AGRICULTURE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN no. - 353 Cop. 2, ta $5!So!" """^ M * t * rialtl ^ MWmom F " ** The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Th.fl, imjtJtotkm, and underlining of books are reasons for disciph- ^ tK>n n n ?J n !L^! UN '" d " m ' SMl fr ro * Untver^ty. To renew call Telephone Cantar, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 1999 LI6I O-I096 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station BULLETIN No. 346 FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES BY J. W. LLOYD AND L. H. STRUBINGER URBANA, ILLINOIS, JUNE, 1930 CONCLUSIONS EXPERIMENTS described in this bulletin justify the fol- JL lowing conclusions concerning the use of fertilizers in growing vegetables : 1. The use of limestone in addition to manure may be expected to increase greatly the yields of certain vegetables when grown on dark- colored silt loam soil of the Illinois corn belt. 2. A moderate application of manure can be advantageously sup- plemented with limestone and commercial fertilizers for the production of many kinds of vegetables. In the case of several vegetables phos- phorus is the only material needed to supplement the manure and limestone ; with others better results are obtained by using both phos- phorus and potash. 3. Good crops of many vegetables can be grown without the use of manure provided liberal applications of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are made in addition to the use of cover crops and limestone. 4. For the growing of many vegetable crops superphosphate (acid phosphate) appears to be a better source of phosphorus than either steamed bone or raw rock phosphate. More detailed recommendations concerning the use of fertilizers are given on pages 319 and 320. Urbana, Illinois June, 1930 Publications in the Bulletin series report the results of investigations made or sponsored by the Experiment Station FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES BY J. W. LLOYD, Chief in Olericulture, and L. H. STRUBINGER, Assistant in Olericulture FERTILIZER experiments with vegetables at this and other ex- periment stations usually have been restricted to a few crops of major importance, while many of the minor crops have been ignored and their fertilizer requirements thus left undetermined. Also, the scarcity of manure has necessitated a search for possible supple- ments and substitutes for this material in the production of vegetables, and various suggestions have been made, including the use of cover crops to supply humus and nitrogen and the use of commercial ferti- lizers to furnish the other needed elements. In view of this situation an experiment was planned to include a number of vegetable crops of relatively minor importance in this state, as well as various major crops that had not been included in previous fertilizer experiments at this Station. Nineteen different soil treat- ments were employed in the tests, and 25 kinds of vegetables were grown under each treatment. In some cases more than one type of the same kind of vegetable was grown, so that the records include 32 different items. The experiment was continued for six years. METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE TESTS Arrangement of Plots The soil on which this experiment was conducted was dark-colored silt loam characteristic of much of the soil of the corn belt. The land had been used for the production of corn and other grain in a system of general farming for a number of years before this experi- ment was started. In the spring of 1920 the area was laid out into plots, and the initial applications of fertilizer were made. There were three series of plots, each series consisting of 22 plots. The individual plots were 33 by 66 feet in area, thus consisting of exactly one- twentieth of an acre. Border strips 8% feet wide were left between adjoining plots, and driveways 16% feet wide were left between the series. Treatments of the corresponding plots in each series were identical. The various treatments were as follows: Plot Treatment 1. Manure 2. Manure, limestone 1 ('Tests showed that the soil used in this experiment had a limestone require- ment of 2 to 2% tons an acre.) 303 304 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, 3. Manure, limestone, bone meal 4. Manure, limestone, bone meal, potassium sulfate 5. Bone meal, dried blood, potassium sulfate 6. Check 7. Cover crop, manure, limestone 8. Cover crop, manure, limestone, bone meal 9. Cover crop, manure, limestone, rock phosphate 10. Cover crop, manure, limestone, superphosphate (acid phosphate) 11. Cover crop, manure, limestone, bone meal, potassium sulfate 12. Cover crop, limestone, bone meal, nitrate of soda 13. Cover crop, limestone, bone meal, dried blood, potassium sulfate 14. Check 15. Cover crop, limestone 16. Cover crop, limestone, bone meal 17. Cover crop, limestone, rock phosphate 18. Cover crop, limestone, superphosphate (acid phosphate) 19. Cover crop, limestone, bone meal, potassium sulfate 20. Check 21. Poultry manure 22. Cover crop, limestone, bone meal, ammonium sulfate Amounts of Fertilizers Applied The amounts of the various fertilizers applied, whether used alone or in combination, are shown in Table 1. TABLE 1. AMOUNTS OF THE VARIOUS FERTILIZERS APPLIED TO VEGETABLE PLOTS (Dark-colored silt loam, Urbana) Fertilizer Per acre Per plot Manure 10 tons ]4 ton 200 Ibs. Steamed bone meal 500 Ibs. 25 Ibs. Raw rock phosphate 1 000 Ibs. 50 Ibs. 500 Ibs. 25 