G r o w th r e s p o n s e of s u g a r b e e t s f e r t i l i z e d w ith g r e e n m a n u r e s tu r n e d in to c le a n s a n d . 52 Ladino C lover A lfa lfa NPK PK HzO Weight of M anure Added NPK PK HzO Weight of M an u re Added 12.30 10.70 F ig u r e 11.22 IX . 1.10 8.00 0.51 G r o w th r e s p o n s e o f s u g a r b e e t s to g r e e n m a n u r e s tu r n e d in to c le a n s a n d . f l 53 Ladino C lo v e r O r c h a r d G r a s s A lfalfa and B r o m e G r a s s N PK PK Weight of M a n u re N PK PK H^O W eight of M an u re Added 19.30 F ig u r e 10.40 X. H zO Added 2.29 13.10 G ro w th r e s p o n s e of su g a r b e e ts t u r n e d in to u s e d s a n d . 7.60 2.14 to g r e e n m a n u r e s 54 V etch and Rye NPK PK HzO W eight of M a n u re A dded 22.60 F ig u r e X I. 25.80 6.40 V etch NPK PK W eight of M a n u re 23.50 22.26 G row th r e s p o n s e of su g a r b e e ts tu rn ed in to u s e d sa n d . HzO Added 4.70 to g r e e n m a n u r e s 55 Rye O rchard NPK PK HzO W eight of M a n u re Added 20.70 F ig u r e 7.80 X II. 3.60 G rass N PK PK HzO Weight of M a n u re Added 21.98 5.20 1.30 G row th r e s p o n s e of s u g a r b e e ts tu r n e d u n d er in to u s e d sa n d . to g r e e n m a n u r e s 56 AVERAGE F e rtiliz e r DRY WEIGHT YIELDS OF SUGAR B EE TS P E R CULTURE C h aracter of M a n u re A lf a lfa . T re a t­ m e n t in E x p t. I cle an used PK c le a n used h 2o A lfa lfa and NPK B rom e NPK G rass PK PK HO H 2o M G rass NPK C lo v e r cle an used c le an used c le a n used cle an used cle a n used M an u re Added Total Weight In crease Over C on tro l g in s . gm s. g m s. 10.70 10.40 25.00 6.20 9.14 23.74 4.94 14,04 -0.50 -0.20 10.70 8.00 8.00 0.51 15.30 0.76 0.51 1.00 13.10 13.10 7.60 12.10 24.70 4.00 7.60 2.14 2.14 9.50 1.60 3.00 15.10 16.70 25.60 0.73 10.84 23.44 2.74 8.24 0.35 1.74 15.44 24.34 -0.53 -0.16 -0.63 cle an used 15.10 3.58 3.58 1.16 1.16 NPK NPK cle an used 12.30 12.30 17.10 26.50 15.84 25.24 PK PK h 2o cle an used 11.22 11.22 4.90 17.80 cle an H2° use4 1.10 1.10 0.51 0.87 3.64 16.54 -0.75 NPK PK PK HO h 2o Ladino Sand Used NPK NPK PK h 7o B rom e A v e ra g e D ry M a tt e r Y ield of B eets T reatm en t cle a n used 1.10 0.63 0.78 -0.48 -0.39 57 TABLE F e rtiliz e r 7 (C o n tin u e d ) Ave rage D r y Matte Yield of B eets T reatm ent , C haracter . __ of M anure Ladino Clover and O r c h a r d G rass T reatm ent m _ Expt. I NPK NPK PK PK H-O H^O O rchard G rass NPK NPK PK Vetch M anure Added T otal Weight Inc r e a s e Over Control gm s. gm s. gm s. clean u se d 19.30 19.30 cle an used 10.40 10.40 20.10 36.80 5.10 18.84 35.54 3.84 8.34 clean u sed 2.29 2.29 clean u sed 21.98 24.70 21.98 5.20 36.40 1.10 5.20 .1.30 1.30 1.90 23.44 35.14 -0.16 0.64 0.49 0.73 -0.77 -0.53 23.50 23.50 22.26 22.26 4.70 4.70 24.60 53.70 24.10 34.30 2.10 2.70 23.34 52.44 22.60 22.60 25.80 20.94 25.80 22.20 24.40 23.90 35.60 6.40 6.40 3.10 5.20 1.84 3.94 PK clean u sed H2 ° h 2o clean u sed NPK NPK PK PK clean u sed h o clean used Hz ° Vetch and Rye Sand Used clean used NPK NPK clean u se d PK PK clean u sed KLO H^O clean u sed 9.60 2.10 2.80 0.84 1.54 22.84 33.04 0.84 1.44 23.14 22.64 34.3 4 58 TABLE F e rtiliz e r A v e ra g e Dry M a tte r Yield of B eets T reatm en t C haracter . _, of M anure Rye T re a tm e n t in „ Expt. I M anure Added Increase O ver Control gm s. g m s. gm s. 19.10 29.50 2.60 4.80 1.30 2.90- 17.84 28.24 1.34 3.54 0.04 1.64 1.26 •-- 20.70 20.70 PK clean used clean used 7.80 7.80 3.60 3.60 clean 0.00 2o Total Weight clean u sed h 1 Sand U sed NPK NPK PK HO C ontrol 7 (C o n tin u e d ) D ifferen ce required^fo r significance. C o m p a ris o n s betw een t r e a t m e n t s (NPK and PK) - 3.25. C o m p a riso n s of t r e a t m e n t s x m eth od s (Used v s . Clean Sand) 5.87. At 5 p e r c e n t level. - 59 In e v e r y case, the average d ry w eight yield of b e e ts when m a n u r e s c o n s is te d bined n itro g e n o r fixed n itro g e n than when m a n u re s was h ig her of p la n t m a t e r i a l which r e c e iv e d c o m ­ u sed re­ ceived no n it ro g e n . It is n u re s w ere sig nific an t to note tu r n e d into dry w eight yie ld s the am ounts and the the y ie ld s p a r a b le fo r e , of b e e ts of m a n u re am ounts clean y ie ld s are Since a p o s itiv e m illig ra m s and the m i l l i g r a m s co rrela tio n was n u re value T h ese and the nures . v a r i e d g r e a tly , stric tly of 0.973 was m a n u re of the of turn ing, whether of 0.988 was r e c o v e r e d in the Also obtained between the and the th a t the d ry m a t t e r yield of s u g a r beets quantity of n itro g en added as quantity of n itro g e n com ­ T here­ of d ry m a t t e r produced. data indicate contingent upon both the with of n itro g e n effects c o rre la tio n m a­ a v e ra g e added. of the of n itro g e n of n itr o g e n applied as yield of b e e ts . am ounts and the m ethods A p o s itiv e the c o m m e n s u r a te c o n s id e r e d as m e r e l y ind ic ative sand. sand the am ount of m a n u re obtained betw een the m i l l i g r a m s s u g a r b e e ts the w here added to each s e r i e s d iffe re n t m a n u r i a l m a t e r i a l s into u s e d o r unused or used cannot be of the cases not always applied. of s u g a r b e e ts th e s e sand w ere of m a n u re on the b a s is th a t in the r e c o v e r e d f r o m the m a­ added m a ­ 60 N itro g e n sand.. r e c o v e r y of g r e e n m a n u re s Data, r e la tin g gen by s u g a r b e e ts recovery e s t, to the p e r c e n ta g e are p r e s e n t e d in of added n itr o g e n by from any one gen w e re applied, se rie s, tu rn e d into clean recovery Table 8. s u g a r b eets in which c a s e The p e rc e n ta g e was when the l a r g e s t of added n i t r o ­ in all c a s e s q uantities the m a n u r e s u sed of n i t r o ­ re c e iv e d NPK t r e a t m e n t in E x p e r im e n t I. The p e r c e n ta g e n itr o g e n was which involved m a n u r e s lo w est in the r e c e i v e d only tap w a te r the se ries in E x p e r im e n t I. green n it r o g e n by b e e ts was PK t r e a t m e n t . m a n u re , However, green m anures which w e re c o r r e l a t i o n value b etw een the m illig ram s m illig ram s of n itro g e n la rg e q u an tities ti t i e s of n itr o g e n v e rse ly , u s e d r e c e iv e d of n itro g en clean of 0.979, how ever, of n itr o g e n applied as r e c o v e r e d by the sand was was obtained m an u re s u g a r b e e ts . applied as r e c o v e r e d by the b e e ts q u an tities of quantity of n itr o g e n in c o rp o ra te d . of n itr o g e n w e re when the tu r n e d into in a s s o ­ recovery recovery that ex cept in grass when m a n u r e s the p e r c e n ta g e not c lo s e ly a s s o c i a t e d with the A p o sitiv e the p e r c e n ta g e in te r m e d ia te r e c o v e r y