The Effect of Soil Type and Fertilizer Treatment
on the
Composition of the Soybean Plant
By

R U S S E L L H A Y D E N A U S T IN

A THESIS

P re s e n te d to th e C om m ittee on A dvanced D eg rees o f th e
M ich ig an S ta te C ollege of A g ric u ltu re an d A pplied Science
In P a r tia l F u lfillm en t o f R e q u ire m en ts f o r th e
D e g ree o f D octor of P h ilo so p h y

Soils D e p a rtm e n t
E a s t L an sin g , M ichigan
1928

ProQuest Number: 10008495

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CONTENTS
Page
I.

In tro d u c tio n .......................................................................................................................... 3

II.

R ev iew o f lite r a tu r e ....................................................................................................... 3

III.

E x p e rim e n ta l p la n s .......................................................................................................... 5
1.

G reen h o u se e x p e rim e n ts ......................................................................................... 6

IV.

M ethods of a n a ly sis .......................................................................................................... 7

V.

E x p e rim e n ta l ........................................................................................................................ 7
1.

V a ria tio n s in th e com position o f th e soybean d u rin g g ro w th ............... 7

2.

E ffe c t o f fe rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t up o n th e com position of th e soy b ean ....12

3.

4.

(1 ).

T h irty -fiv e d a y s a f te r se e d in g .....................................................................13

(2 ).

S e v e n ty -th re e d a y s a f te r se e d in g ...............................................................14

( 3 ).

One h u n d re d te n d a y s a f te r se e d in g ....................................................... 17

E ffec t o f soil ty p e u p o n th e com position of th e soy b ean ......................... 19
(1 ).

T h irty -fiv e d a y s a f te r se e d in g ...................................................................20

(2 ).

S e v e n ty -th re e d a y s a f te r se e d in g ............................................................20

(3 ).

O ne h u n d re d te n d a y s a f te r se e d in g ....................................................... 22

Cell sap stu d ie s ........................................................................................................... 22
(1 ).

V I.

(a ).

G reenhouse stu d ie s ............................................................................23

(b ).

F ie ld stu d ie s ....................................................................................... 24

(2 ).

E ffec t o f soil ty p e upon th e com position of th e cell s a p .................25

(3 ).

F re e z in g p o in t d e p ressio n ......................................................................... 2^

S u m m a ry
1.

V II.

E ffec t o f fe rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t upon th e com position of cell sap..23

................................................................................................................................26

S u m m a ry o f re s u lts ..................................................................................................

R e fere n ce s

..............................................................................................................................

28

The writer wishes to ex­
press his appreciation to
DR. M. M. McCOOL
for his kindly interest
and helpful suggestions
throughout the period of
graduate study and in
the planning and work­
ing out of this problem.

T he Effect of SoilT^pe and Fertilizer Treatment
on the
Composition of the Soybean Plant
R U S S E L L H A Y D E N A U S T IN

T he v a lu e o f th e so y b ean p la n t fo r h a y is d ep en d en t upon th e com position of
th e p la n t. I f th e p la n t h a s n o t h a d access to sufficient am o u n ts of th e e sse n tia l
e le m e n ts o f p la n t food and is deficient in one or m ore o f th e e sse n tia l elem ents,
th e fe e d in g v a lu e o f th e p la n t is less th a n i t w ould have been norm ally . A de­
ficiency in th e su p p ly of p h o sp h o ru s or of calcium and ph o sp h o ru s in th e soil
a v a ila b le to th e p la n ts h a s re s u lte d in ill effects upon th e c a ttle consum ing th e
p la n ts as h a y o r a s p a s tu re . T h e h a y s gro w n on th e s e soils, w hich a re decidedly
low in a v ailab le p h o sp h o ru s, a re th em selv es low in th e ir co n te n t of p h o sp h o ru s in
c o m p a riso n to th e h a y s g ro w n on soils o f a n a v e ra g e o r h ig h c o n te n t of av ailable
p h o sp h o ru s. Som e occu rren ces o f th e ill effects upon c a ttle fro m th e consum p­
tio n o f h a y o r p a s tu r e g r a s s t h a t w a s low in p h o sp h o ru s o r lim e and phosphorus
a r e in M in n e so ta ( 6 ), W isconsin ( 12), an d M on tan a (3 9 ). T he su p p ly in g of a v a il­
ab le p h o sp h o ru s in th e s e soils by th e a p p lic atio n of soluble p h o sp h a tes increases
th e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e h a y o r p a s tu re g ra s s (12). The deficiency of th e
o th e r e le m e n ts h a s n o t m ad e its e lf so a p p a re n t as h a s th e deficiency of p h o s­
p h o ru s o r of lim e and p h o sp h o ru s.
R E V IE W O F L IT E R A T U R E
A re v ie w o f th e lite r a tu r e b e a rin g upon th e effects o f soil tre a tm e n ts upon th e
c o m p o sitio n o f th e soy b ean p la n t re v e a ls a n a p p a re n t c o n tra d ic tio n in th e re su lts
p u b lish ed . S c h u ste r an d G ra h am (31) e x p ress th e opinion t h a t th e ir re su lts , as
w ell a s th e re s u lts o f o th e r in v e s tig a to rs , in d ic a te t h a t th e com position of th e
so y b e a n c a n n o t be ch an g e d by soil tr e a tm e n ts . In a n e a rlie r w ork (30) S chuster
r e p o r ts a n in c re a s e in y ield an d in th e p ro te in c o n te n t o f soybeans fro m lim ing.
H a rtw e ll (13) re p o rts t h a t soybean h a y fro m lim ed p lo ts c o n tain s a h ig h e r p e r­
c e n ta g e o f n itro g e n th a n t h a t fro m unlim ed plo ts. L ipm an and B'lair (16, 17, and
18) a lso o b tain e d a n in cre ased n itro g e n c o n te n t on lim ed soil com pared to th a t
on u n lim ed soil. S ta rk (37) fo u n d t h a t lim e an d o rg an ic m a tte r increased th e
p e r c e n t o f p ro te in to a m a rk e d d e g ree a n d t h a t th e ten d en cies w e re fu r th e r p ro ­
nounced b y a d d itio n s of p h o sp h o ru s. P o ta ssiu m in a d d itio n to th is re su lte d in a
d e c re a se in th e p e r c e n t of p ro te in . Gile an d A g e to n (8 ) considered calcium
c a rb o n a te a s h a v in g no effect u p o n th e a m o u n t of n itro g e n c ontained in soybeans.
L ip m a n e t al. (1 5 ), fo u n d t h a t d iffe re n t fe rtiliz in g m a te ria ls did n o t g re a tly in ­
fluence t h e p e r c e n t of n itro g e n in th e d ry m a tte r b u t th a t judicious lim ing

4

R USSELL HAYDEN A USTIN

increased th e nitro g en content of hoth th e vines and th e shelled ibeans o f th e soy­
bean. In experim ents in po ts (14) calcium carbonate gave a h ig h er p e rce n ta g e
of n itrogen on an average, th an did sodium n itra te . T hey (15) found also, a
difference in the protein content of th e soybean w ith re fe re n ce to th e tim e of
harv estin g . The pro tein content increased w ith th e g ro w th o f th e p la n t to w a rd
m atu rity and then it declined. They (14) concluded th a t if soybeans a re to be
harvested as forage, h a rv estin g from th e end of th e te n th to th e fifte en th w eek
will re su lt in giving a m axim um protein content. M a c T a g g art (23) re p o rts th a t
phosphorus m arkedly increased th e d ry m a tte r and th e to ta l n itrogen, a n d to a
less ex ten t the p ercentage of n itrogen in soybeans. A pplications of n itro g e n
showed no effect on the percentage o f nitro g en in th e p lan t. S u lfu r in th e fo rm
of gypsum , used alone and in com bination, increased th e n itro g e n co n ten t of
a lfa lfa but appeared not to have any effect upon soybeans. G insburg and Shive
( 10) found th a t in c u ltu re solutions, a n increase of n itro g e n did n o t increase th e
nitro g en in th e p lan t, and th a t the n itro g en in th e p la n t w as n o t affected by
calcium chloride or calcium n itra te but w as increased by calcium c arb o n ate in
the solutions. F re d and G raul (7) observed th a t th e inoculation of soybeans
increased th e nitro g en content of th e p lan t.
The K entucky S tation re p o rte d th a t the to ta l ash c ontent of th e soybean p la n t
w as increased by applications of calcium compounds re g a rd le ss of an y influence
upon the gro w th of th e p la n t (40). Gile and A geton (8 ) found th a t a pplications
of calcium carbonate increased th e to ta l carbon-free a sh in th e soybean p la n t and
also modified the am ount of calcium, m agnesium and iron p re se n t in th e ash.
T h at th e m agnesium content of the soybean p lan t w as decreased w hen grow n
on calcareous soils w as rep o rted by Gile and A geton (8 ). H a rtw ell (13) found
th a t an application of lim e tended to increase th e m agnesium and calcium con­
ten ts of the plant. M agnesic lim e increased th e m agnesium content of th e p la n t
m ore th a n it did th e calcium content o f th e plant, b u t calcareous lim e affected
both the m agnesium and the calcium contents of th e p la n t m ore n e a rly alike.
The K entucky S ta tio n (40) reported th a t calcium com pounds caused a n increase
in th e calcium content of th e p lant re g ard less of any increase in g row th. T a r r
and Noble (38) sta te t h a t th e m axim um gro w th of soybeans w as o btained a t
approxim ately pH 5, and a t a reaction of pH 4, h a rm fu l effects upon th e seedlings
w ere ap p are n t. G insburg and Shive (10) found a definite c o rrelatio n betw een
the am ount of calcium in th e cu lture solution and th e calcium c ontent of th e
plant. The calcium in th e p la n t paralleled th a t in th e solution.
Gile and A geton (8 ) found th a t calcium c arbonate a p p a re n tly h ad no effect
upon th e am ount of potassium contained in th e plant. H a rtw ell (13) sta te d th a t
soybeans derived tw o-thirds of th e ir p otassium needs from a soil so deficient in
potassium th a t m angels could only o btain about o n e -fo u rth and su m m er squash
only about one-tenth o f th e ir requirem ents of potassium . T hese re s u lts ten d to
show th a t th e soybean p lan t possesses a stro n g feeding pow er fo r p o tassiu m and
would not be g re atly affected by any m o derate soil tre a tm e n t.
Shedd (32) found th a t th e su lfu r content of soybeans, w hich responded to a p ­
plications of sulfur, w as in all cases higher th a n th a t of soybeans w hich h ad not
been fertilized w ith sulfur. T his fa c t su g g e sts th a t soybeans grow n on soils
well supplied w ith su lfu r will n o t be affected by applications of su lfu r, and th a t
the su lfu r content o f th e p la n t -d ll be affected by th e soil ty p e a s th e su lfu r
content of the soil ty p es vary.

_ E F F ECT_OF SOIL T Y P E A N D FER TILIZ ER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

5

G ile a n d A g e to n ( 8 ) fo u n d lim e also to h a v e no a p p a re n t effect upon th e
a m o u n t o f p h o sp h o ru s c o n ta in e d in th e soybeans. H a rtw e ll (13) ra n k e d th e soy­
b e a n p la n t b e tw ee n th e c a r r o t a n d th e tu rn ip in its a b ility to su p p ly its needs
f o r p h o sp h o ru s w h e re no n e h a d been added to th e soil fo r a q u a rte r of a c en tu ry .
E X P E R IM E N T A L P L A N S
F e r tiliz e r te s ts w ith so y b e a n s w ere conducted in th e field on five soil ty p es in
M ich ig an . T h e five soil ty p e s selected f o r th e s e e x p erim e n ts w e re B rookston clay
lo am n e a r C h e sa n in g , Colom a sa n d a n d K ew anee loam n e a r Low ell, F o x sandy
lo am on th e C ass C o u n ty f a rm n e a r C assopolis, and M iam i loam n e a r M ason. In
a d d itio n to th e s e p ro je c ts re ce iv in g fe rtiliz e rs , a n o th e r u n fe rtiliz ed p lot w as
lo ca ted on H illsd ale sa n d y loam on th e C ollege fa rm a t E a s t L an sin g . T he p u r­
pose o f th is u n fe rtiliz e d p lo t w a s to f u rn is h sam p les fo r a m ore d etailed stu d y of
th e c h a n g e s in th e com position of th e soybean p la n t d u rin g th e g ro w in g season.
T he f e rtiliz e r a p p lic a tio n s w e re b ro a d c a ste d an d w orked in to th e soil and th e
so y b e a n s seeded b e tw ee n th e s ix th an d th e te n th of Ju n e , 1924. T he fe rtiliz e r
tr e a tm e n ts on th e s e p lo ts w ere m ad e a cc o rd in g to th e follo w in g outlines.
F e rtiliz e r T re a tm e n ts on B rookston C lay Loam
P O U N D S PE R ACRE
P lot N o.

Acid
Phosphate*

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

No T re a tm e n t
400
250
250
250
250
800

Gypsum**

KCL

NaNOs***

....
200

100

100

100
100
100

100
100

....
200
200
200
200

N o t e : * A naconda Phosphate w as used in am ounts equivalent to the acid phosphate.
** Sulfur w as used in am ounts equivalent to the gypsum.
*** U rea w as used in am ounts equivalent to the sodium nitrate.