Ibs. Potassium sulfate 200 Ibs. 10 Ibs. Dried blood 500 Ibs. 25 Ibs. Nitrate of soda 300 Ibs. 15 Ibs. Ammonium sulfate 220 Ibs. 11 Ibs. Poultry manure 1 ton 100 Ibs. Preliminary Cropping After the fertilizers were applied, the entire area was seeded to soybeans. In the fall the soybean crop was plowed under on the plots that were designated for cover-crop treatment, and was harvested from all the other plots. The next spring the entire area was seeded to oats and sweet clover, but the sweet-clover seed failed to grow. The oats were harvested from all the plots. The following year the area was again seeded to soybeans, and the crop plowed under on the cover-crop plots, but harvested from the others. Thus there were three years of preliminary cropping following the one application of fertilizers and including the incorporation of two catch crops on the cover-crop plots. Beginning in 1923, when the area FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES 305 was first planted to vegetables, all fertilizers with the exception of linie were applied every year; lime was applied once every three years. Three Groups of Vegetables Grown The vegetables were divided into three groups on the basis of time of planting and time of harvest. One group was planted on each series, and the groups were rotated thru the three series from year to year. The first group consisted of crops that are planted early and har- vested early. A cover crop of vetch was sown each year on the cover- crop plots, following the harvest of these vegetables. The second group consisted of cool-season crops that are planted later than the preceding group and occupy the land till late fall. No cover crop was sown in the fall on the land occupied by these crops any given year. This land was plowed in the fall to be ready for the planting of Group 1 early the next spring. The third group consisted of warm-season crops that are planted late in spring and are usually killed by the early frosts of fall. A cover crop of vetch and rye was sown after the harvest of this group. TABLE 2. ROTATION OF CROPS ON EACH SERIES OF PLOTS DURING THE Six YEARS OF THE EXPERIMENTS Year Series 400 Series 500 Series 600 1923 Cool-seaaon crop* maturing early Warm-season crops Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing early Warm season crops Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing early Warm-season crops Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing early Warm-season crops Warm-season crops Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing early Warm-season crops Cool-season crops maturing late Cool-season crops maturing early 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Thus cover crops were grown on the same land two years out of every three. In each case the cover was allowed to make considerable growth in spring before it was plowed under preparatory to planting the vegetables of Groups 2 and 3. The cropping of each series each year is indicated in Table 2. The vegetables were planted in rows extending crosswise of the plots. Thus each row in each plot was 33 feet long. The number of rows devoted to each kind of vegetable varied from one to four, the most common number being two. The vegetables planted in each group, the variety used, and the distance between rows are given in Table 3. 1 'As originally planned, the tests included certain other vegetables, but failure of the crops for several seasons necessitated their omission from this report. 306 BVLLETIN No. 346 [June, TABLE 3. VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES USED IN EXPERIMENTS Vegetable Variety Distance between rows Cool-season crops maturing early (Group 1) Beets (early) Crosby's Egyptian inches 18 36 Carrots (early) Cauliflower Chantenay Dry Weather 18 36 Kohlrabi Early White Vienna 18 Lettuce (leaf) Black- Seeded Simpson 18 Lettuce (head) May King 18 Onion seed Prize Taker 14 Onion sets Yellow Bottom 14 Peas Little Marvel 18 Potatoes Early Ohio 36 Radishes Early Scarlet Globe 18 Spinach 18 Turnips Purple Top Strap- Leaved 18 Cool-season crops maturing late (Group 2) Beets (late) New Century 18 Cabbage (late) Corn Belt 36 Carrots (late) 18 Celeriac 36 Celery 36 Garlic 18 Leeks 18 Parsley Parsnips Champion Moss Curled 18 18 Salsify 18 Swiss chard Lucullus 36 Warm-season crops (Group 3) Beans (green) Stringless Green Pod 36 Beans (wax) Beans (lima) Maule's Profusion 36 36 Eggplant 48 Okra 36 Peppers 36 Sweet potatoes Yellow Jersey 66 Usual Methods of Culture Employed The various vegetables were planted at the seasons most favorable to their normal development, and were given good care as to cultiva- tion and protection from insects and diseases. The crops were har- vested according to the usual methods, with a few exceptions. The early beets, early carrots, kohlrabi, radishes, and early turnips all were harvested at one pulling when those that were best developed had reached ideal size. The parsley and Swiss chard were harvested only two or three times each season, the entire plant being cut off an inch or two above the crow r n at each harvest. Products Graded and Weighed Where grading was possible, the products were graded into market- able and unmarketable specimens on the basis of size, smoothness, and other characteristics. Except in crops the individual specimens of which were very small, as in beans and peas, the number of specimens, as well as the weight of the product, was recorded. Early beets, early 1930] FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS or VEGETABLES 307 carrots, kohlrabi, radishes, and early turnips were weighed with the tops on, since they were to be marketed as bunched vegetables. The late beets and late carrots, as well as the parsnips and salsify, were topped before weighing. The other products were weighed as com- monly prepared for market. In order to make the records comparable, all yields have been cal- culated to the acre basis and expressed in pounds. The yields as given refer only to the products of marketable grade. RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS Limestone and Commercial Fertilizers With Manure Increased Yields The yields of the various vegetables from the plots treated with manure alone and with manure supplemented by limestone, steamed bone, and potassium sulfate in various combinations, are given in Table 4. With most vegetables limestone in addition to manure resulted in definite increases in yields. With some vegetables this increase was equivalent to more than 20 percent of the yields secured from manure alone. The crops showing more than a 20 percent increase were cauli- flower. 36 percent; onions from seed, 36 percent; peppers, 22 percent; spinach, 48 percent; and turnips, 41 percent. An increase of over 10 percent was apparently due to limestone in the case of late cabbage, early carrots, eggplant, lettuce (leaf and head), and onions from sets. The only crops in which the yields were less where the limestone was used were early beets, celery, okra, parsley, salsify, and sweet po- tatoes, and only in the case of sweet potatoes was the decrease as much as 10 percent. The addition of steamed bone meal to manure and limestone still further increased the yields of a number of vegetables. This increase, apparently due to steamed bone, was most striking in the case of early carrots, 41 percent; onions from seed, 36 percent; kohlrabi, 32 per- cent; and leaf lettuce, 29 percent. Other crops in which the yields were increased more than 10 percent were celeriac, celery, eggplant, onions from sets, and leeks. Potassium in the form of sulfate of potash, used to supplement manure, limestone, and bone meal, greatly increased the yields of early beets and spinach, the increase amounting to approximately 39 percent in each case. Other crops in which the increase in yield apparently due to potassium amounted to more than 10 percent were late beets, leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, and turnips. Practically all vegetables showed much smaller yields from the untreated check plots than from the manured plots, the difference amounting to more than 40 percent in the case of green string beans, 308 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, early beets, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, head lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and sweet potatoes, and to more than 20 percent in the case of wax TABLE 4. EFFECT ON YIELDS OF VEGETABLES OF SUPPLEMENTING MANURE WITH OTHER FERTILIZERS (Six-year average yields, 1 acre basis) Average of check plots Plot 1 M Plot 2 ML Plot3 ML Bo Plot 4 ML Bo K Beans, green pod Ibs. 1 951 Ibs. 3 388 /6s. 3 454 Ibs. 3 784 26s. 3 784 Beans, wax 1 973 2 574 2 618 2 442 2 376 Beans, dwarf lima (5-yr. av.) . Beets, early 2 471 9 959 2 420 18 172 2 508 18 128 2 464 18 656 2 640 26 004 Beets, late 55 308 76 252 77 748 81 180 89 672 Cabbage, early 12 529 17 446 18 513 19 206 18 821 Cabbage, late (5) 16 691 22 363 24 871 22 847 23 947 Carrots, early 8 248 13 772 16 192 22 924 24 068 Carrots, late 22 819 29 704 32 384 33 384 30 272 Cauliflower 1 753 2 508 3 432 3 014 3 146 Celeriac 3 482 5 241 5 702 6 587 6 072 Celery (4) 14 346 19 230 18 911 21 355 21 638 Eggplant .\ . . 9 653 11 632 13 712 15 594 14 388 Garlic 3 344 3 872 4 136 4 224 4 048 Kohlrabi (5) 5 493 12 936 12 936 17 072 18 568 Leeks (5) 9 647 12 056 12 672 14 564 14 476 Lettuce, leaf 7 040 21 648 23 848 30 932 34 584 Lettuce, head 4 473 7 920 9 020 9 900 8 712 Okra (5) 2 647 3 124 2 882 3 366 2 750 Onions, sets 14 234 17 166 19 287 22 370 20 927 Onions, seed 6 684 10 831 14 749 20 107 17 233 Parsley (4) 9 064 13 420 12 936 12 936 12 980 Parsnips (5) 15 356 22 528 23 408 25 256 25 916 Peas 2 933 5 258 5 368 5 522 5 808 Peppers 11 484 10 846 13 288 12 232 11 946 Potatoes 7 154 9 295 10 197 10 967 11 462 Radishes 1 115 3 080 3 080 2 728 2 288 Salsify 7 206 11 132 11 044 10 604 10 868 Spinach 1 353 4 004 5 940 6 072 8 448 Sweet potatoes 3 957 7 762 6 956 7 735 8 078 Swiss chard (5) 46 515 65 318 61 006 62 855 69 938 Turnips (5) 16 632 21 824 30 932 28 336 31 988 On account of crop failures during certain years, the yields given for lima beans, late cabbage, kohlrabi, leeks, okra, parsnips, Swiss chard, and turnips in this and subsequent tables are based on a five-year average; the yields of celery and parsley are on a four-year average. 