of W h erea s, which involved ladino c l o v e r - o r c h a r d c ia te d gro w th as from se rie s h ig h ­ m a n u re was and the When the also la r g e . of n itro g e n applied w ere quan­ Con­ s m a ll the TABLE 8 RELATIONSHIPS OF THE P E R C E N T A G E RECOVERY OF ADDED NITROGEN FR O M G REEN MANURES TURNED INTO CLEAN SAND F e r t i l i z e r T r e a tm e n t C h a rac te r , of M a n u re A lfalfa A lfalfa and B ro m e G r a s s B ro m e G r a s s L adino C lover T reat m ent m _ E x p t. I M an u re A dded N itr o g e n in M a n u re N itr o g e n A dded a s M a n u re N itr o g e n In crease Over C o n tro l N itro g e n in B e e ts T otal R ecov­ e r y of N itro ­ gen \ gm s. %* m gs. %* mgs-. m gs. N PK PK h 2o 10.70 3.34 3.02 3.15 357.3 241.6 16.1 1.18 1.29 1.38 122.7 80.0 10.5 101.3 58.6 -10 .9 28.4 24.3 • -6 7 .7 NPK PK h 2° 13.10 7.60 2.14 2.86 374.7 1.11 2.79 1.52 212.0 1.14 1.35 134.3 45.6 112.9 24.2 30.1 11.4 21.6 00.2 6.2 NPK PK 15.10 3.58 1.16 2.72 0.72 1.18 410.7 25.8 13.7 1.49 1.56 147.3 -10 .5 -1 1 .6 35.8 -4 0 .7 -8 4 .7 12.30 11.22 3.48 2.96 428.0 332.1 1.24 1,33 1.10 2.01 22.1 1.26 190.6 43.8 -1 5 .0 44.5 13.2 -67.8 H2 ° NPK PK h 2o 8.00 0.51 32.5 1.01 168.7 10.9 9.8 212.0 65.2 6.4 . TABLE 8 (Continued) F e r t i l i z e r T r e a tm e n t C h a rac te r of M a n u re T re a t­ m e n t in E x p t, I M a n u re A dded N itro g e n i n M a n u re N itro g e n A dded A s M a n u re N itr o g e n in B e e ts T o ta l N itr o g e n Increase Over C o n tro l R ecov­ e r y of N itro ­ gen gm s. %* m gs. %* m gs. m gs. 519.2 1.11 201.8 1.10 201.7 34.7 . 34.1 1.43 223.1 56,1 30.0 8.6 38.8 17.2 25.2 262.7 -6 .5 -1 4 .0 44.3 -21 .5 -79.1 26.9 35.3 7.2 L adino C lo v er and O r c h a r d G rass NPK PK h 2° 19.30 10.40 2.29 2.69 1.94 1.49 O rchard G rass N PK PK h 2o 21.98 5.20 1.30 2.70 0.58 1,36 593.5 30.2 17.7 1.15 1.35 1.42 284.1 NPK PK h 2o 23.50 3.20 3.22 2.37 752.0 716.8 111.4 0.91 1.14 1,40 223.9 274.7 29.4 202.5 253.3 578.6 637.3 0.97 1.05 215.3 251.0 193.9 25.80 2.56 2.47 229.6 3 3.. 5 36.0 6.40 1.66 106.2 1.66 51.4 30.0 28.2 V etch V etch and Rye N PK PK h 2o 22.26 4.70 22.60 14.9 7.0 8.0 O' N TABLE 8 (Continued) F e r t i l i z e r T r e a tm e n t C h a rac te r of M a n u re Rye T re a t­ m e n t in E x p t, I N PK PK H2 ° M a n u re Added, N itro g e n in M a n u re N itro g e n A dded as M a n u re gm s. %* m gs. 20.70 7.80 3.60 2.42 0.76 0.80 500.9 59.3 28.8 C o n tro l N itro g e n in B e e ts T o ta l N itr o g e n Increase O ver C o n tro l m gs. m gs. 0.94 1.39 1.50 179.5 36.1 19.50 158.1 14.7 1.70 21.4 -- -1 .9 Recov­ e r y of N itro ­ gen 31.6 24.8 -66 .0 -- .%* - p e rc e n ta g e of d r y m a tte r . %** p e rc e n ta g e r e c o v e r y = (m g s. of n itr o g e n o v e r co n tro l) / (m g s. of n itr o g e n added a s m a n u r e ) x 100. O' U) 64 q u an tities of n itr o g e n q u an tities of n itr o g e n ap p lied w ere pot the m illig ram s negative on the Under to nures of n itr o g e n the the conditions d if f e r e n tia te tu r n e d to ta l b e e ts indicating into u s e d sand. made of the s m a ll, n itro g en . w ere the s m a ll. recovery im p o s­ m a­ sand. would enhance no c o n s i d e r ­ of added n it ro g e n by tu r n e d into u sed quantity used T herefore, index of m a n u r e s sand. tu rn e d into cle a n of g r e e n m a n u re added, when m e a s u r e d by the d r y m a t t e r p ro d u ced of n it r o g e n in