F e rtiliz e r T re a tm e n t on C olom a S and
N o.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

C alcic
lim e

N o T re a t.
5000

1
I

M agnesic
lim e

PO U N D S PER ACRE
A cid
|
Phosphate* ]
Gypsum

KCl

NaNOa**

......
5000
5000
5000
5000
5000

250
250
250
250

200
200
200

....
100
100

100

N o te: * A naconda phosphate w as used in am ounts equivalent to the acid phosphate.
** U rea w as used in am ounts equivalent to the sodium nitrate.

T h e f e rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n ts on K ew anee lo am w ere th e sam e as th e tre a tm e n ts
on C olom a sa n d w ith th e ex cep tio n o f th e lim e tre a tm e n ts , w hich w ere 3000
p o u n d s on K ew anee loam in ste a d o f 5000 pounds p e r a cre as on Coloma sand.

6

RUSSELL HAYDEN AUSTIN

The fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n ts on M iami loam w ere th e sam e as th e tre a tm e n ts on
Coloma sand.
F e rtiliz e r T rea tm e n ts on Fox Sandy Loam

6

200
200
200

1
1

Gypsum*

(86)*
(86)*

I

KCl

100
100
100

I

NaNOa

1000
1000
100
*

200

Rock
Phosphate

100

86

00

7
2a
3a
4a
8a
8c
9a

No T rea t,
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300
6300

1
Acid
1 Phosphate

*

1
2
5

POUNDS PER ACRE
lime
Calcic

00
o*

Plot
No.

100
100
100

N o te : * Gypsum in the 200 pounds acid phosphate application.

The object of th e several fe rtiliz er plots w as to fu rn ish p la n ts fo r th e la b ­
o ra to ry studies. P la n t sam ples w ere taken from th e several p lo ts of each p ro ject
a t as nearly the sam e date as w as reasonably possible. T he p ro jects on B rookston
clay loam, Coloma sand, Kew anee loam , and M iami loam soils w ere sam pled
th ree tim es d uring the grow ing season to re p re se n t th e e a rly sta g e of g ro w th , th e
middle of th e period of grow th, and the la te sta g e of g ro w th or hay sta g e. The
dates upon which these sam ples of th e grow ing p la n ts w ere ta k e n w ere Ju ly
12-14, A ugust 19-22, and Septem ber 26 respectively. Only one se t of sam ples w as
obtained from the Fox sandy loam . T his w as tak e n in th e m iddle of th e period
of grow th. The unfertilized p roject on H illsdale sandy loam on th e C ollege fa rm
w as fo r the purpose of supplying plan ts fo r the study of th e com position of the
p la n t d uring the process of grow th. Sam ples w ere obtained from th is p lot a t
in terv als of ten o r eleven days from Ju n e 12th until th e tim e of the first killing
fro s t on Septem ber 26th.
The various sam ples of th e soybean p lan ts w ere a ir dried in th e lab o ra to ry .
Upon drying th ey w ere ground and stored in p in t m ason ja rs fo r an aly sis.
GREENHOUSE EXPERIM ENTS

Some studies on th e effect of soil type and fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts upon th e
composition of th e cell sap w ere m ade upon sam ples ta k e n from th e field plots.
In addition to th is some p rojects w ere conducted in th e greenhouse w ith soybeans
in pots o f tw o gallon capacity. Soils fo r these pro jects w ere collected fro m tilled
a reas of Coloma sand, Plainfield sand, F ox sandy loam , B errien sandy loam ,
N appanee loam, M iami loam and K alam azoo muck. A series of po ts in duplicate
were assem bled from each soil, consisting of a check, a lig h t a p p licatio n of
phosphorus and potassium , and a heavy a pplication o f phosphorus and potassium
N itra te of soda w as applied to all pots in sufficient am ount to care fo r th e needs

E F F E CT OF SOIL T Y P E A N D FER TILIZ ER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

7

of th e p la n ts f o r n itro g e n . T he p h o sp h o ru s and p o tassiu m tre a tm e n ts fo r th e
1-Ots w e re a s show n in th e follo w in g o utline.
T re a tm e n t of P o ts
P ot
No.

1
2
3

GRAMS PE R POT
CaHt (P O ,)j

KCl

N one
0.2
2.0

None
0.1
1.0

W h e re th e p la n ts w e re su ffic ie n t in nu m b er, sa m p les of th e p la n ts (above
g ro u n d p o rtio n ) w e re ta k e n fro m each p o t a t th re e perio d s d u rin g th e g ro w th
o f t h e p la n ts , to re p re s e n t th e e a rly , th e m iddle, and th e la te sta g e s of g ro w th .
T h ese sa m p le s w e re ta k e n on th e 16th, 33rd, and 51st d ay s a f te r seeding. The
sa m p le s w e re im m e d ia te ly placed in m aso n j a r s su rro u n d e d by cracked ice, and
th e ju ic e p re sse d o u t (2 5 ), fo r a n a ly sis as soon as possible, th is being accom ­
p lish ed w ith in tw o or th r e e h o u rs a f te r th e tim e o f sam p lin g .
M E T H O D S O F A N A L Y S IS
SO Y BEAN P L A N T

A s h :— O fficial M ethod, A sso c ia tio n of O fficial A g ric u ltu ra l C hem ists, 1924 (3),
T o ta l N itro g e n :— O fficial M ethod to include n itr a te s (3 ).
C alcium , m ag n e siu m , s u lfu r and p h o sp h o ru s:— Official M ethod (3 ).
P o ta s s iu m :— C o b a lti-n itrite m ethod, A die (1 ).
CELL S A P OF SO Y BEAN PL A N T

P h o s p h o ru s:— C oeru leo -m o ly b d ate re a c tio n of D eniges, A tk in s (4 ).
P o ta s s iu m :— C o b a lti-n itrite m eth o d , A die (1 ).
C a lc iu m :— O fficial M ethod (3 ).
F re e z in g P o in t D e p ressio n :— B ouyoucos an d McCool (5 ).
V A R IA T IO N S IN T H E C O M PO S IT IO N O F T H E SO Y B E A N
D U R IN G G RO W TH
S m all v a ria tio n s in th e com position o f th e soybean p la n ts d u rin g g ro w th a re
show n in th e a n a ly sis o f th e p la n ts gro w n on th e five ty p e s of soil fe rtiliz ed and
u n fe rtiliz e d a n d one o th e r ty p e o f soil u n fe rtiliz e d . M any of th e s e v a ria tio n s,
ho w ev er, th o u g h sm a ll n u m e ric a lly , a re a p p rec ia b ly la rg e .
M o istu re . T h e d a ta o f th e m o is tu re c o n te n t a re n o t com plete fo r th e grow ing
se a so n b e ca u se of a f r o s t a t th e tim e th e la s t sam p les w ere ta k e n (110 days a f te r
se e d in g ). T he m o is tu re c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts 35 days a f te r seeding v a rie d be­
tw e e n 3.3 an d 4.6 g ra m s of w a te r fo r each g ra m o f d ry m a tte r. A t 73 days a f te r
se e d in g i t v a rie d fro m 3.1 to 4.9 g ra m s of w a te r fo r each g ra m of d ry m a tte r.
T h ese d a ta show a ten d e n c y to less v a ria tio n in th e m o istu re co n te n t o f th e
y o u n g e r p la n ts t h a n in th e o ld er p la n ts (73 days a f te r seed in g ). T he am ount
p re s e n t becam e g r e a te r a s th e p la n ts g re w older on B rookston clay loam (tab le 2)
a n d M iam i loam ( ta b le 5 ), w ith th e exception o f th e p la n ts on M iam i loam re-

RUSSELL HAYDEN A U STIN

8

TA B L E 1
Soybeans. H illsdale sandy loam, College fa rm .
A nalysis based on d ry w eight.
Days after
seeding
p rm

30
41
52
62
72
83
93
104

Water
gm. per
, dry plant

4.03
5.08
4.35
4.32
3.58
3.39

Ash

%
10.70
10.97
12.53
10.54
9.23
8.19
8.27
8.13

1
j

1
[

U nfertilized.

Mg

N

P

K

%

%

%

%

%

%

2.702
2.801
2.547
2.415
2.050
1.879
1.905
1.865

0.586
0.756
0.923
0.893
0.846
0.780
0.756
0.719

4.414
4.414
4.542
4.423
3.833
3.349
3.219
3.167

0.232
0.253
0.277
0.277
0.283
0.265
0.251
0.249

0.234
0.331
0.329
0.316
0.287
0.272
0.287
0.329

0.695
0.677
0.775
0.626
0.722
0.609
0.627
0.576

Ca

ceiving th e com plete fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t. T here w as less m oisture p re se n t in th e
older plan ts grow n on H illsdale sandy loam (tab le 1), Coloma sand (ta b le 3 ), and
K ewanee loam (tab le 4) respectively.
Ash. The ash content of the soybean p la n t w as g re a te r in m any cases 73 days
a fte r seeding th a n it w as eith er 35 o r 110 days a fte r seeding. T his in crease w as
g re a te s t in the p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand (tab le 3 ) receiving e ith e r calcic lim e
or m agnesic lime. The plan ts on Coloma sand (talble 3) receiving no fe rtiliz e r
tre a tm e n t and on M iami loam (tab le 5) receiving a fe rtiliz e r lacking only
n itrogen, showed less pronounced increase in th e ash content of th e p la n ts fo r
th e sam e period. In a g re a te r num ber of cases th e ash c ontent w as g re a te r in
th e p lan t 35 days a f te r seeding th a n it w as 73 days a f te r seeding. In ev ery case
th e ash content on th e p lan ts w as low est 110 days a fte r seeding fo r each soil and
fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t respectively. The p la n ts have by th is tim e, la r g e r am ounts
of th e carbohydrates and proteins, etc., th a n in th e e a rlie r sta g e s of g row th.
Calcium . The calcium content of th e soybean p la n ts, as a whole, decreased
w ith th e age of th e plants. The p la n ts grow n on Coloma sand (ta b le 3) receiving
no fe rtiliz er, o r calcic lim e alone had a h ig h er calcium co n te n t 110 days a f te r
seeding th a n th ey had 73 days a fte r seeding. V ery little o r no change took place
in th e calcium content during th e period from 73 to 110 days a f te r seeding, fo r
those p la n ts grow n on B rookston clay loam * (tab le 2 ) receiving phosphorus,
phosphorus and sulfur, phosphorus, su lfu r, and potassium , and a com plete f e r ­
tilizer, (tab le 2, p lo t 7).
M agnesium . The m agnesium content w as n o t a s un ifo rm a s th e calcium con­
te n t. How ever, a general decrease in th e m agnesium c ontent of th e p la n ts
occurred as th e y became older. Less difference occurred betw een th e p la n ts o f
the different soils fo r th e period fro m 73 to 110 days a f te r seeding, th a n fo r th e
period fro m 35 to 73 days a fte r seeding. T here w ere som e exceptions to th is
statem en t, nam ely, an increase in th e m agnesium c o n ten t of th e p la n ts receiving
no fe rtiliz e r on H illsdale sandy loam (tab le 1) du rin g th e p eriod fro m 35 to 73
days a f te r seeding, a sm all increase th ro u g h o u t th e season in th e p la n ts on
Coloma sand (tab le 3) receiving m agnesic lim e, and in creases d u rin g th e period
from 73 to 110 days a fte r seeding in th e p la n ts on B rookston* clay loam (ta b le
* No lime was applied on Brookston clay loam.

e f f e c t o f s o il t y p e a n d f e r t il i z e r t r e a t m e n t o n c o m p o s it io n

OF SOYBEAN

9

TABLE 2
S oybeans.

B ro o k sto n clay loam , n e a r C hessening, M ichigan.

A.
35 D a y s A f t e r S eed in g (J u ly 15).
Sam ple
No.
I ll

112
113
114
115
116
117
B.
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
C.

Treatm ent

none
400-P
250-P
250-P
250-P
250-P
800-P

S K N
S
S K
S K N
S K N

A^h

%

%

4.29
4.35
4.35
4.08
4.23
4.16
4.37

9.72
9.67
10.00
9.57
9.98
10.27
10.30

2.162
2.345
2.282
2.265
2.242
2.311
2.227

Ca

71 D a y s A fte r S eeding. (A u g . 20).
I
none
4.88
10.61 1.792
400-P S K N |
4.69
11.28 1.809
250-P
4.50
8.96 1.739
4.63
9.38 1.954
250-P s
9.24 1.726
4.48
250-P S K
9.01 1.874
250-P s K N 1 4.27
4.28
10.75 1.822
800-P S K N |
110 D ays A f te r Seeding.

181
182
183
184
185
186
187

A n a ly sis based on d ry w eight.