'The column headings in this and subsequent tables indicate the plot number and treatment. For a complete list of the treatments, see pages 303 and 304. beans, late beets, early and late cabbage, early and late carrots, cauli- flower, celeriac, celery, onions from seed, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, salsify, Swiss chard, and turnips. Cover Crops With Manure and Commercial Fertilizers Failed to Increase Yields of Many Vegetables The use of cover crops to supplement manure and commercial fertilizers was very disappointing. Whether the cover crop was used in combination with manure and limestone; with manure, limestone, and bone meal; or with manure, limestone, bone meal, and potassium sulfate, it apparently reduced the yields of more crops than it in- creased (Table 5) . Decreases in yield were especially pronounced on the plot treated with a cover crop in addition to manure, limestone, and bone meal, as compared with the plot receiving the same treatment except for the 19301 FERTIUZIXU TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES 808 omission of the cover crop. Here 26 crops showed decreases and only 6 showed increases. Furthermore the decrease was very marked in TABLE 5. EFFECT OF COVER CROP WHEN USED IN COMBINATION WITH MANURE FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION (Six-year average yields, acre basis) Plot 2 ML Plot? CvML Plot3 ML Bo Plots Cv ML Bo Plot 4 ML BoK Plot 11 Cv MI. BoK Beans, green pod lb. 3 454 At. 3 168 Ibt. 3 784 lb. 3 278 lb. 3 784 Ibt. 3 388 Beans, wax 2 618 j into 2 442 2 486 2 376 2 178 Beans, dwarf lims , _ :*)* J 7:_'s 2 464 2 618 2 640 2 948 Beets, early is ii-s 22 044 is C,.-,C, 22 132 Jli (Kit i-ii 7ns Beets, late 77 748 su tios 81 180 711 till) 89 672 79 728 Cabbage, early 18 513 1.". H.'iU in i-dti IS Mi:, 18 821 ]s '.tO'.i Cabbacei late" 24 871 1MI Jill 1-1- M7 20 537 23 947 i-:> sin Carrots, early 16 192 19 932 22 924 I'll ins L'l (ItiS is ;,c,s Carrots, late :s Celery 18 911 16 113 21 355 18 415 21 638 17 779 Eggplant 13 712 111 ti.Vt 15 494 7 772 14 388 13 824 Garlic 4 136 3 696 4 224 3 872 4 048 3 432 Kohlrabi 12 936 13 024 17 072 12 760 is ;,tis 15 444 Leeka 12 672 14 388 14 564 14 124 14 476 14 564 Lettuce, leaf .'.-( S|S I'li |ss 30 932 I'S Sl't) 34 584 33 044 Lettuce, head 9 020 8 756 9 900 S Ml 8 712 9 108 Okra 1- ssi' 4 158 3 366 1 804 2 750 2 420 Onions, sets I'.i JS7 16 858 22 370 19 853 20 927 21 210 Onions, seed 14 749 Iti S.M 20 107 16 148 17 233 16 713 Parsley 12 936 11 308 12 936 10 164 12 980 14 564 Parsnips 23 408 iM v.n- 25 256 24 288 25 916 21 956 Peas 5 368 5 258 :. .">i-i! 5 500 .-> sos 5 720 Peppers i:< L-SS 13 464 12 232 13 530 11 946 11 440 Potatoes 10 197 '.1 Osti 10 967 8 745 11 462 10 230 Radishes 3 080 1 760 2 728 1 936 2 288 2 376 fcWty 11 044 13 288 10 604 10 692 1(1 Mis i;< ins Spinach 5 940 6 556 6 072 .1 Hlo 8 448 8 536 Sweet potatoes 6 956 5 602 7 735 5 727 8 078 7 801 8^** chord , , t i.\ IK It) 67 452 111- S.-.l 64 944 mi nrjs 59 070 Turnips :v> '.ire- IM :,!n; L-S :!-. 27 016 .(1 'ISS 30 4O4 some cases: eggplant, for example, was reduced 50 percent; okra, 46 percent; radishes, 29 percent; sweet potatoes and kohlrabi, each 25 percent; parsley, 21 percent; potatoes, 20 percent; onions from seed, 19 percent. Other crops in which the reduction was more than 10 per- cent were green string beans, late cabbage, early and late carrots, celeriac, celery, head lettuce, and onions from sets. When both phosphorus and potassium were used in the fertilizer, the number of crops in which the yields were apparently reduced by the cover crop was 18, while with 14 the yields were larger where the cover crop was used. In case of only 5 crops, however, were the in- creases in yield more than 10 percent; these crops were dwarf lima beans, late carrots, cauliflower, parsley, and salsify. As an average of the results from the three sets of plots, 24 crops showed a reduction in yield that apparently was due to the cover crop while only 8 showed an increase. The only crops showing more than 10 percent increase, as an average for the three combinations, were early beets and salsify. 310 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, Many Increases From Complete Commercial Fertilizers With Cover Crop Altho the results of supplementing manure and an incomplete com- mercial fertilizer with cover crops were unfavorable, the substitution of a complete commercial fertilizer (composed of steamed bone meal, dried blood, and potassium sulfate) and a cover crop for manure re- sulted in very satisfactory yields of many vegetables (Table 6). TABLE 6. YIELDS OF VEGETABLES FROM COVER CROP AND COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS COMPARED WITH THOSE FROM MANURE (Six-year average yields, acre basis) Plot! M Plot 12 CvL Bo NaNOi Plot 22 CvL Bo AmS Plot 13 CvL BoBlK Plot 19 CvL Bo K Beans, green pod Ibs. 3 388 Ibs. 2 354 Ib*. 2 794 Ibs. 2 706 Ibs. 2 992 Beans, wax 2 574 2 772 2 464 2 046 2 442 2 420 2 530 3 014 2 662 2 684 Beets, early 18 172 16 192 15 928 21 868 20 856 Beets, late 76 252 79 068 70 928 84 788 76 164 Cabbage, early 17 446 17 259 18 667 18 447 15 037 Cabbage, late 22 363 21 384 24 662 24 431 21 472 Carrots, early 13 772 17 204 11 968 18 788 17 688 Carrots, late 29 704 32 208 31 944 29 304 30 756 Cauliflower 2 508 2 684 3 102 4 004 1 914 Celeriac 5 241 5 843 4 533 5 985 5 135 Celery 19 230 18 097 13 811 19 513 16 220 Eggplant 11 630 10 527 9 752 12 359 8 729 Garlic 3 872 3 432 3 608 3 432 4 136 Kohlrabi.. . 12 936 13 288 16 984 14 696 12 760 Leeks 12 056 13 596 12 056 13 728 11 550 Lettuce, leaf 21 648 21 208 19 888 26 532 23 980 Lettuce, head 7 920 4 928 6 468 6 776 5 940 Okra 3 124 1 782 1 958 1 892 2 508 Onions, sets 17 166 19 484 17 948 20 418 18 004 Onions, seed 10 831 14 479 7 749 15 8O9 14 621 Parsley 13 420 11 968 12 672 15 796 14 168 Parsnips . . 