the the p e r c e n ta g e a r e c o v e r y of added n itro g e n was high the plants effic ien t gro w th as gram per an in h ib ito ry reco v ered from and r e s i d u a l n itro g e n in the m anures R eg ard less the p e r c e n ta g e when sand and the n itro g e n a c tu a lly r e c o v e r e d given to the p e r c e n t a g e the was in v e stig atio n it was betw een the n itro g e n M a n u ria l efficiency also r e c o v e r e d in the b e e ts of th is quantity of a v aila b le w h ere In fa c t, below t h i r t y m i lli g r a m s ex p ected th a t n itr o g e n f r o m p la n t f r a g m e n t s ation was per s m a ll. g r e e n m a n u re . f r o m p la n t f r a g m e n t s It is also value below th a t of the c o n t r o l s , influence sible r e c o v e r e d was of n itr o g e n green m anures. reco vered from grow th of p la n ts p e r gram L ikew ise, when the g r e e n m an ure of n it ro g e n applied was was 65 That quantity of n itr o g e n a c tu a lly u se d in the pro du ctio n of a u nit d r y weight of s u g a r b e e ts erin g the n itr o g e n p e r c e n ta g e higher the p e r c e n ta g e greater the and 9. the sugar beets, such th a t the of n itro g e n in the h a r v e s te d b e e ts of the b e e ts However, The p e r c e n ta g e in e a c h cu ltu re the of n itro g e n in the is p r e s e n t e d in m a n u r i a l efficiency in dices quantity of d ry m a t t e r n itro g en co ntained in the te r of the d e te r m in e d by c o n s id ­ quantity of n itr o g e n used in the p roduction of a unit weight of s u g a r b e e ts . m a tte r was in b e e ts p ro d u c e d p e r are in b e e ts p ro d u c e d p e r green m an u res, ra th e r dry Tables 8 indicative of unit weight of than d ry m a t ­ unit weight of n itr o g e n co ntained in the h a r v e s t e d b e e ts . Dry m a t t e r yield of b eets o v er c o n tro l . rr— ----------——:----------------------------------------- = E fficien cy N itro g en added as m a n u re The quantity of d ry m a t t e r in b e e ts p ro d u ced p e r weight of n itr o g e n co ntained in the g r e e n m a n u re s p ositive c o rre la tio n of 0.957 p e r c e n ta g e the n itro g e n con tained in the age c o v e re d by the gen applied as p la n t sp e c ie s s u g a r b e e ts m a n u re u s e d as g r e e n m a n u re v a r i e d with the which p ro b ab ly was m a n u re unit showed a r e c o v e r y by b e e ts several m anures. of the to ta l n itro g e n added as index of The p e r c e n t ­ th a t was re­ quantity of n i t r o ­ contingent upon the as w ell as the f e r t i l i z e r tr e a t m e n t TABLE 9 WEIGHT O F SUGAR B E E T S PR O D U C ED P E R UNIT OF NITROGEN ADDED AS G REEN MANURE TURNED UNDER INTO CLEA N SAND (MANURIAL E F F IC IE N C Y INDEX) C h a ra c te r of M anu re A lfalfa A lfa lfa and B rom e G ra ss B ro m e G r a s s L adino C lo v er L adino C lov er and O r c h a r d G rass N itro g e n A dded a s M a n u re A v e r a g e D ry W eight of B e e ts E ffic ie n c y Inde x* m . , T o tal Over C o n tro ls m gs. gm s. gm s. 357.3 241.6 10.40 16.1 0.76 9.14 4.94 -0.50 25.6 20.4 -31.1 374.7 12.10 212.0 32.5 4.00 1.60 10.84 2.74 0.34 28.9 12.9 10.5 410.7 25.8 13.7 16.70 0.73 0.63 15.44 -0.53 -0.63 ' 37.6 -20.5 -46.0 428.0 332.1 15.84 3.64 -0.75 37.0 22.1 17.10 4.90 0.51 519.2 20.10 201.8 5.10 34.1 2.10 18.84 3.84 0.84 6.20 N itro g e n in B e e ts R ecovery of A dded N itro g e n