W ater per
gm . dry wt.
gma.

none
400-P
250-P
250-P
250-P
250-P
800-P

S K N
S
S K
S K N
S K N

Mg

N

%

%

1.083
1.230
1.376
1.366
1.352
1.394
1.343

4.815
4.523
3.914
4.057
4.221
4.097
4.032

s
%

p

K

%

%

0.289 0.469 0.635
0.300 0.440 0.584
0.280 0.335 0.579
0.291 0.372 0.600
0.250 0.363 0.711
0.269 0.360 0.692
0.282 0.395 0.701

1.086 3.463 0.291
1.105 3.514 0.307
1.026 2.544 0.291
1.066 2.366 0.294
0.965 2.771 0.280
0.976 2.725 0.283
1.017 2,847 0.286

0.374
0.375
0.291
0.282
0.247
0.243
0.376

0.627
0.561
0.631
0.569
0.621
0.612
0.659

(S e p t. 26).
8.56 1.581 0.795 2.291 0.326 0.390 0.713
8.82 1.610 0.884 2.316 0.296 0.394 0.634
7.06 1.724 1.061 1.595 0.365 0.329 0.555
9.00 1.993 1.004 1.645 0.418 0.329 0.556
8.72 1.746 0.911 2.004 0.331 0.318 0.635
8.07 1.766 1.065 1.610 0.289 0.290 0.592
8.36 1.817 1.096 1.823 0.379 0.428 0.754

2) re c e iv in g th e com plete fe rtiliz e r, and on Colom a sand (tab le 3) receiv in g lim e,
p h o sp h o ru s, su lfu r, and p o tassiu m .
N itro g e n . T h e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e soybean p la n ts show ed a g e n e ra l de­
c re a se w ith th e age o f th e p la n ts. H ow ever, th e n itro g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts
on Colom a san d (ta b le 3) on a ll p lo ts in cre ased d u rin g th e p eriod fro m 73 to 110
d a y s a f te r seeding. The n itro g e n c o n te n t a t 73 and 110 d a y s a f te r seeding w as
p ra c tic a lly th e sam e fo r th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam (ta b le 5) receiving th e
co m p lete fe rtiliz e r, and a fe rtiliz e r lac k in g only n itro g e n , an d fo r th e p la n ts
g ro w n on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4) re ce iv in g no f e rtiliz e r and a f e rtiliz e r lacking
only n itro g e n .
S u lfu r. T he s u lfu r c o n te n t w a s th e m o st u n ifo rm o f th e elem en ts studied in
th e s e e x p e rim e n ts. I t w a s th e m o st u n ifo rm in th e p la n ts receiving no fe rtiliz e r
a n d com plete fe rtiliz e r. T he only v a ria tio n s o f an y significance w ere in th e p la n ts
on C olom a san d (ta b le 3 ). H e re a ll f e rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts in creased th e su lfu r
c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts in th e l a t t e r h a lf of th e p eriod o f g ro w th b u t decreased it
in th e f irs t h a lf o f th e p e rio d of g ro w th , w ith th e one exception of th e tre a tm e n t
o f m a g n e sic lim e on p lo t 3.

RUSSELL H AYDEN A U STIN

10

TA BLE 3
A.
Sample
No.

211
212
213
214
215
216
217
B.
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
C.

Soybeans. Coloma sand, n e ar Lowell, M ichigan.
35 D ays A fte r Seeding (Ju ly 16).
A nalysis based on d ry w eight.
Treatment

none
Ca-lime
M g-lime
*Mg P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

Water per
gm. dry wt.
gms.

3.76
3.64
3.33
4.12
4.11
4.41
4.43

Ash

Ca

Mg

N

P

K

%

%

%

%

%

%

10.12 2.799 0.694
9.73 2.162 0.824
9.06 1.993 0.815
10.38 2.603 0.884
10.70 2.428 1.008
10.66 1.957 0.729
10.79 1.815 0.742

73 Days A fte r Seeding (A ug. 23).
none
3.34
11.38 1.760
Ca-lime
14.83 1.754
3.22
Mg-lime
11.53 1.766
3.09
*Mg P
3.28
9.05 2.036
Mg P S
3.33
9.11 2.036
Mg P S K
3.44
8.30 1.633
Mg P S K N
7.69 1.486
3.29

0.644
0.575
0.960
0.928
1.007
0.629
0.585

4.173 0.318 0.411
3.432 0.377 0.427
3.393 0.293 0.297
3.883 0.377 0.451
3.676 0.451 0.407
3.405 0.398 0.390
3.996 0.288 0.318

0.504
0.532
0.488
0.656
0.596
0.816
0.813

2.163 0.321 0.403 0.729
1.973 0.326 0.404 0.629
1.800 0.393 0.416 0.727
1.889 0.361 0.392 0.784
1.548 0.385 0.397 0.798
1.422 0.345 0.409 0.835
1.566 0.243 0.302 0.692

109 Days A fte r Seeding (Sept. 27).
281
282
283
284
285
286
287

none
Ca-lime
Mg-lime
*Mg P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

8.37
8.15
8.12
8.09
7.50
9.04
7.56

2.115 0.607 2.441
2.080 0.457 2.324
1.173 1.035 2.708
1.406 0.787 2.308
1.428 0.785 2.139
1.414 0.800 2.119
1.336 0.590 1.818

0.386 0.462 0.591
0.420 0.477 0.548
0.536 0.509 0.647
0.518 0.490 0.518
0.476 0.451 0.641
0.503 0.547 0.698
0.379 0.489 0.723

* Magnesic lime.

Phosphorus. The phosphorus content w as low er 73 days a f te r seeding th a n
it w as a t e ith e r the 35th or 110th day a f te r seeding. On K ew anee loam th e
phosphorus content of the u nfertilized p lan ts w as found to have increased w ith
the ag e of the p lan ts (table 4). This increase in th e phosphorus c o n te n t w as
g re a te s t in the plan ts on Coloma sand receiving m agnesic lim e (tab le 3). T he
phosphorus contents of these plan ts w ere 0.29%, 0.39%, and 0.53% resp ectiv ely
fo r the th ree periods o f study. The phosphorus c ontent of th e p la n ts on th e u n ­
fertilized H illsdale sandy loam (table 1), w hich w as sam pled a t 10 or 11 day
in terv als, increased a sm all am ount in th e second sam ple (41 days a f te r seeding)
and then decreased, tho u g h to a less degree to and including th e six th sam ple
(83 days a fte r seeding). I t increased a g ain in th e eig h th sam ple (104 day s a fte r
seeding). The re su lts of these experim ents su g g e st a tendency fo r th e ph o s­
phorus content of the soybean p la n ts to increase d u rin g th e la tte r h a lf of th e
grow ing season.
Potassium . The potassium content of th e soybean p la n ts w as th e m ost ir­
re g u la r of the elem ents studied in these experim ents, b u t th e m a jo rity of th e
v a riations w ere sm all. Some of th e la rg e st of th ese v a ria tio n s w ere in creases
occurring w ith the g row th of th e p la n ts d uring th e p eriod fro m 35 to 73 days

E FF E C T OF SO IL T Y PE A N D FER TILIZER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

11

TABLE 4
Soybeans. K ew anee L oam , N e a r Lowell, M ichigan.
35 D ay s A f te r S eed in g ( J u ly 16).
A n a ly sis based on d ry w eight.

A.
Sam ple
No.

Treatm ent

311
312
313
314
315
316
317

none
C a-lim e
M g-lim e
*M g P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

B.

W ater per
gm . dry wt.
gm s.

Ash

Ca

%

%

4.10
4.23
4.18
4.23
4.53
4.30
4.42

9.87
10.22
10.39
10.78
10.37
11.05
11.26

Mg

%

2.081 0.663
2.290 0.802
2.210 0.800
2.256 0.843
2.007 0.754
1.990 0.723
1.906 0.688

1
|

s
%

P

K

%

%

%

5.063
5.089
5.059
5.076
5.323
4.783
4.833

0.275
0.282
0.279
0.272
0.284
0.270
0.279

0.345
0.346
0.340
0.340
0.364
0.325
0.356

0.812
0.653
0.690
0.764
0.843
0.774
0.835

N

73 D a y s A f te r S eed in g (A u g . 23).
351
352
353
354
355
356
357

C.

n one
C a-lim e
M g-lim e
*M g P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

3.58
3.82
4.16
4.09
4.50
4.36
4.20

9.41
9.73
10.25
9.02
9.86
9.63
9.74

1.813 0.643 3.556
1.812 0.644 3.678
1.710 0.702 3.901
1.814 0.732 3.658
1.719 0.648 3.722
1.814 0.733 3.422
1.765 0.782 3.910

0.236 0.383 0.623
0.253 0.270 0.717
0.275 0.289 0.721
0.274 0.308 0.703
0.304 0.349 0.817
0.284 0.331 0.757
0.285 0.322 0.703

109 D ay s A f te r S eed in g (S e p t. 27).
381
382
383
384
385
386
387

no n e
C a-lim e
M g-lim e
*M g P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

6.92 1.294
6.93 1.187
6.48 1.418
6.40 1.362
6.66 1.210
6.32 1.260
6.37 1.239

0.536
0.522
0.672
0.624
0.509
0.513
0.530

3-528
3.424
3.103
3.028
3.147
3.449
3.351

0.277
0.260
0.282
0.258
0.257
0.270
0.251

0.423
0.390
0.357
0.374
0.376
0.388
0.365

0.738
0.776
0.728
0.688
0.678
0.794
0.693

* M agnesic lime.

a f te r se e d in g , on Colom a sa n d re ce iv in g no fe rtiliz e r, m agnesic lim e alone, an d a
tr e a tm e n t o f m ag n e sic lim e, ph o sp h o ru s, and su lfu r. Som e w ere also decreases
o c c u rrin g w ith th e age of th e p la n ts d u rin g th e sam e period w ith th e use o f th e
com plete f e rtiliz e r. T he g e n e ra l ten d en cy seem ed to be a sm all in creased p o ta s­
sium c o n te n t w h e n th e p la n ts w e re h a lf g row n and a d ecrease in th e p la n ts w hen
older.
T he re s u lts o b tain e d in th e s e e x p e rim e n ts show t h a t th e c o n ten t o f ash, calcium
an d m a g n e siu m d ecreased w ith th e ag e of th e p la n t. T h ere w ere som e exceptions,
b u t th e s e m a y be considered as th e excep tio n re s u ltin g fro m som e u nseen condition.
In th e s u lfu r c o n te n t th e re w a s a s trik in g u n ifo rm ity th ro u g h o u t th e g ro w th of
th e p la n t e x c e p t in th e case o f th o se p la n ts g ro w n on Coloma sand. In those
p la n ts re c e iv in g f e rtiliz e rs th e r e w a s a sm a ll d ecrease in th e first h a lf of th e
se a so n a n d a n in c re a s e in th e l a tte r p a r t of th e season of gro w th . T he n itro g e n
c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on C olom a sa n d w a s a n exception to th e g e n e ra l re su lts
o b tain e d . In g e n e ra l, th e re w a s a d ecrease in th e n itro g e n c o n te n t w ith th e
a g e o f th e p la n ts. I t is possible th e in cre ase w hich occurred in p la n ts on Coloma
w a s due to th e in efficie n t u tiliz a tio n by th e p la n ts of th e elem ents available m an
u n b a la n ce d p ro p o rtio n . T his is logical, f o r p la n ts do include in th e ir s tru c tu re

RUSSELL HAYDEN A U ST IN

12

TA BLE 5
Soybeans. M iam i Loam, n e a r M ason, M ichigan.
36 D ays A fte r Seeding (Ju ly 14).
A nalysis based on d ry w eight.

A.
Sample
No.

Treatment

511
512
513
514
515
516
517

none
Ca-lime
Mg-lime
*Mg P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

B.

Water per
gm. dry wt. | Ash
%
sm s.

4.09
4.02
3.46
4.01
3.82
3.70
4.52

Ca

Mg

N

%

%

%

s
%

P

K

%

%

2.370
2.049
2.167
2.112
2.333
2.115
2.300

0.832 4.977 0.258 0.312
0.828 4.781 0.262 0.278
0.842 4.740 0.243 0.246
0.910 4.633 0.245 0.273
0.894 4.510 0.247 0.265
0.836 4.545 0.238 0.250
0.908 4.768 0.248 0.258

1.834
1.691
1.787
1.739
1.869
1.851
1.707

0.773
0.781
0.744
0.873
0.940
0.882
0.777

4.023
3.851
4.054
3.788
3.801
3.677
3.458

0.260
0.251
0.268
0.264
0.272
0.260
0.274

0.242
0.226
0.234
0.235
0.265
0.256
0.261

0.774
0.778
0.684
0.725
0.666
0.710
0.758

6.29 1.291 0.637
6.13 1.183 0.552
6.44 0.943 0.494
6.23 1.173 0.682
5.97 1.193 0.752
6.48 1.159 0.629
6.52 1.278 0.733

3.277
3.570
3.697
2.910
3.437
3.750
3.578

0.229
0.241
0.263
0.243
0.240
0.255
0.226

0.280
0.273
0.285
0.285
0.322
0.352
0.305

0.532
0.596
0.575
0.540
0.510
0.555
0.570

9.46
9.34
9.06
9.03
9.09
8.96
9.30

0.663
0.795
0.745
0.661
0.592
0.654
0.668

73 D ays A fte r Seeding (A ug. 19).
551
552
553
554
555
556
557

C.

none
Ca-lime
M g-lime
*Mg P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
Mg P S K N

4.32
4.14
4.40
4.37
4.15
3.93
4.17

8.58
8.39
8.70
8.83
8.73
9.38
8.71

I l l D ays A fte r Seeding (Sept. 26).
581
582
583
584
585
586
587

none
Ca-lime
Mg-lime
*Mg P
Mg P S
Mg P S K
M g P S K N

5.03
4.48
4.56
4.18
4.06
5.37
5.18

* Magnesic lime.

appreciably larg e am ounts of some elem ents not now know n to be o f a n y definite
value to the plant. The selective feeding ab ility of th e p la n t is exceeded by th e
unbalanced proportions of available elem ents in som e cases. The fun ctio n o f
phosphorus in th e p la n t has been considered one closely associated w ith th e
m atu rity , and fru itin g of the plant. The h ig h er content found in th e p lan ts n e a r
m a tu rity seem s to be in conform ity w ith th is conception. T he re s u lts o f p o ta s­
sium content do not lend them selves to an y definite e x p la n atio n o r conclusion
because of th e irre g u la rity in th e d a ta , tho u g h these v a ria tio n s a re co m p arativ ely
sm all. In th e g row th of th e p la n t th e re is a dim inishing p ro p o rtio n o f th e
m ineral elem ents and an increasing p ro portion of th o se elem ents c o n trib u tin g
largely to the form ation of th e organic portions of th e p lan t.
E F F E C T OF F E R T IL IZ E R T R EA TM EN T U PO N T H E CO M PO SITIO N
O F T H E SO Y BEA N
The effects of th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts upon th e com position o f th e soybeans
in the experim ents re p o rte d in th is p a p er w ere sm all. T his stu d y w as m ade a t
th re e periods d uring the grow ing season and th e com parisons d raw n fo r each
period separately.