22 528 17 248 16 852 20 768 20 592 Peas 5 258 5 214 3 740 5 346 4 070 Peppers 10 846 12 518 12 232 11 594 13 464 Potatoes 9 295 9 657 9 207 9 812 9 075 Radishes 3 080 1 936 2 464 2 816 1 584 Salsify 11 132 9 900 9 790 9 592 10 868 Spinach 4 004 6 424 4 972 8 140 7 700 Sweet potatoes 7 762 6 389 4 976 7 933 4 937 Swiss chard 65 318 68 376 57 090 69 542 61 028 Turnips 21 824 28 468 35 068 35 156 29 876 The plot treated with a cover crop in addition to limestone and the complete commercial fertilizer (Plot 13) produced larger yields of 23 crops and smaller yields of 9 crops than did the plot treated with manure alone. With some vegetables the increases in yield were very large. The yield of spinach was doubled; turnips were increased 61 percent; cauliflower, 59 percent; onions from seed, 45 percent; early carrots, 36 percent; leaf lettuce, 22 percent; early beets, 20 percent. Other crops in which the increase was more than 10 percent were lima beans, late beets, celeriac, kohlrabi, onions from sets, parsley, and leeks. Where an incomplete fertilizer with cover crop was substituted for ; 199] FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES 311 FIG. 1. RELATIVE YIELDS OF TURNIPS, LEAF LETTUCE, AND SPINACH FROM THREE PLOTS RECEIVING DIFFERENT SOIL TREATMENTS The average yield of spinach from the plot treated with limestone, cover crop, and commercial fertilizer was six times that from the untreated plot and double that from the manured plot. The turnips and leaf lettuce also show marked increases in yield. manure, the results were less favorable than where the complete ferti- lizer and cover crop were used. On the plot treated with cover crop, limestone, bone meal, and sodium nitrate (Plot 12) the yields were greater than on the manured plot in the case of 16 crops and less in 312 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, the case of 16 crops. The largest increases in yield were in spinach, 60 percent; onions from seed, 33 percent; turnips, 30 percent; and early carrots, 24 percent. Celeriac, onions from sets, peppers, and leeks also showed more than 10 percent increase. Where ammonium sulfate was used as the source of commercial nitrogen, the yields were even less favorable than they were where sodium nitrate was used. Under this treatment (Plot 22) only 10 crops yielded more than from manure alone; 22 crops yielded less. The omission of commercial nitrogen from the fertilizer used with a cover crop in place of manure was detrimental to the yields. In the case of 24 crops the yields were less from the plot treated with cover crop, limestone, bone meal, and potassium sulfate (Plot 19) than from the plot treated with cover crop, limestone, bone meal, dried blood, and potassium sulfate (Plot 13). The differences in yield between these two treatments were especially marked in cauliflower, radishes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, peas, and early cabbage. Complete Commercial Fertilizer Alone Produced Good Crops of Some Vegetables Even in the absence of a cover crop and lime, the complete com- mercial fertilizer, consisting of steamed bone meal, dried blood, and TABLE 7. COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS COMPARED WITH MANURE FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION (Six-year average yields, acre basis) Average checks Plotl M Plots BoBlK Plot 21 PM 26s. Beans, green pod 1 951 Beans, wax 1 973 Beans, dwarf lima 2 471 Beets, early 9 959 Beets, late 55 308 Cabbage, early 12 529 Cabbage, late 16 691 Carrots, early 8 248 Carrots, late 22 819 Cauliflower 1 753 Celeriac 3 482 Celery 14 346 Eggplant 9 653 Garlic 3 344 Kohlrabi 5 493 Leeks 9 647 Lettuce, leaf 7 040 Lettuce, head 4 473 Okra 2 647 Onions, sets 14 234 Onions, seed 6 684 Parsley 9 064 Parsnips 15 356 Peas 2 933 Peppers 11 484 Potatoes 7 154 Radishes 1 115 Salsify 7 206 Spinach 1 353 Sweet potatoes 3 957 Swiss chard 46 515 Turnips 16 632 Ibs. 3 388 2 574 2 420 18 172 76 252 17 446 22 363 13 772 29 704 2 508 5 241 19 230 11 632 3 872 12 936 12 056 21 648 7 920 3 124 17 166 10 831 13 420 22 528 5 258 10 846 9 295 3 080 11 132 4 004 7 762 65 318 21 824 Ibs. 3 498 2 442 2 508 20 284 79 068 17 765 23 441 18 216 30 140 2 134 5 320 5 492 13 826 3 696 9 240 12 628 20 900 8 888 3 102 18 948 10 860 11 660 18 656 4 664 10 604 8 569 2 024 8 932 4 180 5 365 62 414 30 404 Ibs. 2 486 2 134 2 310 12 496 69 608 16 280 23 694 8 140 27 896 2 640 3 294 12 820 11 171 3 168 10 648 7 700 > 41> 4 488 2 002 15 702 6 533 11 748 15 136 2 904 10 670 8 635 2 200 9 684 1 716 4 461 54 054 29 084 1930} FERTILISING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES 313 potassium sulfate, produced larger yields than manure alone in the case of 16 crops out of 32 (Table 7). The increase was most marked in turnips, 39 percent; early carrots, 32 percent; and eggplant, 18 percent. Other crops in which the increase was more than 10 percent were early beets, head lettuce, and onions from sets. When an attempt was made to substitute commercial dried poultry manure for stable manure, the results were less satisfactory. With only 3 crops were the yields as good as from stable manure. These crops were turnips, late cabbage, and cauliflower. As compared with yields from the untreated check plots, however, the yields from poul- try manure were greater in the case of 21 crops; and with late cab- bage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, radishes, and turnips, the increases in yield amounted to more than 40 percent. Other crops in which the increase in yield was more than 20 percent were green string beans, early beets, late beets, early cabbage, late carrots, leaf lettuce, parsley, potatoes, salsify, and spinach. Superphosphate Best Source of Phosphorus When used with manure, limestone, and a cover crop, superphos- phate proved more effective than either steamed bone meal or raw rock TABLE 8. EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF PHOSPHORUS WITH AND WITHOUT MANURE ON YIELDS OF VEGETABLES (Six-year average yields, acre basis) Plot? Or ML Plots Or Ml Bo Plot 9 CvML rP Plot 10 CvML P Plot 15 CvL Plot 16 CvL Bo Plot 17 CvL rP Plot 18 CvL tP Bean*, green pod Bexw, wax Of. 3 168 2 090 U*. 3 278 2 486 U*. 2 970 2 530 U*. 3 432 2 904 to. 2 134 2 366 it 2 332 2 310 lb. 2 508 2 376 Ibt. 2 948 2 464 Rnjin. dwarf lima . . . Beeta. early 2 728 22 044 2 618 22 132 2 750 22 880 2 772 22 924 2 640 15 180 2 442 15 884 2596 18 084 2 618 17 116 Kffit, late 80 008 79 640 81 884 83 732 70 708 66 176 61 908 74 844 Cabbace. early Cabbage, late 15 950 20 219 18 865 20 537 17 215 22 Oil 18 711 24 431 15 015 20 515 16 839 .M ii-i.' 13 783 18 491 14 135 19 151 Carrot*, early. . . 19 932 20 108 17 292 17 424 13 772 19 184 16 324 23 782 CarroU, late 29 348 30 008 32 648 30 712 29 744 M ir.., 26 488 23 364 Cauliflower 1 760 2 772 2 904 3 168 2 750 2 662 1 804 2 002 Celeriae.. 5 300 5 666 5 029 6 162 4 285 4 568 4 462 4 993 Otary KnMant 16 113 10 659 18 415 7 772 17 211 10 691 17 034 12 946 15 618 8 333 16 290 ;,, s,,s 16 043 9 554 15 759 9 603 SSr 3 606 3 872 3 696 3 608 3 256 3 696 3 784 3 872 Kohlrabi . 13 024 12 760 14 080 17 952 10 912 12 496 9 856 11 440 Leek* . 14 388 14 124 12 012 11 968 13 596 11 044 9 636 11 484 Lettaee.Ua/ . 26 488 27 324 .".< 7"" 12 672 19 404 14 828 26 004 Lettnee. head . 8 756 8 844 8 140 8 360 4 620 5 544 5 792 7 084 Okra 4 158 1 804 2 442 2 684 1 782 2 178 2 552 1 804 OnioM, trlj ! *> H m 18 778 19 937 r. HI 16 233 15 752 17 449 Onion, ated . . || 16 148 13 150 15 073 u D71 10 746 10 520 16 101 Paraley 11 308 10 164 13 376 U 0.4 1J w :.' Ml M M u in PartniM . 23 892 24 288 d '.'-'4 1 '..',4 14 124 r> 4 18 788 p.-. ::;;::;;;: 5 258 5 500 ', M 5 874 3 740 4 048 3 784 4 752 13 464 ! >, Ml 12 474 11 440 !.' 4". 13 376 1 1 Ml IS Ml Potato* 9 086 8 745 I 4-J 9 713 8 789 7 72J 7 106 8 459 RadUtM 1 760 1 836 I n.t 2 288 1 760 1 936 1 672 1 936 fiaMy . 13 388 10 692 II 660 li -. 7 656 6 996 7 788 10384 Spiaaca.. 6556 5 940 6 468 6 424 4 664 3 740 4 Ml i m Sweet potatoes 67 452 5 727 64 944 5 716 60 236 6 927 H <..., 6 178 58 630 53 966 4 436 49 984 5 ill 51 711 Ton**... M 596 27016 24576 11 090 11 648 24 640 22 220 I! Sll 314 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, FIG. 2. ONE CUTTING OF EARLY CABBAGE FROM EACH OF FOUR PLOTS The 33 heads in the pile at the left, grown without fertilizer treatment, weighed only 81 pounds; while the 30 heads in the pile at the right, grown on the plot treated with a complete fertilizer, weighed 122 pounds. The second pile from the left was grown on the plot treated with manure alone ; the 30 heads weighed 101 pounds. The third pile from the left was grown on the plot treated with a cover crop, limestone, and a complete fertilizer; the 32 heads weighed 114 pounds. phosphate in increasing yields of 17 of the vegetables tested, while bone meal gave the greatest increase with only 7 vegetables, and raw rock phosphate with only 2 (Table 8). The vegetables that showed the most marked increases from super- phosphate when used in addition to manure, cover crop, and limestone were wax beans, 38 percent; early cabbage, 17 percent; late cabbage, 20 percent; cauliflower, 80 percent; eggplant, 21 percent; kohlrabi, 37 percent; onions from sets, 18 percent; radishes, 30 percent; turnips, 26 percent. Other crops in which the increase was more than 10 percent were celeriac, leaf lettuce, and peas. When used with a cover crop and limestone, without manure, superphosphate gave greater increases in yield than steamed bone meal or raw rock phosphate in 15 of the crops. Steamed bone meal gave the greatest increase in 7 crops and raw rock phosphate in only 2 crops. The increases in the yields of certain crops, apparently due to the superphosphate, as compared with the yields from the limestone and cover-crop treatment alone, were green string beans, 38 percent; early carrots, 72 percent; celeriac, 16 percent; eggplant, 15 percent; garlic, 18 percent; leaf lettuce, 105 percent; head lettuce, 53 percent; onions from sets, 14 percent; onions from seed, 33 percent; parsnips, 46 percent; peas, 27 percent; salsify, 35 percent; spinach, 14 percent. Potassium Beneficial to Some Crops Potassium, when used in combination with other materials, was especially beneficial to certain crops. The yields from Plots 3 and 4, 16 and 19, and 8 and 11 afford a basis for comparison (Table 9). The yields of more crops appeared to be increased by the potassium when it was used on land that had grown a cover crop than when it FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS or VEGETABLES 315 TABLE 9. EFFECT OF POTASSIUM USED IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER MATERIALS ON YIELDS OF VEGETABLES (Six-year average yields, acre basis) MI.' Bo Plot4 ML BoK Plot 16 CrL Bo Plot 19 OL BoK Plots OML Bo Plotll CvML BoK BCMMf from pod* . Bouts, wmx . a, S 784 2 442 ft 3 784 2 376 Us. j m 2 310 2 992 2 442 ft 3 278 2 486 a 3 388 2 178 Beau, dwarf lima BeeU, early . 2 464 18 656 2 640 2 442 15 884 2 684 20 856 2 618 22 132 2 948 26 708 Beeta,late .. 81 180 89 672 66 176 76 164 Cabbate. early.... Cabbace. late. ... CarroU. early Carrola. late Cauliflower .. 