E FF E C T OF SOIL T Y P E A N D FE R TILIZ ER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

13

T H IR TY -FIV E DAY S A FTER SEEDING

T he calcic lim e tr e a tm e n t in cre a se d only th e a sh a n d calcium c o n te n ts o f th e
p la n ts on K ew an ee loam (ta b le 4 ). I t d ecreased th e ash , calcium , an d n itro g e n
c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts gro w n on Colom a sa n d (ta b le 3, A ), th e calcium and n itro ­
g e n c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, A ), and th e p o tassiu m
c o n te n t of th e p la n ts g ro w n on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, A ).
T he a p p lic a tio n o f m ag n e sic lim e in cre a se d th e a sh co n ten t o f th e p la n ts grow n
on K ew an ee lo am (ta b le 4, A ). T he calcium and m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts w e re a lso
in c re a s e d b u t to a sm a lle r e x te n t. I t decreased th e w a te r, ash, calcium , and
n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sa n d (ta b le 3, A ) and M iam i
loam ( ta b le 5, A ), a n d th e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts gro w n on Coloma
sa n d . T he calcium c o n te n t of th e p la n ts g row n on Colom a sand receiv in g m a g ­
n e sic lim e w a s 1.99% an d t h a t o f th e p la n ts gro w n on u n fe rtiliz e d Colom a sand
w a s 2.80% . I t w a s 2.16% in th e case o f th e p la n ts on th e calcic lim ed plot.
T h e re is in th e s e d a ta a n in d icatio n o f a d e p ressin g effect o f th e m agnesic and
calcic lim e tr e a tm e n ts up o n th e calcium c o n te n t of th e p lan ts.
T he tr e a tm e n t o f m ag n esic lim e and p h o sp h o ru s in cre ased th e w a te r, ash, and
m a g n e siu m c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts gro w n on Colom a sand (ta b le 3, A ) and th e
a sh , calcium , an d m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts g row n on K ew anee loam
( ta b le 4, a ) . T h is tr e a tm e n t decreased th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts grow n
on C olom a sa n d a n d M iam i loam (ta b le 5, A ), and th e ash, an d calcium c ontent
o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam . The ph o sp h o ru s tre a tm e n t on B rookston*
c la y loam (ta b le 2, A ) in c re a se d th e ash and m ag n e siu m c o n ten ts o f th e p la n ts
a n d d e c re a se d th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th ese p la n ts. The effects a ttrib u te d to th e
a d d itio n o f p h o sp h o ru s to th e tre a tm e n t w ere in cre ases in th e ash , calcium , and
w a te r c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sand (tab le 3, A ), th e a sh content
o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, A ) and th e w a te r c o n ten t o f th e
p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, A ). N o ap p rec ia b le decreases in the
p la n t c o n te n t o f th e re sp e c tiv e ele m en ts w ere produced b y th e additio n of th e
p h o sp h o ru s to th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t.
M a g n e sic lim e, p h o sp h o ru s, and su lfu r on Colom a sa n d (tab le 3, A ) in creased
th e w a te r, a s h a n d m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts, w hile on K ew anee loam
(ta b le 4, A ) i t in c re a se d th e w a te r, a sh an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts. T his tr e a tm e n t
d e cre ased th e calcium a n d n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts on Colom a sand, and
th e w a te r, a sh a n d n itro g e n c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, A ).
O n B ro o k sto n * c la y loam , (ta b le 2, A ) w h e re th e tr e a tm e n t consisted o f th e
p h o sp h o ru s a n d s u lfu r an d no lim e, th e m ag n e siu m c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts w as
in c re a s e d a n d th e w a te r a n d n itro g e n co n ten ts o f th e p la n ts w e re decreased. T he
in tro d u c tio n of th e s u lfu r in to th e f e rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t caused a n in creased ash
c o n te n t a n d a d e cre ased n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts on Colom a sa n d (tab le 3,
A ), a n d a d e cre ased a sh an d w a te r c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on B rookston* clay loam
(ta b le 2, A ).
T h e f e r tiliz e r tr e a tm e n t c o n sistin g of m ag n e sic lim e, phosphorus, su lfu r, and
p o ta s siu m in c re a se d th e w a te r a n d a sh c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts gro w n on K ew anee
lo am (ta b le 4, A ), th e w a te r, a sh a n d p o ta ssiu m c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts grow n on
C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, A ), an d th e a sh and m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts
g ro w n on B rookston* clay loam (ta b le 2, A ). T he n itro g e n co n te n t of th e p lan ts
* N o lim e w as applied on Brookston clay loam.

14

RUSSELL HAYDEN A USTIN

on all fo u r soils (Brookston* clay loam , Coloma sand, K ew anee loam , and M iam i
loam ) and th e calcium, ash and w a te r contents of th e p la n ts gro w n on M iam i
loam (table 5, A ), and th e calcium content of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand
receiving th is tre a tm e n t w ere decreased. The addition of potassium in th is
fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n t caused an increase in th e ash content of th e p la n ts grow n on
Brookston* clay loam (tab le 2, A) and Kew anee loam (table 4, A ), and th e w a te r
and potassium contents of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand (tab le 3, A ). D e­
creases in the calcium content of th e p lan ts grow n on M iami loam (tab le 5, A ),
the w a ter and n itro gen contents of the p lan ts grow n on K ew anee loam (tab le 4,
A ), and the calcium, m agnesium and n itro g en contents of th e p lan ts grow n on
Coloma sand a re also a ttrib u te d to th e potassium in th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t of
these plots.
The com plete fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t increased th e ash and m agnesium con ten ts
of the plants grow n on Brookston* clay loam (tab le 2, A ), th e w a te r, ash and
potassium contents of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand (tab le 3, A ), and th e
w a ter and ash contents of the p lan ts grow n on Kew anee loam (tab le 4, A ). T he
only appreciable decreasing effect from th e com plete fe rtiliz e r occurred in th e
nitro g en content of th e p lan ts g row n on Brookston* clay loam (tab le 2, A ),
Kewanee loam and Miami loam (table 5, A ), and in th e calcium c o n ten t of th e
p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand. E ffects a ttrib u te d to th e n itro g e n in th is fe rtiliz e r
tre a tm e n t w ere an increased n itrogen content of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma
sand and Miami loam, and an increased a sh c ontent of th e p la n ts grow n on
Brookston* clay loam, Kewanee loam , and M iami loam.
The foregoing no tations of the decreased and increased effects of th e fe rtiliz e r
tre a tm e n t upon the com position of the p lan ts 35 days a f te r seeding re p re se n t
only a p a rt of the possibilities. M any cases did not show an y effects, and o th ers
were too sm all fo r consideration. E ach fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t caused b oth in creases
and decreases in some one or m ore elem ents b u t th e num ber of in creases w as
g re a te r th a n the num ber of decreases. E ach fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t decreased th e
n itrogen content of th e p lan ts except th e tre a tm e n t of m agnesic lim e, phosphorus
and su lfu r on Kewanee loam. The ash content w as increased, by each tre a tm e n t,
on one or m ore of th e soils. Both calcic and m agnesic lim e e x erted a d epressing
effect upon the calcium content of th e young plants. The phosphorus, su lfu r, and
potassium contents w ere not affected by th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts . T he com posi­
tion of th e young plan ts (35 days a f te r seeding) w a s affected by th e fe rtiliz e r
tre a tm e n t b u t th e changes, fo r th e m ost p a rt, w ere com paratively sm all. T he
d a ta from one season’s w ork does not lend its e lf to a m ore definite conclusion th a n
th a t draw n.
SEVENTY-THREE DAYS AFTER SEEDING

The calcic lime tre a tm e n t on Coloma sand (tab le 3, B) increased th e a sh con­
te n t of the p lan ts; on Kewanee loam (table 4, B) it increased th e w a te r and a sh
contents; and on Fox sandy loam (table 6) i t increased th e calcium an d n itro g e n
contents. The increase in th e n itrogen content of th e p lan ts on F ox sandy loam
from 2.72% fo r th e check plot to 3.74% fo r th e calcic lim e app licatio n w as a v ery
appreciable one. The ash content of th e p la n ts grow n on F o x sandy loam and
the n itrogen content of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand w ere decreased by th e
application of calcic lime. The com position of th e p lan ts g ro w n on M iam i loam
(tab le 5, B) w as not appreciably affected by th e calcic lim e tre a tm e n t.
• No lime w as applied to Brookston clay loam.

E FF E C T OF SOIL T Y PE A N D FER TILIZER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

15

TABLE 6
Soybeans. F o x S a n d y L oam , N e a r C assapolis, M ichigan.
75 D a y s A f te r S eed in g (A u g . 14).
A n a ly sis based on d ry w eight.
Sam ple
N o.

651
652
652a
653a
654a
655
656
657
658a
658c
659a

T reatm ent

none
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e
L im e

A sh

Ca

Mg

N

K

%

%

%

s
%

P

%

%

%

0.665
0.822
0.783
0.767
0.881
0.832
0.680
0.729
0.967
0.624
0.794

2.725
3.740
4.246
3.940
4.342
4.112
3.867
3.962
4.394
3.609
3.948

0.347
0.244
0.271
0.266
0.287
0.273
0.273
0.234
0.252
0.246
0.237

0.377
0.296
0.281
0.405
0.398
0.405
0.362
0.299
0.346
0.284
0.328

0.511
0.487
0.521
0.436
0.468
0.484
0.688
0.466
0.497
0.564
0.464

................................... 10.57 1.894
7.72 2.078
...................................
K .......................... 8.35 2.025
R -P S ...................
8.80 2.302
R -P ........................ 8.68 2.288
A -P ........................ 8.63 2.292
K A -P ................... 8.56 2.315
K A -P N ............... 7.29 2.152
N ............................. 8.30 1.999
K N ...................... 7.93 2.058
7.72 2.121
A -P N ...................

L im e= 6300 pounds of calcic lim e per acre.
K
= 100 pounds o f m uriate o f potash per acre.
R -P —1000 pounds of rock phosphate per acre.
S
= G ypsu m equivalent to th at in 200 pounds of acid phosphate per acre.
A -P = 200 pounds o f acid phosphate per acre.
N
= 100 pounds o f n itrate o f soda per acre.

T h e m a g n e siu m c o n te n t of th e p la n ts g row n on Colom a sand (tab le 3, B ) and
th e w a te r, a s h a n d n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts gro w n on K ew anee loam
( ta b le 4, B ) w e re in c re a se d b y th e m agnesic lim e tre a tm e n t. T he only d e cre as­
in g effect o f th e m ag n e sic lim e tr e a tm e n t w a s upon th e w a te r an d n itro g e n con­
t e n t s o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sand. T he m agnesic lim e tre a tm e n t did not
affect in a n a p p re c ia b le w a y th e com position o f th e p la n ts gro w n on M iam i loam
(ta b le 5, B ) a s w a s a lso tru e o f th e calcic lim e tre a tm e n t.
A com parison of th e
com p o sitio n of th e so y b ean p la n ts tr e a te d w ith calcic lim e and th o se tre a te d w ith
m a g n e sic lim e in d ic a te d a h ig h e r c o n te n t of m ag n e siu m in th e p la n ts gro w n on
C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, B ), a h ig h e r ash, n itro g e n , a n d w a te r co n ten t m th e p la n ts
g ro w n on K ew an ee lo am (ta b le 4, B ), a n d a h ig h e r w a te r an d a sh c o n te n t m th e
p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, B ), re ce iv in g th e m agnesic lim e tre a tm e n t
T he a sh c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a
sand w as th e only c o n stitu e n t
t h a t w a s h ig h e r in th e p la n ts rece iv in g th e calcic lim e tre a tm e n t.
T he tr e a tm e n t of m ag n e sic lim e an d p h o sp h o ru s in creased th e calcium and
m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts of th e soy b ean p la n ts gro w n on Colom a sand (tab le 3, B ),
th e w a t e r c o n te n t of th e p la n ts g ro w n on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, B) and th e ash
c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i lo am (ta b le 5, B ). T his tre a tm e n t de­
c re a se d th e a s h and n itro g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sand, th e
a s h c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts gro w n on K ew a n ee loam , an d th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of
th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam . T he w a te r, a s h and n itro g e n c o n ten ts o f th e
S a n te W
i on B rookston* d a y loam (ta b le 2, B ) w ere reduced by th e ap p h eatio n o f p h o sp h o ru s alone. A co m p ariso n o f th e com position of th e p la n ts receiv ­
in g a p p lic a tio n s o f m a g n e sic lim e alone a n d w ith p h o sp h o ru s re v e a ls a n in crease
in th e calcium c o n te n t a n d a d e cre ase in th e a sh c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts grow n on
C olom a sa n d , d e c re a s e s in th e a sh an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts grow n on
K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, B ), a n d d ecreases in th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts
* N o lim e w as applied to Brookston clay loam.

16

RUSSELL HAYDEN A U STIN

grow n on M iami loam (table 5, B) due to th e addition of th e phosphorus in th e
tre a tm e n t. W here calcic lime and phosphorus w ere used on F ox sandy loam
(table 6, sam ple 654a) th e calcium, m agnesium , and n itro g e n contents of th e
p lan ts w ere increased. The n itro g e n content w as increased from 2.72% in th e
p lan ts on the check plot to 4.34% in th e p lan ts on th e plot receiving calcic lim e
and rock phosphate on Fox sandy loam . T his, w ith a sim ilar in crease fro m an
application of lime and n itrogen (table 6, sam ple 658a), w ere th e la rg e s t increases
in n itro g en obtained from fertilizatio n . A decrease also occurred in th e ash
content of th e plan ts on th is plot receiving th e lim e and phosphorus. The ash,
calcium, and n itrog en contents of these p lan ts w ere hig h er th a n th e ash, calcium ,
and nitrogen contents of th e plan ts receiving a n application of calcic lim e alone
on Fox sandy loam.
The fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n t of m agnesic lime, phosphorus, and su lfu r increased th e
calcium and m agnesium contents of the p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand (tab le 3, B ),
and the w a ter and ash contents of the p lan ts grow n on K ew anee loam (tab le 4, B ).
This fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t decreased the ash and n itro g e n contents of the p la n ts
grow n on Coloma sand and th e n itrogen content of th e p lan ts grow n on M iam i
loam (table 5, B). A decrease in th e w a ter content of the p lan ts grow n on M iam i
loam was a ttrib u te d to the addition of the su lfu r to th is tre a tm e n t. A n increase
in the ash and w a ter contents of th e plan ts grow n on Kew anee loam w as also
a ttrib u te d to the application of su lfu r on these plots. The phosphorus and su lfu r
tre a tm e n t on Brookston* clay loam resu lted in no increases b u t did re su lt in a
decreased w ater, ash and n itro g en content of th e p lan ts. T he n itro g e n content
w as 2.36% in th e p lan ts tre a te d w ith phosphorus and sulfur, and 3.46% in th e
plan ts given no fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t on Brookston* clay loam . The addition o f
su lfu r to th e fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n t increased the ash and calcium contents of th e
plan ts on Brookston* clay loam in com parison to those p lan ts g e ttin g only phos­
phorus. A tre a tm e n t of calcic lime, phosphorus**, and sulfur** on F o x sandy
loam (table 6) increased th e calcium and nitrogen, and decreased th e a sh con­
ten ts of the soybean plants. The increase in th e n itro g en c ontent fro m 2.72%
in th e plan ts on the check plot to 4.11% on the p lot receiving the lim e, phos­
phorus**, and sulfur** w as quite appreciable though not a s la rg e as in sam ple
654a (table 6).
The m agnesic lime, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium tre a tm e n t increased the
w a ter and ash contents of the p la n ts grow n on K ew anee loam (tab le 4, B) and the
ash content of the p lan ts grow n on Miami loam (tab le 5, B ). T he tr e a tm e n t also
decreased th e ash and nitro g en contents of th e p lan ts grow n on Coloma sand
(table 3, B) and the w a te r and nitro g en contents of th e p lan ts g ro w n on M iam i
loam. On Brookston* clay loam, th is tre a tm e n t which did not include lim e, de­
creased the w ater, ash, and nitro g en contents of th e p lan ts, b u t did not cause
any increases. The calcium and n itro g e n contents of th e soybean p la n ts w ere
increased by the tre a tm e n t of calcic lime, phosphorus**, sulfur**, and potassiu m
on Fox sandy loam (table 6, sam ple 656). The ash content suffered a m ark ed
decrease. I t w as 8.56% in these p lan ts and 10.57% in th e p la n ts on th e check
plot. Only one increase re su lte d from the addition of p otassium to th e fe rtiliz e r
application. T his w as the n itro g e n content of th e p la n ts on B rookston* clay
loam (table 2, B ). D ecreases occurred in th e calcium co n ten t of th e p la n ts on
Brookston* clay loam, th e w a te r content of th e p lan ts on M iam i loam (tab le 5, B ),
• No lime was applied on Brookston clay loam.
** Supplied in the acid phosphate.

E F F E C T O F SOIL TY PE A N D FER TILIZ ER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

17

th e n itro g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on F o x san d y loam , th e a sh an d n itro g e n con­
te n t s o f th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, B ), an d th e ash, calcium an d m a g ­
n e siu m c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, B ).
T he a p p lic a tio n of a com plete fe rtiliz e r produced in cre ases in th e m in eral
c o n s titu e n ts o f th e p la n t only on K ew anee loam (tab le 4, B) and F ox san d y loam
(ta b le 6 ). T h e w a te r , a sh an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam
w e re in c re a se d . T h e tr e a tm e n t of calcic lim e, phosphorus**, sulfur**, po tassiu m ,
a n d n itro g e n on F o x sa n d y loam in cre ased th e calcium and n itro g e n , and de­
c re a se d th e a sh c o n te n t o f th e s e p la n ts. T he n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts on
M iam i loam (ta b le 5, B ) an d th e ash , calcium , and n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts
on C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, B) w e re low ered b y th e ap p lic atio n o f th e com plete
fe rtiliz e r. N o in c re a s e s o ccurred in th e p la n ts on B rookston* clay loam (tab le
2, B ) , b u t d e c re a se s did occur in th e ash , w a te r an d n itro g e n co n ten ts. The
a d d itio n of n itro g e n in th e fe rtiliz e r a p p lic atio n w as accom panied by a n in crease
in th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, B ), a n in crease
in t h e w a te r a n d a d e cre ase in th e a sh an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on
M iam i lo am (ta b le 5, B ), a d e cre ase in th e a sh co n ten t of th e p la n ts on F ox
s a n d y lo am (ta b le 6 ), an d a d ecrease in th e w a te r an d ash c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts
on B ro o k sto n * clay loam . T he n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p la n ts on F o x sandy loam
w a s in c re a s e d fro m 2.72% in th e p la n ts on th e check p lo t to 3.96% in th e p la n ts
on th e p lo t re c e iv in g th e com plete fe rtiliz e r.
T he effects o f th e f e rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts on th e p la n ts 73 days a f te r seeding
w e re q u ite i r r e g u l a r a s w a s tr u e in th e case of th e y o u n g e r p la n ts. T hough
d efin ite conclusions a re n o t possible y e t th e r e a re som e m ark e d evidences of
defin ite effects. T h e lim e a p p lic atio n s did n o t have th e sam e d e p ressin g effect
u p o n th e calcium c o n te n t o f th ese p la n ts as w as noted in th e y o u n g e r p lan ts.
A lso th e lim e a p p lic a tio n s did n o t show a n y effects upon th e com position of p la n ts
on M iam i loam . T he p h o sp h o ru s, su lfu r, and p o tassiu m c o n ten ts of th e p la n ts
w e re n o t a ffe c te d b y th e f e rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts , w hich w a s also tru e in th e you n g er
p la n ts . E a c h fe rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t on F o x san d y loam caused a n in crease in n itro ­
g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts. T his in cre ase is n o tab le because th e only o th e r in ­
c re a se s w e re f o r th e m ag n e sic lim e a n d com plete fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts on K ew anee
loam .
ONE H U N D R ED T E N DAYS AFTER SEEDING

T h e only a p p rec ia b le effect o f calcic lim e alone upon th e com position of the
so y b e a n p la n ts a p p ro a c h in g m a tu r ity w a s a n in creased n itro g e n and a decreased
w a te r c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, C ), an d a decreased ash
c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on Colom a sa n d (ta b le 3, C ).
T h e tr e a tm e n t of m a g n e sic lim e h a d no m ore effect on th e com position o f th e
so y b e a n p la n ts t h a n th e calcic lim e tr e a tm e n t. T he n itro g e n c o n ten t of th e p la n ts
on M iam i loam a n d t h e m ag n e siu m an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on Coloma
s a n d w e re th e only c o n stitu e n ts o f th e p la n ts t h a t w ere in creased by th e m agnesic
lim e tr e a tm e n t. T he d e p re ssin g effects o f th e m ag n esic lim e w ere no ted in th e
a s h a n d n itro g e n c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, C ), th e w a te r
a n d calcium c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on M iam i loam (ta b le 5, C ), and th e ash and
calcium c o n te n ts o f th e p la n ts on C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, C ). The calcium c ontent
* N o lim e w as applied on Brookston clay loam.
** Supplied in the acid phosphate.

18

R USSELL HAYDEN A U STIN

of th e p la n ts on Coloma sand w as depressed from 2.11% on th e check p lo t to
1.17% on th e m agnesic lim ed plot. The calcium co n ten t of th e p lan ts on the
calcic lim ed p lot on Coloma sand w as 2.08%, w hich w as h ig h e r th a n f o r th e m a g ­
nesic lim ed plot by a difference of 0.91%. A h ig h er calcium c o n ten t of th e plan ts
on M iami loam and a h ig h er ash and n itro g e n c ontent of th e p lan ts on K ewanee
loam resu lted from th e tre a tm e n t of calcic lim e th a n fro m th e m agnesic lime
trea tm e n t. On th e o th er hand, th e re w as a h ig h e r c ontent of m agnesium and
n itro g en in th e p lan ts on Coloma sand, a h ig h e r co n ten t of calcium in th e p la n ts
on K ew anee loam , and a hig h er ash content in th e p la n ts on M iam i loam from
the application of m agnesic lim e th a n th e re w as fro m th e application of calcic
lime.
A h igher content of m agnesium in th e p la n ts grow n on B rookston* clay loam
w as th e only increase from th e ap plication of phosphorus e ith e r w ith or w ithout
lime. Several depressing effects occurred which w ere as follow s: th e w a te r and
nitro g en contents of th e plan ts on M iam i loam , (tab le 5, C ), th e ash and n itrogen
contents of th e p lan ts on Kewanee loam (table 4, C ), th e calcium and ash contents
of th e p lan ts on Coloma sand (tab le 3, C ), and th e ash and n itro g e n contents of
th e p lan ts on Brookston* clay loam (table 2, C). The effect o f th e addition of
phosphorus to th e fe rtiliz e r ap plication w as an increased calcium and a decreased
m agnesium content of th e p lan ts on Coloma sand and M iam i loam . The n itrogen,
w ater, and ash contents on M iam i loam w ere also decreased by th e addition of
th e phosphorus to th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t.
The phosphorus and su lfu r tre a tm e n ts on th e B rookston* clay loam caused
increases in th e ash, calcium and m agnesium , and decreases in th e n itro g e n con­
te n ts of th e soybean plants. The ash and calcium contents o f th e p lan ts w ere
g re a te r th a n w here phosphorus alone w as applied on Brookston* clay loam . The
tre a tm e n t of m agnesic lim e, phosphorus, and su lfu r on th e o th e r soil ty p es caused
no increases in th e com position of th e plan ts. D ecreasing effects, how ever, oc­
curred in th e n itrogen content of th e p lan ts grow n on Colom a sand (tab le 3, C)
and K ewanee loam (table 4, C ), th e calcium c o n ten t of th e p la n ts on Coloma
sand, and the a sh content of the p lan ts on Coloma sand, K ew anee loam and Miami
loam. An increased ash content o f th e p lan ts on K ew anee loam , a n increased
n itro g en content of the p lan ts on M iam i loam , and a decreased a sh c ontent of
th e p lan ts on Coloma sand and M iam i loam w ere a ttrib u te d to th e addition of
su lfu r in th is fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t.
The tre a tm e n t consisting of m agnesic lim e, phosphorus, su lfu r, and potassium
increased th e ash and m agnesium contents of th e p la n ts on Coloma sand (tab le 3,
C) and th e w a ter, ash, and n itro g en contents of the p la n ts on M iam i loam (tab le
5, C). T his tre a tm e n t also decreased th e ash c o n ten t of th e p la n ts on K ew anee
loam (table 4, C) and th e calcium and n itro g e n contents of th e p la n ts on Coloma
sand. On th e Brookston* clay loam the only appreciable effect w as a reduction
in th e n itro g en content of th e plan ts. The effects a ttrib u te d to th e addition of
potassium to th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t w ere an in creased a sh co n te n t o f th e plan ts
on Coloma sand (table 3, C) and M iami loam (tab le 5, C ), a n in creased w a te r
content of th e p lan ts on M iam i loam , and an in creased n itro g e n co n ten t o f the
plan ts on Brookston* clay loam (tab le 2, C), K ew anee loam (ta b le 4, C) and
M iami loam . T his tre a tm e n t also caused a decreased calcium co n te n t of th e
* No lime was applied on the Brookston clay loam.

E F F E C T OF SOIL T Y PE A N D FER TILIZ ER TRE ATMENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

19

p la n ts on B ro o k sto n * c la y loam a n d a decreased ash c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on
B ro o k sto n * c la y loam a n d K ew anee loam .
T he com plete f e rtiliz e r in cre a se d th e m agnesium co n te n t o f th e p la n ts on
B ro o k sto n * clay loam an d th e a sh an d n itro g e n c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts on M iam i
lo a m (ta b le 5, C ). T he tr e a tm e n t also d ecreased th e a sh c o n te n t of th e p la n ts
on B rookston* clay loam (ta b le 2, C ), C olom a sa n d (ta b le 3, C) a n d K ew anee
loam (ta b le 4, C ), th e n itro g e n c o n te n t on B rookston* clay loam and Coloma sand,
a n d th e calcium c o n te n t on Colom a sand. No in cre ases re su lte d fro m th e a d ­
d itio n o f th e n itro g e n to th is f e rtiliz e r a p p lic atio n . T he ad dition o f n itro g e n ,
ho w ev er, did c au se a d e cre ased a sh and n itro g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts on B rooks­
ton* c la y loam an d a d ecreased ash , m ag n e siu m and n itro g e n co n te n t of th e
p la n ts on C olom a sand.
T he fo re g o in g d a ta a n d n o ta tio n s of th e effects o f th e tre a tm e n ts upon th e
co m p o sitio n of th e p la n ts a re q u ite irre g u la r. H ow ever, th e re a re som e re g u la ri­
tie s .
T h e p h o sp h o ru s, s u lfu r and p o tassiu m c o n te n ts w ere n o t app reciab ly
c h a n g e d b y th e tre a tm e n ts . T h ere w e re few in cre ased ash c o n te n ts b u t m an y
d e c re a se d a sh c o n te n ts. T hese re su lte d m o re fro m th e tr e a tm e n ts c a rry in g tw o
o r m o re e le m en ts. In fa c t, th e re w ere v e ry few in cre ases in th e c o n te n t of any
e le m e n t, b u t m a n y d ecreases. A d e cre ase in th e m in e ral elem ents re su ltin g in an
in c re a s e d g ro w th , c e rta in ly re su lte d in an in cre ased c o n te n t o f th e o th e r con­
s titu e n ts , a s c a rb o h y d ra te s, etc. T h o u g h no yields w ere obtained, in creased
g ro w th did r e s u lt fro m a ll tr e a tm e n ts on each soil, ex cep t possibly som e of th e
lim e tr e a tm e n ts . I t is th e opinion o f th e w rite r t h a t th ese soils do n o t suffer
fro m a deficiency o f p h o sp h o ru s in co m p ariso n to o th e r elem ents th o u g h one o r
tw o o f th e soils m a y be low in to ta l p h o sp h o ru s con ten t. A s h o rta g e in ph o s­
p h o ru s a v a ila b le to p la n ts, w hen th e o th e r e lem en ts a re availab le in sufficient
a m o u n ts f o r n o rm a l g ro w th , c o n stitu te s a tr u e an d d e trim e n ta l s h o rta g e fro m
w hich th e com position o f th e p la n t w ill dou b tless suffer. T his condition su rely
h a s n o t e x iste d in th e s e soils u n d e r e x p e rim e n ta tio n . D oubtless, p h osphorus w as
n o t a b u n d a n tly a v ailab le in C olom a sa n d and K ew anee loam , b u t i t w as also as
p ro b a b le t h a t n itro g e n , p o tassiu m , an d o th e r f a c to rs w ere n o t up to optim um fo r
p ro d u c tio n , f o r th e re w a s p la in ly v isib le re sp o n se to fe rtiliz a tio n . T he effects
u p o n th e g ro w th of th e p la n ts w a s less, th e g ro w th on a ll tre a tm e n ts w as also
g r e a te r , a n d th e effect up o n th e com position of th e p la n t w a s less on M iam i loam
th a n on e ith e r K ew anee loam or Colom a sand. A s h o rta g e o f a n elem en t neces­
s ita te s , to a c e rta in e x te n t, an u n b alan ced p ro p o rtio n o f th e elem en ts availab le
to th e p la n ts . E ffec ts fro m soil tre a tm e n ts upon th e com position o f th e p la n t
c e rta in ly can be expected w h e re th e re is a deficiency of som e one o r tw o o f th e
a d d ed e le m e n ts, b u t w h e re th e re is a condition a p p ro x im a tin g a balanced con­
d itio n a n y m o d e ra te f e rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t does n o t giv e r e g u la r and appreciable
e ffe c ts u p o n th e com position o f th e p la n t. A lack o f co n tro l o f th e m any con­
t r ib u tin g f a c to rs acc o u n ts in p a r t fo r th e irre g u la r ity in th e re s u lts w hich have
b e en re p o rte d up o n th e su b je ct.
E F F E C T O F S O IL T Y P E U P O N T H E C O M PO S IT IO N O F T H E SO YBEAN
A stu d y o f th e effect of th e soil ty p e upon th e com position of th e soybean p la n t
w a s m ad e u p o n t h e u n tre a te d soils used in th ese ex p erim e n ts a t th e th re e periods
* N o lim e w as applied on the Brookston clay loam.

20

RUSSELL HAYDEN A USTIN

during the grow th of the plan ts.

The com parisons a re d raw n fo r th e periods

separately.
THIRTY-FIVE DAYS AFTER SEEDING

The m oisture content of th e young soybean p lan ts grow n on th e soils used in
these experim ents w as uniform w ithin v ery sm all v a ria tio n s. I t w as h ig h er in
the p lan ts on B rookston clay loam and low er in th e p la n ts on Coloma sand th a n
in th e plan ts on H illsdale sandy loam , M iami loam , o r K ew anee loam (tab le 7,
A ). The p la n ts g row n on H illsdale sandy loam and Coloma sand h a d th e h ig h est
ash (10,70% and 10.12%) and calcium (2.70% and 2.79% ), and th e low est m a g ­
nesium (0.58% and 0.69% ) and n itro g e n (4.41% and 4.17% ) contents. The cal­
cium content w as th e low est in th e p la n ts grow n on K ew anee loam (2.08% ). The
soybean plan ts grow n on B rookston clay loam had th e h ig h e st m agnesium
(1.08% ) content, one of the h ig h est n itro g e n contents (4.81% ), and one of th e
low est calcium (2.16% ) and ash (9.72% ) contents. The K ew anee loam produced
plants w ere the highest, and the M iami loam produced p la n ts w ere second h ig h est
in the n itrogen content (5.06% and 4.97% ). The phosphorus, su lfu r, and p o ta s­
sium contents did n o t v a ry to any g r e a t e x te n t on th e soil ty p es used in th is
experim ent. A sm all difference in th e su lfu r c ontent existed betw een th e p la n ts
grow n on Coloma sand and H illsdale sandy loam (0.31% a n d 0.23% ). The
v ariatio n in the phosphorus content w as fro m 0.46% in th e p la n ts grow n on
Brookston clay loam and 0.41% in th e p lan ts g row n on Coloma sand to 0.23%
in the plants grow n on H illsdale sandy loam . T he K ew anee loam grow n p lan ts
had the highest potassium content (0.81% ). The p otassium co n ten t ra n g ed in
th e o th er p lan ts from 0.69% in th e p lan ts on H illsdale sandy loam to 0.50% in
the plants on Coloma sand.
A general correlation exists betw een th e ash content and th e size of th e young
plants. Those grow n on Coloma sand, K ew anee loam , and H illsdale sandy loam
w ere sm aller and possessed a hig h er ash c ontent th a n th o se on B rookston clay
loam, and Miami loam, which w ere th e la rg e s t in size. F o r a finer com parison,
th is correlation will n o t hold tru e , because th e p lan ts on Coloma sand and K e­
w anee loam w ere the sm allest in size and th e h ig h est a sh c o n ten t occurred in th e
p lants on H illsdale, which ranked th ird in size, and second h ig h e st in th e p lan ts
on Coloma sand. A n a p p are n t c orrelation ex ists betw een th e size o f th e p lan t
and m agnesium content in th a t those grow n on B rookston clay loam and M iam i
loam w ere la rg e r and had a h ig h er m agnesium c ontent th a n th o se on th e o th er
th ree soils.
SEVENTY-THREE DAYS AFTER SEEDING

The v ariations in th e w a te r c ontent of th e soybean p la n ts 73 d a y s a fte r seed­
ing (tab le 7, B ), though sm all, w ere g re a te r th a n in th e y ounger p la n ts (tab le 7,
A ). A ppreciable differences occurred in th e ash co n ten t of th e p la n ts grow n on
th e several soils. T he h ig h est ash content w as in th e p la n ts grow n on Coloma
sand (11.36% ), and B rookston clay loam (10.61% ) and F ox san d y loam (10.57% ),
and the low est ash content w as in the p lan ts grow n on M iam i loam (8.58% ).
Only a sm all difference existed betw een th e a sh co n ten ts of th e p la n ts on K e­
w anee loam (9.41% ) and H illsdale sandy loam (9.23% ). Less v a ria tio n occurred
in th e calcium contents of the soybean p lan ts 73 days a f te r seeding (tab le 7, B)
th a n in the plan ts 35 days a fte r seeding (tab le 7, A ). The calcium co n te n t w as

E FF E C T OF SOIL T Y PE A N D FER TILIZER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

21

TABLE 7
S oybeans. U n fe rtiliz e d p la n ts.
35 D a y s A fte r S eed in g ( J u ly 13),
A n a ly sis based on d ry w eig h t
Sam ple
No.

O il
111
211
311
511
B.

W ater per
gm . dry wt.
gms.

Soil type

H illsd ale
B ro o k sto n
Colom a
K ew anee
M iam i

Ash

Ca

Mg

N

%

%

%

%

s
%

P

K

%

%

10.70 2.702 0.586 4.414 0.232 0.234 0.695
9.72 2.162 1.083 4.815 0.289 0.469 0.635
10.12 2.799 0.694 4.173 0.318 0.411 0.504
9.87 2.081 0.663 5.063 0.275 0.345 0.812
9.46 2.370 0.832 4 j977 0.258 0.312 0.663

4.03
4.29
3.76
4.10
4.09

73 D a y s A fte r S eeding (A ug. 19).
051
151
251
351
551
651

C.

H illsd ale
B ro o k sto n
C olom a
K ew anee
M iam i
Fox

4.32
4.88
3.34
3.58
4.32

9.23
10.61
11.36
9.41
8.58
10.57

| 2.050
| 1.792
| 1.760
| 1.813
| 1.834
| 1.894

I 0.846 3.833 | 0.283
| 1.086 3.463 ] 0.291
j 0.644 2.163 | 0.321
) 0.643 3.556 | 0.236
1 0.773 4.023 | 0.260
| 0.665 2.725 ] 0.347

0.287 0.722
0.374 0.627
0.403 0.729
0.383 0.623
0.242 0.774
0.377 0.511

110 D ay s A f te r S eeding (S e p t. 26).
081
181
281
381
581

|
|
|
]
j

H illsd ale
B rookston
Colom a
K ew anee
M iam i

1

......

|

......

|

5.03

|

|
|
|
|
|

8.13 1.865 0.719 3.167 0.249 0.329 0.576
8.56 1.681 0.795 2.291 0.326 0.390 0.713
8.37 2.115 0.607 2.441 0.286 0.462 0.591
6.92 1.294 0.536 3.528 0.277 0.423 0.738
6.29 1.291 0.637 3.277 0.229 0.280 0.532

a little h ig h e r in th e p la n ts g row n on H illsd ale sa n d y loam (2.05% ) and w as
lo w e st in th e p la n ts g ro w n on C olom a sa n d (1.76% ) and B rookston clay loam
(1 .7 9 % ) t h a n in th e p la n ts gro w n on th e o th e r soils. T he B rookston clay loam
g ro w n p la n ts h a d th e h ig h e s t m ag n esiu m c o n te n t (1.08% ) and th e p la n ts grow n
on H ills d a le sa n d y loam h a d th e second h ig h e s t m ag n e siu m co n ten t (0.84% ).
V e ry little d ifference e x iste d b etw een th e m ag n e siu m c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts
g ro w n on th e o th e r th r e e soils of w hich th e Colom a sa n d and K ew anee loam
g ro w n p la n ts w e re th e lo w est (0 .6 4 % ). T he n itro g e n c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts w as
g r e a t e s t on M iam i loam (4 .0 2 % ), H illsd ale sa n d y loam (3.83% ), K ew anee loam
(3 .5 5 % ) a n d B ro o k sto n clay loam (3.46), an d w a s lo w est on Colom a sand (2.16% )
a n d F o x sa n d y loam (2 .7 2 % ). T he difference in th e su lfu r c o n te n ts of th e p la n ts
g ro w n on K ew an ee loam (0.23% — th e low est) an d on F o x sa n d y loam (0.34% )
w a s n o t la rg e . V a ria tio n s in th e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts grow n on th e
soil ty p e s u se d in th is e x p e rim e n t w e re ap p rec ia b le. T he h ig h e st phosphorus
c o n te n t o f th e soy b ean p la n ts w a s on Colom a san d (0.40% ), K ew anee loam
10.38% ), B ro o k sto n clay loam (0.37% ) and F o x san d y loam (0 .3 7 % ). M iam i
lo am a n d H illsd a le sa n d y loam g ro w n p la n ts w e re th e low est in phosphorus con­
t e n t (0.24% a n d 0 .2 8 % ). T he effect of th e soil ty p e u p o n th e p o tassiu m content
of th e so y b e a n p la n ts w a s n o t pronounced. F o x sa n d y loam gro w n p la n ts w ere
th e lo w e st a n d M iam i loam g ro w n p la n ts w e re th e h ig h e s t in th e ir content of
p o ta s siu m (0.51% an d 0 .7 7 % ). P ra c tic a lly no difference ex isted betw een th e
p o ta s siu m c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sand an d th e p la n ts g row n on
H ills d a le sa n d y loam (0 .7 2 % ), and b e tw ee n th e p la n ts g ro w n on B rookston clay
loam a n d th e p la n ts g ro w n on K ew an ee loam (0 .6 2 % ).

22

RUSSELL HAYDEN A USTIN

The la rg e r m ore th rifty p lan ts, which w ere those grow n on M iam i loam , and
Brookston clay loam had h igher n itro g e n and m agnesium contents and low er
phosphorus and ash contents th a n th e sm allest p lan ts, w hich w ere those grow n
on Coloma sand. T hese d a ta lend them selves less to co rrelatio n s to th e size of
the p lant th a n did th e d a ta fo r th e younger plan ts.
ONE HUNDRED TEN DAYS AFTER SEEDING

The influence of the soil ty p e upon th e com position of th e soybean p la n ts a t th e
stag e or grow th fo r hay is shown by th e d a ta in tab le 7, C. The to ta l a sh con­
te n t w as th e highest in the plan ts grow n on B rookston clay loam (8.56% ), Coloma
sand (8.37% ) and H illsdale sandy loam (8.13% ), and w as low est in th e p lan ts
grow n on Miami loam (6.29% ) and K ew anee loam (6.92% ). T he m agnesium
(0.79% ) and su lfu r (0.32% ) contents w ere th e h ig h est in th e p la n ts grow n on
Brookston clsy loam, and the calcium (2.11% ) and phosphorus (0.46% ) contents
were the h ig h est in the p lan ts on Coloma sand. T he B rookston clay loam and
Kewanee loam grow n plan ts contained th e h ig h est p e r cent o f potassium (0.71%
and 0.73% ), and th e M iami loam grow n p lan ts contained th e low est p e r cent of
potassium (0.53% ). The highest per cent of n itro g e n w as in th e p la n ts g row n
on Kewanee loam (3.52% ), Miami loam (3.27% ), and H illsdale sandy loam
(3.16% ), and the low est per cent of n itro g en w as in th e p la n ts grow n on B rooks­
ton clay loam (2.29% ) and Coloma sand (2.44% ). M iam i loam produced the
p lan ts containing the low est p e r cent o f a sh (6.29% ), calcium (1.29% ), su lfu r
(0.22% ), phosphorus (0.28% ) and potassium (0.53% ), and one of th e h ig h est
per cents of n itrogen (3.27% ).
The influence of the soil ty p e upon th e com position of th e p lan ts is show n in
the above n otations from table 7. To draw definite co rrelatio n s of th e g ro w th
of the plan ts to the content of an elem ent is difficult because of th e irr e g u la r i­
ties, b u t th ere are some general correlations a p p are n t. Those p lan ts grow n on
Miami loam had th e low est contents of ash, su lfu r, calcium , phosphorus, and
potassium , and w ere am ong the la rg e st, being exceeded in size only by those
grow n on B rookston clay loam. The m agnesium content of th e p la n ts a t each
period of grow th w as associated w ith th e la rg e r g ro w th of p lan ts. T he calcium
content tended to a lim ited e x te n t to be inversely pro p o rtio n al to th a t o f the
m agnesium . The calcium and phosphorus contents of th ese p la n ts w ere not low
to the e x te n t th a t it would be detrim en tal to the n u tritio n of th e livestock con­
sum ing th e hay th erefro m ( 6, 12). These soils a re th e re fo re n o t deficient in
available phosphorus to th e ex ten t of an unbalanced proportion to th e o th er ele­
m ents, which in all probability, is th e condition ex istin g in those localities su f­
fe rin g from the deficiency of lim e and phosphorus in th e h a y and p a stu re g ra ss
produced (6, 12, 39).
CELL SA P ST U D IE S
T h at th e concentration and phosphorus content of th e sap of several crops
w as affected by fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts and soil type, h a s been show n by McCool
(24). In th is pap er a re presented the re su lts of sim ilar studies of th e effect of
additions of phosphorus and potassium and also th e effect of th e soil ty p e upon
the phosphorus, potassium , and calcium contents of th e cell sap of th e soybean
p lan t. These studies w ere confined to th e greenhouse grow n p la n ts except fo r a
few sam ples from field plots on M iami loam .

E FF E C T OF SO IL T Y P E A N D FER TILIZ ER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

23

TABLE 8
C ell S ap of S oybean P la n ts G row n in G reenhouse.
P h o s p h o ru s C ontent.
S oil Type

K a lam az o o muclc
M iam i loam
N a p p a n e e loam
K ew a n ee loam
C olom a sa n d
F o x sa n d y loam
P la in fie ld sa n d
B e rrie n sa n d y loam

1G D ays A fter Seeding

D ays A fter Seeding

T reatm ent o f pots
I P 0.2* | P 2*
none I K 0.1* K 1

Treatm ent of pots
I P 0.2 I P 2
none I K 0.1
K 1

%

%

0.029

0.026

0.027

0.030

51 Days A fter Seeding
T reatm ent of pots
' P 0.2 I P 2
none I K 0.1 t K 1

%
%
%
%
0.006 0.016 0.075 0.025
0.011 0.015 0.036 0.055
0.018 0.019 0.033 0.061
0.029 0.031 0.040 0.050
0.026 0.033 0.037 0.062 0.057
0.024 0.011 0.026 0.056
0.028 0.033
0.050 0.064
0.047

%
%
0.044 0.074
0.055 0.092
0.062 0.073

0.048

0.056

P o ta ssiu m C o n ten t
K a lam az o o m uck
M iam i lo am
N a p p a n e e loam
K e w a n ee lo am
C olom a sa n d
F o x sa n d y loam
P la in fie ld sa n d
B e rrie n sa n d y loam

0.228

0.210

0.171

0.169

0.191
0.089
0.212
0.171
0.135 0.173
0.147
0.207 0.319

0.192
0.133
0.216
0.169
0.281
0.169

0.308 0.178
0.209 0.212 0.233
0.269 0.240 0.241
0.380 0.246
0.299 0.219
0.477 0.181 0.213
0.402 0.209
0.263

0.307
0.322

0.282

* Grams o f m ono-calcium phosphate per pot.
** Grams o f potassium chloride per pot.
EFF E C T OF FER T IL IZ E R TR EATM ENT U P O N THE COMPOSITION OF THE CELL SAP

G reen h o u se S tu d ies. T h e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e cell sap o f th e soybean
p la n ts 16 d a y s a f te r seeding w a s n o t affected b y th e tr e a tm e n t o f m ono-calcium
p h o sp h a te a n d p o ta s siu m chloride in e ith e r th e lig h t o r th e h e av y ap p lic atio n on
C olom a sa n d a n d P lain field sa n d . T he a p p lic atio n of th e p h o sp h o ru s and p o ta s­
siu m did c au se a n in c re a se in th e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e cell sap of th e p lan ts
33 d a y s a f t e r se e d in g on six o f th e seven soil ty p es used in th is e xperim ent. The
effe c ts o f th e lig h t a p p lic a tio n w ere v e ry sm all, b u t re la tiv e ly la rg e in creases re ­
s u lte d fro m th e h e a v y a p p lic atio n of p h o sp h o ru s an d p o tassiu m . T he phosphorus
c o n te n t of th e cell sap of th e p la n ts on F o x sa n d y loam 51 d a y s a f te r seeding
(ta b le 8 ) w a s red u ce d a v e ry sm a ll a m o u n t b y th e lig h t ap p licatio n , and w as not
affe c te d b y th e h e a v y a p p lic atio n . A so m e w h a t sim ila r condition occurred in
th e s e p la n ts 33 d a y s a f te r seeding. A m a rk e d in c re a se in th e p hosphorus con­
te n t o f th e cell sa p of th e p la n ts on K alam azo o m uck re su lte d from both th e
lig h t a n d th e h e a v y a p p lic a tio n of p h o sp h o ru s and p o tassiu m . T he lig h t applica­
tio n h a d no effect b u t th e h e av y a p p lic atio n in cre ased th e p hosphorus content
o f th e cell sa p o f th e p la n ts on M iam i loam a n d N a p p an e e loam .
T h e p o ta s s iu m c o n te n t o f th e cell sa p of soybean p la n ts 16 d a y s a f te r seeding
show ed a te n d e n c y t o r th e p o ta s siu m c o n te n t to be h i g h e r ' i n t h e J
field sa n d a n d to be lo w er in th e p la n ts on C olom a sand, (ta b le 8 . T he effect of
th e lig h t a p p lic a tio n o f p h o sp h o ru s and p o ta s siu m w as n egligible m th e p lan s

RUSSELL HAYDEN AUSTIN

24

TA BLE 9
Cell Sap of Soybean P la n t Grown on M iam i Loam , n e a r M ason, M ichigan.
Date
Days After S eed in g:
Plot No.

Treatment

1

none .........................
Ca-lim e ...................
M g-lime ................
*Mg P ........................
Mg -P S ...................
Mg P S K..............
Mg P S K N ........

2

3
4
5
6

7

1 July 27. Aug. 20
1
49
74
1
Phosphorus
%

0.022
0.022
0.036
0.040
0.044
0.040
0.036

0.038
0.034
0.035
0.033
0.040
0.036
0.041

I July 27. Aug. 20
1
49
74
Potassium

( July 27. Aug. 20
I
49
74
1
Calcium

%

0.195
0.210
0.228
0.104
0.108
0.300
0.310

%

0.123
0.091
0.251
0.107
0.179
0.177
0.175

0.342
........

0.600
0.586

........

0.475

* Magnesic lime.

on these soils. The study of th e potassium c ontent of th e cell sap of th e p lan ts
33 and 51 days a fte r seeding reveals a g eneral tendency fo r it to be increased by
the trea tm e n t. However, the effects of the lig h t a pplication w ere p ra ctic a lly nil
in the plants 33 days a fte r seeding on K alam azoo m uck, N appanee loam , Kewanee loam and Fox sandy loam , and also in p lan ts 51 days a f te r seeding on
Kalam azoo muck, M iami loam , N appanee loam and F ox sandy loam . V ery
m arked increases w ere observed in th e potassium content of th e cell sap of the
plan ts 33 days a fte r seeding from the heavy ap plication of phosphorus and p o ta s­
sium on K alam azoo muck, K ewanee loam and F ox sandy loam . The p la n ts on
the other soils showed sm aller increases in th e potassium c o n ten t of th e cell sap
of th e p lan ts 33 days a f te r seeding from th e heavy application. T he lig h t a p ­
plication had relativ ely little effect on the p otassium content of th e cell sap of
the plan ts 51 days a f te r seeding, b u t th e heavy application caused appreciable
increases in the potassium content o f the cell sap of th e p lan ts. T his effect w as
m ost pronounced in the p la n ts grow n on K alam azoo m uck.
Field Studies. The phosphorus content of the cell sap o f th e soybean p lan ts
on the field plots on M iami loam 49 days a f te r seeding w as increased by each of
th e fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n ts w ith th e exception of th e calcic lim e tre a tm e n t which
had no effect (table 9). The tre a tm e n t of m agnesic lim e, phosphorus, and su lfu r
on plot num ber 5 produced th e g re a te s t increase in th e phosphorus c ontent of
the cell sap of the plan ts. Seventy-four days a f te r seeding, th e only indication
of an increased effect w as also from th e tre a tm e n t on p lo t n um ber 5 and fro m the
com plete fe rtiliz er tre a tm e n t on plot num ber 7 (tab le 9). Calcic lim e alone,
m agnesic lime alone, m agnesic lime and phosphorus, and m ag n estic lim e, phos­
phorus, and su lfu r caused decreases in the phosphorus co n te n t o f th e cell sap of
the soybean plan ts 74 days a fte r seeding. The phosphorus co n te n t o f th e cell sap
of the p lan ts on the check plot w as h igher in th e older p la n ts th a n in th e younger
plants. The calcic lim e alone and th e com plete fe rtiliz e r w ere th e only t r e a t ­
m ents w hich produced an increased phosphorus co n ten t of th e cell sap w ith th e
grow th of the soybean plant.
The potassium content of th e cell sap of th e soybean p la n ts 49 days a fte r
seeding w as reduced by th e application of m agnesic lim e and phosphorus, and
m agnesic lime, phosphorus, and sulfur. Lim e alone did n o t affect th e potassium
content of the cell sap of th e younger p lan ts to an y g r e a t e x te n t, b u t in th e older
p lan ts the calcic lim e alone reduced th e potassium c ontent of th e cell sap and th e

E FF E C T O F SOIL T Y PE A N D FER TILIZER TREATM ENT ON COMPOSITION OF SOYBEAN

25

T A B L E 10
C ell S ap o f S oybean P la n ts G row n in G reenhouse.
C alcium C o n ten t
T oil Type

16 D ays A fter
Seeding

%
K a lam az o o m u ck ...........................
M iam i loam ......................................
N a p p a n e e loam ...............................
K e w a n ee lo am .................................
C olom a s a n d ....................................
F o x sa n d y lo a m .............................
P la in fie ld sa n d ................................. |
B e rrie n sa n d y lo am ........................

......
0.075

1
1

33 D ays A fter
Seeding

%
0.255
0.445
0.286
0.273
0.228
0.404
0.341

1
1

(

51 D ays A fter
Seeding

%
0.234
0.372
0.243
0.185
0.240
0.225
0.230
0.248

m a g n e sic lim e in c re a s e d th e p o ta s siu m c o n te n t o f th e ceil sa p o f th e soybean
p la n ts . T he co m p lete f e rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t an d th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t lacking
n itr o g e n in c re a s e d th e p o ta ssiu m c o n te n t of th e cell sap in b oth th e young and
th e o ld e r so y b e a n p la n ts.
EFFEC T OF SO IL T Y PE U P O N TH E COMPOSITION OF TH E CELL SAP

T h a t th e com po sition o f th e cell sa p is affected by th e soil ty p e is show n by
th e d a ta o f th e p h o sp h o ru s, p o ta ssiu m , and calcium c o n te n ts p re sen te d in tab les
8 a n d 10.
T he p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t of th e cell sa p o f soybean p la n ts 33 days a f te r seeding
w a s h ig h e s t in th e p la n ts g ro w n on K ew anee loam , Colom a sand, P ox sandy loam
a n d P lain field sa n d . F ifty -o n e d a y s a f te r seeding th e p h osphorus co n ten t of th e
cell sa p o f th e p la n ts on th e s e soils w a s a g a in h ig h , and th e p hosphorus c o n ten t
o f th e cell s a p o f th e p la n ts on N a p p an e e loam , M iam i loam an d B errien sandy
lo am w a s a lso h ig h . T h e p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t of th e cell sap of th e p la n ts 33
a n d 51 d a y s a f t e r se e d in g w a s lo w est in th e p la n ts on K alam azoo m uck (ta b le 8 ).
T h e p o ta s siu m c o n te n t of th e cell sa p of th e p la n ts 33 days a f te r seeding w as
h ig h e s t on P la in fie ld sa n d , N a p p a n e e loam a n d K alam azoo m uck, an d 51 days
a f te r se e d in g i t w a s h ig h e s t in th e p la n ts on B e rrie n sandy loam , N appanee loam
a n d K ew a n ee loam . T he lo w e st p o ta ssiu m c o n te n t of th e cell sa p of th e soybean
p la n ts w a s in th e p la n ts on M iam i loam , F o x sa n d y loam , K ew anee loam and
C olom a sa n d f o r th e perio d 33 d a y s a f te r seeding, and in th e p la n ts on K alam azoo
m uck, F o x sa n d y loam , P lain field sa n d , M iam i loam an d Colom a sand fo r th e
p e rio d 51 d a y s a f te r se e d in g ( ta b le 8 ).
T h e calcium c o n te n t o f th e cell sa p o f th e soybean p la n ts 33 days a fte r seeding
w a s h ig h e s t in th e p la n ts g ro w n on M iam i loam (0.44% ) an d on F o x sandy loam
(0 4 0 % )
T h e lo w e st calcium c o n te n t o f th e cell sa p fo r th is period w as m th e
p la n ts on C olom a sa n d (0 .2 2 % ). T h e cell sa p of th e p la n ts on N a p p an e e loam
a n d K e w a n ee lo am co n ta in ed 0.28% a n d 0.27% o f calcium respectively. F ifty -o n e
d a y s a f t e r se e d in g th e calcium c o n te n t of th e cell sap o f th e soybean p la n ts w as
lo w e r t h a n in th e p la n ts 33 d a y s a f te r seeding. T he h ig h e s t calcium content
o f th e cell s a p o f th e p la n ts 51 d a y s a f te r seeding w a s 0.37% m th e p la n ts on
M iam i loam , a n d th e lo w est w a s 0.18% in th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam . T he

RUSSELL HAYDEN AUSTIN

26

TA BLE 11
F reezin g Point D epression of Green Soybean P la n t
Miami loam, Mason, M ichigan.
M id-season sam ple.
A ug. 19 (73 days a f te r seeding)
Sample No.

Treatment

Degrees depression

551
552
553
554
555
556
557

none ...........................................................
Ca-lim e ......................................................
M g-lime ...................................................
*Mg P ............................................................
Mg P S .....................................................
Mg P S K .................................................
Mg P S K N .............................................

0.874
0.942
1.009
0.902
0.952
0.901
0.865

* Magnesic lime.

calcium content of th e cell sap of th e plan ts on Fox sandy loam w as m uch lower
(0.22% ) th an in the plan ts 33 days a f te r seeding (0.40% ), (tab le 10).
FREEZING POINT DEPRESSION

The Freezing P oint D epression w as determ ined on one set of sam ples of the
soybean p lan ts taken from the plots on Miami loam 24 days a f te r seeding. The
freezing point depression as a m eans of d eterm ining th e concen tratio n of th e
sap has been presented by Bouyoucos and McCool (5). T h a t th e concentration
of the sap of th e young corn p lants, sugar beets, tab le beets, tab le c arro ts, and
onions w as increased by fe rtiliz e r applications, has been shown by McCool (24).
These re su lts (table 11) show th a t the fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts increased th e fre e z ­
in g point depression of the cell sap of th e soybean plan ts. How ever, th e d e p res­
sion w as less in the plan ts receiving th e com plete fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t th a n in the
plan ts receiving no fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n t. T here a p p ea rs to be a g en eral c o rre la ­
tion between the freezing point depression and th e phosphorus and potassium con­
ten ts of the soybean plants.

SUMMARY
F e rtiliz e r te s ts w ith soybeans w ere located on five soil ty p es from w hich crop
sam ples were tak en periodically fo r th e lab o rato ry studies.
The sam ples o f soybean plan ts were analyzed fo r to ta l ash, calcium , m agnesium ,
nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus and potassium .
The freezin g point depression w as determ ined upon one se t of sam ples of fresh
p lan t m ate ria l from M iam i loam.
T ests w ere conducted in th e greenhouse to study th e effect of soil ty p e and
fe rtiliz atio n w ith phosphorus and potassium upon the phosphorus and potassium
contents of the cell sap of the soybean plant.
SUMMARY OF RESULTS

1.
The to ta l ash content of th e soybean p la n ts w as low est 110 days a f te r
seeding and in m any cases it w as h ig h est 73 days a fte r seeding.

- E ? FECT ° £ _ g 5?jL

t y p e a n d f e r t il iz e r t r e a t m e n t o n c o m p o s it io n o f

SOYBEAN

27

2. In th e y o u n g p la n ts th e h ig h a sh c o n te n t w as a sso ciated w ith sm aller
g ro w th .
3. T he calcium , m ag n e siu m , an d n itro g e n c o n ten ts of th e soybean p la n ts de­
c re a se d w ith th e a g e o f th e p la n ts.
4. T h e re w a s v e ry little ch an g e in th e s u lfu r c o n te n t o f th e soybean p la n ts
d u rin g th e g ro w th o f th e p la n ts o r fro m th e influence of fe rtiliz e rs o r soil ty p e
differen ces.
5. T he r e s u lts o f th e s e e x p e rim e n ts s u g g e s t a ten d e n cy fo r th e phosphorus
c o n te n t o f th e so y b ean p la n ts to in cre ase d u rin g th e l a tte r h a lf of th e grow ing
p e rio d .
6. T h e p o ta s siu m c o n te n t o f th e p la n ts w a s v e ry irre g u la r, b u t th e v a ria tio n s
w e re sm a ll.
7. T he effects o f th e fe rtiliz e r tre a tm e n ts upon th e com position of th e soybean
p la n ts w e re sm all.
8. F e r tiliz e r tr e a tm e n ts w ere m ore effective in ch an g in g th e com position of
th e so y b ean p la n ts g ro w n on Colom a sand th a n on th e o th e r soil types.
9. T he com position o f th e soybean p la n ts g row n on Colom a san d w as changed
b y th e a p p lic a tio n o f m ag n e sic lim e as follow s:
(1) T h irty -fiv e d a y s a f te r seed in g th e re w a s a n in crease in th e m agnesium
a n d a d e cre ase in th e ash , calcium , n itro g e n and pho sp h o ru s contents
of th e p la n ts.
( 2 ) S e v e n ty -th re e d a y s a f te r seeding th e re w as a n in crease in th e m a g ­
n e siu m and a d e cre ase in th e n itro g e n c o n te n t of th e p lan ts.
(3) O ne h u n d re d nin e d a y s a f te r seeding th e re w as a n increase in th e m ag ­
n e siu m , n itro g e n an d su lfu r, an d a decrease in th e a sh an d calcium con­
te n ts o f th e p la n ts .
10. F e r tiliz e r tre a tm e n ts w ere less effective in c h an g in g th e com position of
th e p la n ts on M iam i loam th a n on th e o th e r soil ty p es.
11. T he B ro o k sto n c la y loam produced p la n ts had th e h ig h e s t m agnesium
c o n te n t (1 .0 8 % ), one o f th e h ig h e s t n itro g e n c o n te n ts (4.81% ) and one of th e
lo w e st calcium (2.16% ) an d a sh (9.72%>) c o n te n ts 35 days a f te r seeding, am ong
th e p la n ts w ith o u t fe rtiliz e r tr e a tm e n t.
12. H illsd ale sa n d y lo am an d C olom a sa n d produced p la n ts had th e h ig h e st
a sh (10.70% a n d 10.12% ) a n d calcium (2.70% and 2.79% ) contents, and th e
lo w e st m a g n e siu m (0.58% an d 0.69% ) a n d n itro g e n (4.41% and 4.17% ) contents
c f th e u n fe rtiliz e d p la n ts 35 d a y s a f te r seeding.
13. T he p h o sp h o ru s c o n te n t o f th e u n fe rtiliz e d soybean p la n ts varied fro m
0.46% in th e p la n ts on B ro o k sto n clay loam to 0.23% in th e p la n ts on H illsdale
s a n d y loam .
14. T he B ro o k sto n clay loam produced p la n ts h ad th e low est calcium c ontent
(1 7 9% ) , th e h ig h e s t m a g n e siu m c o n te n t (1 .0 8 % ), a n d one of th e h ig h e st a sh
(1 0 .6 1 % ) a n d n itro g e n (3.46% ) c o n te n ts o f th e u n fe rtiliz e d soybean p la n ts 73
d a y s a f te r se e d in g .

R USSELL HAYDEN AUSTIN

28

15. T he phosphorus content of th e u n fertilized soybean p lan ts 73 d a y s a f te r
seeding varied from 0.24% and 0.28% in th e p lan ts on M iam i loam and H illsdale
sandy loam to 0.40% in th e p lan ts on Coloma sand.
16. F o r th e u nfertilized soybean p lan ts 110 days a f te r seeding th e p lan ts
on B rookston clay loam had th e h ig h est ash (8.56% ) and m agnesium (0.79% )
contents, th e p lan ts on Coloma sand had the h ig h e st calcium ( 2.11% ) an d phos­
phorus (0.46% ) contents, and th e p la n ts on K ew anee loam h ad th e h ig h e st n itro ­
gen (3.52% ) content.
17. The Miami loam produced plan ts contained th e low est p e r cent ash
(6.29% ), calcium (1.29% ), su lfu r (0.22% ), phosphorus (0.28% ) and potassium
(0.53% ), and one of the hig h est per cent n itro g en (3.27% ) of th e soybean p lan ts
on the unfertilized plots 110 days a fte r seeding.
18. All tre a tm e n ts on Fox sandy loam increased th e n itro g e n content of the
plants.
19. The phosphorus and potassium contents o f th e cell sap o f th e soybean
plan ts w ere increased by th e ap plication of phosphorus and potassium .
20. The phosphorus, potassium and calcium contents of th e cell sap o f th e
soybean plants w ere affected by th e type of soil upon w hich th e y grew .
21. The soil type upon which th e soybeans grew w as a g re a te r fa c to r in de­
term in in g th e com position of the soybean p la n ts th a n w as th e application of
m oderate am ounts of fe rtiliz ers.

REFEREN CES
1.

Adie, R. H., and Wood, T. B. (1900). A new m ethod of e stim a tin g p o ta s­
sium. Jo u r. Chem. Soc. (L ondon), T., 1076; P., 17.

2.

Ames, J. W. (1923).
85-90.

3.

A ssociation of Official A g ric u ltu ral C hem ists.
2nd edition, revised.

4.

A tkins, W. R. G. (1924). The rap id d eterm in atio n of av ailable p hosphate
in soils by the coeruleo-m olybdate reactio n of D eniges. Jo u r. A g r. Sci.
(L ondon), 14; 192.

5.

Bouyoucos, George J., and McCool, M. M., (1916). D eterm in atio n of cell sap
concentration by th e freezin g point m ethod. Soil Sci., 8 ; 50.

S u lfu r experim ents.

Ohio S ta., Mo. Bui., 8, 5-6, pp.
(1924).

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P h o s­

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RUSSELL HAYDEN A USTIN

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