22 847 22 924 3 014 I* s.'] 23 947 24 068 .'in jr. 1 3 146 16 839 21 032 19 184 30 096 2 662 15 037 21 472 17 688 30 756 1 914 18 865 20 537 20 108 30 008 2 772 18909 25 894 18568 34 628 3 894 Celeriae, 6 587 6 072 4 568 5 135 5 666 6 268 21 355 21 638 16 290 if. J.'n 18 415 17 779 Eupiant 15 594 14 388 ]0 MIS 8 729 7 772 13 824 Garoe 4 224 4 048 :{ f.'.f, 4 136 3 872 3 432 Kohlrabi... 17 072 IS .V.s 12 496 12 760 12 760 15 444 Leekt 14 564 14 476 11 044 11 550 14 124 14 564 Lettuce, leaf.... 30 932 34 584 19 404 23 980 28 820 33 044 Lettuce, head.:::: Okra... 9 900 3 366 8 712 2 750 5 544 2 178 5 940 2 508 8 844 1 804 9 108 2 420 OnioM, atto... . 22 370 16 233 18 004 19 853 21 210 Omoaa. ned 20 107 17 233 10 746 14 621 16 148 16 713 12 936 12 980 12 660 14 168 10 164 14 564 Panoip* 25 256 25 916 15 840 24 288 21 956 Pea*. 5 522 5 808 4 048 4 070 5 500 5 720 12 232 11 946 13 376 13 464 13 530 11 440 Potatoes... 10 967 11 462 7 722 9 075 8 745 10 230 Radkbci... 2 728 2 288 1 936 1 584 1 936 2 376 SaMfy 10 604 ;., s,.s 6 996 10 868 10 692 13 948 6 072 8 448 3 740 7 700 5 940 8 536 Sweet potatoes.. . . Swiw chard 7 735 62 855 8 078 .,< No $51 34 178 15 234 61 223 27 163.88 194.31 169.27 148 42 134 71 147 43 162 19 181.85 101 31 237.77 .:<:} 4J 280.71 200.93 -18.06 94.44 ML... ML Bo MI, BoK ... BoBlK CvML OMLBo CrMLrP. . . 1 v MLiP CT ML Bo K. Cr L Bo NaNOi CT LBoBl K CrL CvLBo CrLrP... CvLiP . OLBoK PM.. CT LBo AmS Late carrot* Cauli- flower Olpriac Celery Egg- plant Garlic Kohl- rabi Leek. 1 2 1 4 5 7 8 10 11 13 It II M 17 18 19 n 33 M. $176 56 255 77 279.23 176 03 182.18 159 35 169 61 251 46 194 17 302 37 255 03 15057 201 23 .". :.i 95 66 3 73 216 21 116.03 249 86 $ 36.00 100.81 47.27 63 43 6.54 -3653 63 93 44 58 89 37 8009 39 35 11001 81 47 93 93 30 58 31.37 2209 29 60 '.4 in 1145 90 190.81 269 77 212 43 146.34 145 27 172 33 111.28 225 37 M ..'I :-ir- 4.1 20631 73 77 92 53 84 58 1W 47 143.39 -55. M SI J" $214.20 19706 309 67 319 78 219 94 51 82 157 38 99 83 91 77 119 74 160 90 214 36 57 07 81 13 71 43 58 02 71.79 -212 70 $ 70 60 173 41 252 97 191 83 172 84 15 42 -138 47 10 13 123 67 158 44 18 70 92 96 -70 88 43 33 -16 72 -13 48 -M 46 41 15 17 in $22 80 48 01 47 27 23 83 - 2 26 - 1 33 6.73 - 8 22 -16 23 -43 11 -17.85 -35 19 -15 33 19 13 30 53 40 17 67.29 -54 00 .' .Vi $ 54.67 53 48 57 44 74.60 5 71 34 14 11 10 45 75 78 54 46 26 48 52 45 18 64 14 .,, 38 75 58 04 62 76 39 77 ii- :: $37 4 67.15 83 61 67.77 39.88 44 81 3627 - 7.39 72 43 44.35 86 81 -11.73 .,4 us M -9 - 7 87 -9606 I-, 44 ML ML Bo ML BoK... BoBIK CrML O ML Bo . CrMLrP. .. CrMLiP... Cv ML Bo K. CT L Bo XaXO, . . OLBoBI K CrL CvLBo . CvLrP... CrLtP .. CvLBo K. PM CvLBo AS ( Tabtt it condvdtdo* pagt 318.) 318 BULLETIN No. 346 [June, TABLE 11. (Concluded) Plot Treatment Leaf lettuce Head lettuce Okra Onion sets Onion seed Parsley Parsnips Peas 1 M... $ 700.37 $248.67 $ 17.67 $ 57.95 $ 94.42 $841.20 $185.16 $202.47 2 ML.. .. 809.18 357.48 - 7.72 120.39 211.77 743.21 210.37 212.28 3 ML Bo 1153 64 281 94 -68.86 203 34 361 97 733 67 256 27 218 14 4 MLBoK... 1330.60 210.10 -36.30 154.21 269 61 736.63 270.23 240 90 5 BoBlK 655.51 285.21 8.01 103.95 87. as 481.74 61.54 135.61 7 CvML... 935.84 198.14 114.54 42.18 269 45 412.27 219.55 195.94 8 Cv ML Bo. 1042 90 276 60 -130 40 122 49 237 86 173 93 220 09 210 60 g CvMLrP... 970.75 235.25 -63 95 92.89 150 57 818.98 183.62 235 25 10 CvMLsP... 1090 34 258.04 -38.96 128 45 209.05 617.37 65.61 251.44 11 Cv ML Bo K. 1248 26 336 76 74 64 157 36 248 97 1048 09 146 09 226 76 12 Cv L Bo NaNOi . . 681.72 -21.98 -113.18 129.84 207.21 554.15 30 11 201 42 13 Cv L Bo Bl K 930.58 124.68 -119.53 141.52 229.74 1302.41 118.37 197.28 15 CvL... 275.04 36.14 -93.06 25.41 155.24 776.67 -43.49 74.14 16 Cv L Bo. . . 602.10 64.60 -63.00 43.89 105.80 703.18 - 1 55 95.40 17 Cv L rP. . . 375.95 47.25 22 95 31 71 101 67 312 18 89 54 71 65 18 CvLsP... 935.54 30.04 -96.96 83.81 267.89 629.77 147.09 169.24 19 CvLBoK 825.06 112.76 -35.84 91.18 216.21 998.89 135.17 91.76 21 PM . 33 97 -21 73 -100 93 -10 37 40 92 500 40 -43 00 -39 33 22 Cv L Bo AmS : . . 618.47 144.77 -92.83 87.51 8.06 697.70 20.98 56.77 Peppers Potatoes Radishes Salsify Spinach Sweet potatoes Swiss chard Turnips 1 M... $-60 75 1 23 53 $280 14 $127 67 $235 47 $ 73 16 $534 75 $ 35.84 2 ML... 231.56 44.89 206.20 120.48 427.88 48.79 404.20 126.15 3 ML Bo... 93.27 54.60 155.26 67.94 431.54 62.62 450.10 84.61 4 ML Bo K . 73 93 61 14 106 97 20 10 663 30 67 07 656 78 115.27 5 BoBlK -63.46 - 2.08 67.63 - 7.79 245 61 - 5.21 440.17 64.88 7 CvML... 248 97 1.78 23 11 170 14 484 14 2 83 592 24 79.81 8 Cv ML Bo. . 253.18 - 6.29 63 07 74.60 413.00 - 2.96 507.46 106.77 9 CvMLrP 100.08 14.79 74.27 108.25 468.45 - .64 368. S7 77.92 10 CvMLsP -58 88 21 35 99 81 115 04 464 84 6 48 346 56 142.21 11 CvMLBoK.... 18.34 25 00 111 23 164.76 666.76 53.42 325.40 132.93 12 Cv L Bo NaNOj . . 226.85 35 93 69.89 58.02 480.82 36.32 629.84 176.69 13 CvLBoBlK.... 241 51 22 47 160 20 -17 32 635 08 65 30 647.48 213.19 15 CvL... 223 97 -45 65 77 86 20 14 324 94 50 14 357 58 95.31 16 Cv L Bo. . . 427 43 1 86 77 77 -23 40 223 00 12 13 208.12 104.77 17 CvLrP 380 08 -14.61 62 87 -23.75 260.85 - 9.07 91.31 75.42 18 CvLsP.. . . 272 87 20 00 96 51 35 04 384 84 15 09 264 36 144.71 19 CvLBoK 300 34 26 12 8 93 86 76 613 16 - 2 50 414.14 199.43 21 PM 1 60 63 106 04 73 27 -31 27 190.43 70.44 22 Cv L Bo AmS 211.35 27.43 150.94 54.77 338.37 - 3.32 294.01 137.94 accurate estimate of these differences. The simple method outlined above for comparing the financial results of the various fertilizer treatments has therefore been employed even tho it does not take into account all the factors involved. With most of the crops a financial benefit is shown from the use of the fertilizer (Table 11), Notable exceptions were bush lima beans, garlic, and okra; these crops in 9 to 16 cases out of 19 showed a money loss. Wax beans, eggplant, leeks, salsify, potatoes, and sweet potatoes also showed monetary losses from 5 or more treatments. Altho the treatments given Plots 11 and 4 were more expensive than any of the others, the net values of these treatments as expressed in increased yields ranked either first or second in the case of 19 of the crops grown. These plots were treated alike except that Plot 11 was treated with a cover crop in addition to manure, limestone, bone 1930} FERTILIZING TWENTY-FIVE KINDS OF VEGETABLES 319 meal, and potassium sulfate, while on Plot 4 the cover crop was omitted. Among the plots on which a cover crop was used in com- bination with manure and other fertilizers, Plot 11 was outstanding when the value of the increased yields is compared with the cost of the treatment. Another treatment that gave especially good results was manure, limestone, and bone meal (Plot 3). This plot ranked either first or second in the case of 10 crops. The only plots other than the three mentioned, which ranked first or second in as many as 5 crops, were Plots 2 and 13. Of the treatments which did not include manure, that given Plot 13 (cover crop, limestone, bone meal, dried blood, and potassium sulfate) is worthy of special mention. Altho one of the more expensive treat- ments, it ranked either first or second in net value of products in case of 5 crops and outranked Plot 2 (treated with manure and limestone) in case of 16 different crops. RECOMMENDATIONS Since there were wide differences in the response of the different vegetables to the same fertilizer treatment, it is impossible to make a general recommendation that would be applicable to all the vegetables included in these tests. Most of these vegetables, however, can be classified into a small number of groups on the basis of their response to given fertilizer treatments. Taking into account not only increases in yield, but also the net value of each treatment as determined by subtracting the cost of the fertilizer and the average value of the crop produced on the untreated plots from the gross value of the crop pro- duced under a given treatment, the following recommendations seem warranted. 1. Limestone in addition to manure is recommended for the pro- duction of the following vegetables on dark-colored silt loam showing acid reaction: cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, eggplant, garlic, lettuce (both leaf and head), onions, peppers, and spinach. 2. Phosphorus as a supplement to manure and limestone is recom- mended for the production of green string beans, carrots, early cab- bage, celeriac, celery, eggplant, leeks, onions, and parsnips. 3. Potassium in combination with phosphorus, limestone, and ma- nure is recommended for the production of beets, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, peas, potatoes, spinach, and Swiss chard. 4. When manure cannot be obtained, it is recommended that a complete commercial fertilizer be used in combination with limestone and cover crops for the production of beets, cabbage, early carrots, cauliflower, celeriac. celery, leaf lettuce, onions, parsley, spinach, sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, and turnips. These recommendations refer particularly to the production of 320 BULLETIN No. 346 vegetables on dark-colored silt loam with an acid reaction. For soils of the same type in which tests show no lime requirement, the lime- stone could be omitted from the treatment. COMPOSITION OF RECOMMENDED FERTILIZERS In these tests it was not feasible to include all possible combina- tions of manure, cover crops, and mineral elements from various sources. The best results in using phosphorus as a supplement to manure were obtained where no cover crop was employed. Phos- phorus from only one source (bone meal) was used in such combina- tion. In the comparative tests of the three sources of phosphorus, cover-crop treatment was included on all the plots. Here the results were strongly in favor of superphosphate (acid phosphate) as a source of phosphorus for many of the crops. It is not unreasonable to pre- sume that similar favorable results might have been obtained from the use of this material as the source of phosphorus in combination with manure without a cover crop, particularly if an equivalent amount of phosphorus had been applied. Expressed in the usual terms of fertilizer formulas, the composition of the fertilizers giving best results in these tests were as follows: The bone meal used as the source of phosphorus to supplement manure and limestone on Plot 3 had a composition of approximately 1-29-0. It was used at the rate of 500 pounds to the acre. The mixture of bone meal and potassium sulfate used on Plots 4 and 11 (in addition to manure and limestone, and manure, cover crop, and limestone) was approximately equivalent to a fertilizer of the formula .7-21-14, applied at the rate of 700 pounds to the acre or a .4-12-8 formula used at the rate of 1,200 pounds to the acre. For practical purposes this would be an 0-12-8 formula. The fertilizer applied to Plot 13, in addition to the cover crop and limestone, was approximately equivalent to a 6-12-8 formula used at the rate of 1,200 pounds to the acre. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA