THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF ILLINOIS 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 
BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 TESTS WITH NITRATE OF SODA IN THE 
 PRODUCTION OF EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 BY JOHN W. LLOYD 
 
 URBAXA, ILLINOIS, NOVEMBER, 1915 
 
SUMMARY OF BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 1. Top-dressings of nitrate of soda were made to growing crops of radishes, 
 turnips, beets, onions, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower. The experiment 
 was continued thru six years. Page 29 
 
 2. One plat received applications of nitrate of soda at intervals of one week, 
 and another at intervals of two weeks. A third plat was left untreated as a 
 check. Page 30 
 
 3. The number of applications of nitrate of soda and the amount of material 
 used varied with different seasons and different crops. Page 32 
 
 4. The crops of vegetables were harvested when they reached marketable 
 condition, and data were secured regarding the yields from the different 
 plats. Page 35 
 
 5. Altho the results were somewhat variable, the nitrate of soda was usually 
 beneficial to most of the crops. Pages 42-45 
 
 6. Applications of nitrate of soda made at intervals of two weeks seemed 
 preferable to applications made at intervals of one week. Pages 42-45 
 
 7. CONCLUSIONS. Page 45 
 
TESTS WITH NITRATE OF SODA IN THE 
 PRODUCTION OF EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 BY JOHN W. LLOYD, CHIEF IN OLERICULTURE 
 
 Extravagant claims are sometimes made regarding the influence 
 of nitrate of soda upon the yield and earliness of certain vegetable 
 crops, particularly those of which a vegetative part constitutes the 
 edible product. The claims are especially emphatic in reference to 
 early-planted crops, since much of their growth must be made at a 
 time when conditions in the soil are not favorable for rapid nitrifica- 
 tion; and the supplying of nitrogen in a readily available form at 
 such a time would seem to premise good results. Furthermore, marked 
 benefits from the use of nitrate of soda in vegetable production have 
 been reported from certain experiment stations of the East. In view 
 of these considerations, it was thought best to make some tests with 
 this material in the production of vegetables on the brown silt loam 
 of the corn belt. Accordingly a series of tests was planned, including 
 eight kinds of vegetables; viz., radish, turnip, beet, onion, spinach, 
 lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower. The tests were begun in 1907 and 
 continued for six years. 
 
 METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE TESTS 
 
 The land used for the nitrate of soda experiment was part of the 
 area on the Station grounds at Urbana formerly occupied by the 
 "Farmer's Vegetable Garden" reported in Bulletin No. 105. J Dur- 
 ing the seven years from 1900 to 1906 inclusive, the land had been 
 manured at the rate of 322 loads per acre, or an average of forty-six 
 loads per acre per year. At the beginning of the present experiment 
 in the spring of 1907, the soil was therefore in good condition for the 
 production of vegetables. Each year during the progress of the ex- 
 periment, the land was given a dressing of manure in the fall at the 
 rate of approximately thirty-six tons per acre. Thus the nitrate of 
 soda was used to supplement rather than to replace the manure. 
 
 Usually the land was plowed in the fall after being manured, and 
 was allowed to lie rough in the furrow until spring. As early in the 
 spring as the ground could be worked to advantage, the land was 
 disked, harrowed, and planked until a fine seed bed was prepared. 
 Three plats, each one rod wide and four rods long, were laid out, and 
 planted exactly alike. 
 
 'Xo longer available for distribution. 
 
 29 
 
30 BULLETIN No. 184 [November, 
 
 In each plat one row of each of the following varieties of vegeta- 
 bles was planted: 
 
 Lettuce, Hanson (except in 1910) 
 
 Spinach, Long Standing 
 
 Turnip, Purple-Top Strap-Leaved 
 
 Beet, Crosby's Egyptian 
 
 Kadish, Burpee's Earliest Scarlet (except in 1907) 
 
 Onion seed, Southport Yellow Globe (except in 1909) 
 
 Onion sets, Yellow Bottom 
 
 Cabbage, Early Jersey Wakefield 
 
 Cauliflower, Burpee's Dry Weather 
 
 In 1910, Big Boston lettuce plants were transplanted instead of Han- 
 son seed being sown. In 1907, the Scarlet Turnip White Tip radish 
 was used. In 1909, one-half of each row of onion seed was planted 
 with Southport Red Globe and the other half with Southport White 
 Globe. 
 
 All the vegetables except the cabbage and the cauliflower were 
 planted as early in the spring as the seed bed could be prepared. 1 
 The cabbage and the cauliflower were transplanted somewhat later 
 after the weather had become more settled. The rows of cabbage and 
 cauliflower were three feet apart, while those of the other vegetables 
 were one and one-half feet apart. All rows were sixty-six feet long. 
 
 The three plats were given identical care as to tillage, weeding, 
 and thinning of the plants. The lettuce, turnips, beets, and onions 
 from seed were thinned; the radishes and spinach were allowed to 
 stand as they came up from the seed. 
 
 Beginning after the plants had become well established, nitrate of 
 soda was applied to Plat 1 at intervals of approximately one week, 
 and to Plat 2 at intervals of approximately two weeks. Slight devia- 
 tions from the schedule for applications once a week and once in two 
 weeks respectively were sometimes necessary on account of rain and 
 the consequent muddy condition of the soil. The applications early 
 in the season were made by means of a "side-dresser drill" (Fig. 1), 
 which straddled the row and deposited the nitrate in a little furrow 
 along each side. The machine made the furrows and distributed and 
 covered the nitrate at one operation. As the plants became larger, 
 however, this implement could no longer be used, and it became nec- 
 essary to apply the nitrate by hand. In this case, care was taken to 
 avoid letting the nitrate come in contact with the foliage ; it was care- 
 fully scattered along both sides of the row, and then cultivated into 
 the soil by means of a wheel hoe equipped with narrow cultivator 
 teeth. Accurate records were kept regarding the amount of nitrate 
 put on at each application. Plat 3 was left untreated as a check. 
 
 The crops were harvested when they had reached marketable con- 
 dition. With the exception of the cabbage and the cauliflower, the 
 
 a ln 1907 it became necessary to replant the turnips, beets, and radishes be 
 cause the seedlings from the original planting were killed by severe frosts. 
 
19151 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 31 
 
 entire crop of a given vegetable was usually harvested on the same 
 day, the small, undeveloped specimens being gathered as well as those 
 that had reached marketable size. The crop was then graded on the 
 basis of size into marketable and unmarketable specimens, when grad- 
 ing was necessary, and the percentage of marketable specimens deter- 
 mined. This percentage was a good index to the relative earliness 
 of the crops from the different plats. 
 
 Further, the specimens from each plat were counted, and the en- 
 tire product from each plat was weighed. In the case of the root crops 
 (radishes, turnips, and beets), the tops were cut off and weighed 
 
 FIG. 1. SIDE-DRESSER DRILL FOR APPLYING NITRATE OF SODA 
 
 separately from the roots. This was done in order to determine 
 whether or not the nitrate of soda had stimulated an excessive leaf 
 growth without a corresponding development of the root. 
 
 The cabbage and the cauliflower were gone over every few days, 
 and all heads that were sufficiently developed at ach date were har- 
 vested at that time. Usually at least five cuttings were made. All 
 cabbage cut during the first week of the harvest (usually two cuttings) 
 
32 
 
 BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 [November, 
 
 was counted as ' ' early. ' ' Practically all the cabbage plants produced 
 heads and all the heads were marketable. 
 
 The cauliflower, on the other hand, showed great variation in the 
 quality of the heads. These were sorted into two classes, "good" and 
 ' ' poor. ' ' Account was also kept of the number of plants that failed 
 to head, and the percentage of plants making good heads was deter- 
 mined. 
 
 AMOUNTS OF NITRATE OF SODA USED 
 
 The amounts of nitrate of soda used varied from year to year and 
 with the different crops, depending upon the number of applications 
 and the adjustment of the machine for a given application. Some- 
 times the amounts put on were larger than they should have been, but 
 in no case was there any apparent injury to the plants due to ex- 
 cessive use of the nitrate. The dates of the first and the last applica- 
 tion to each crop each year, the number of applications, and the total 
 amounts applied, together with dates of planting and harvesting the 
 various crops, are given in Tables 1 to 9 inclusive. 
 
 TABLE 1. APPLICATIONS OP NITRATE OP SODA TO RADISHES 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Apr. 17 
 
 Apr. 1 
 
 Apr. 2 
 
 Apr. 12 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 May 3 
 
 May 5 
 
 May 12 
 
 May 9 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 May 20 
 
 May 19 
 
 May 19 
 
 May 16 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 May 27 
 
 May 20 
 
 May 28 
 
 May 23 
 
 Number of applications to Plat 1 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 Number of applications to Plat 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 
 379 
 
 699 
 
 389 
 
 190 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2. . 
 
 244 
 
 493 
 
 230 
 
 90 
 
 NOTE. In 1908 and 1911 the radishes were ready to pull by the time the 
 first application of nitrate of soda was made. Hence no records were taken for 
 these two years. 
 
 TABLE 2. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE. OF SODA TO TURNIPS 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Apr. 17 
 May 3 
 June 5 
 June 26 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 615 
 370 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 May 23 
 June 18 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 220 
 110 
 
 Apr. 1 
 May 5 
 May '29 
 June 30 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 898 
 493 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 June 9 
 June 18 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1817 
 1012 
 
 Mar. 23 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 June 29 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 740 
 432 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 June 27 
 
 5 
 
 S 
 
 475 
 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
1915] 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 33 
 
 TABLE 3. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO BEETS 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Apr. 17 
 May 3 
 June 17 
 July 13 
 
 7 
 
 4 
 891 
 
 700 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 May 30 
 June 25 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 330 
 
 220 
 
 Apr. 1 
 May 5 
 June 5 
 July 1 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1082 
 668 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 June 16 
 July 2 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1020 
 547 
 
 Mar. 23 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 June 30 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 740 
 432 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 June 26 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 475 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
 TABLE 4. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO ONIONS GROWN FROM SEED 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Mar. 20 
 Apr. 20 
 June 17 
 Aug. 28 
 
 9 
 
 5 
 
 1366 
 838 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 June 6 
 Aug. 14 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 456 
 220 
 
 Apr. 1 
 May 5 
 June 5 
 Aug. 20 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1082 
 668 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 June 16 
 Aug. 19 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1020 
 547 
 
 Mar. 23 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 July 25 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 740 
 432 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 Aug. 24 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 475 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
 TABLE 5. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO ONIONS GROWN FROM SETS 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Mar. 20 
 Apr. 20 
 May 20 
 May 29 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 654 
 382 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 May 23 
 June 6 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 220 
 110 
 
 Apr. 1 
 May 5 
 May 29 
 
 Aug. 2 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 898 
 493 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 June 16 
 Aug. 1 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1020 
 547 
 
 Mar. 23 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 
 July 7 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 740 
 432 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 July 30 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 475 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
 NOTE. In 1907 and 1908 the onions from sets were harvested as green 
 bunch onions; the other years they were allowed to ripen. 
 
34 
 
 BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 [November, 
 
 TABLE 6. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO SPINACH 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Mar. 20 
 Apr. 20 
 May 20 
 May 30 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 654 
 382 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 May 23 
 May 30 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 220 
 110 
 
 Apr. 1 
 May 5 
 May 19 
 June 1 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 700 
 493 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 June 2 
 June 10 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 743 
 380 
 
 Mar. 23 
 May 11 
 
 May 19 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 135 
 135 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 May 30 
 June 4 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 365 
 166 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
 TABLE 7. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO LETTUCE 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1910 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Mar. 20 
 Apr. 20 
 May 28 
 June 25 
 6 
 3 
 764 
 382 
 
 Mar. 26 
 May 16 
 June 6 
 June 19 
 4 
 2 
 581 
 220 
 
 Apr. 2 
 May 12 
 May 26 
 June 3 
 3 
 2 
 718 
 560 
 
 Apr. 12 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 June 27 
 5 
 3 
 475 
 266 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest 
 
 Number of applications to Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 
 Total amount armlied to Plat 2 . . 
 
 NOTE. In 1909 and 1911 the lettuce did not develop well, and no yield rec- 
 ords were kept; hence no data regarding nitrate applications for those years are 
 given here. 
 
 TABLE 8. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO CABBAGE 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Apr. 27 
 May 3 
 
 June 26 
 July 1 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 812 
 365 
 
 Apr. 29 
 May 16 
 June 6 
 July 11 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 456 
 220 
 
 Apr. 16 
 May 5 
 June 5 
 June 26 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 790 
 466 
 
 Apr. 29 
 May 12 
 June 16 
 June 30 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1128 
 655 
 
 Apr. 17 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 June 16 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 658 
 355 
 
 Apr. 20 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 June 20 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 475 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest (beginning) . . 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
1915] 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 35 
 
 TABLE 9. APPLICATIONS OF NITRATE OF SODA TO CAULIFLOWER 
 (Amounts expressed in pounds per acre) 
 
 
 1907 
 
 1908 
 
 1909 
 
 1910 
 
 1911 
 
 1912 
 
 Date of planting 
 
 Apr. 27 
 May 3 
 June 26 
 July 5 
 
 8 
 
 4 
 884 
 423 
 
 Apr. 29 
 May 16 
 June 6 
 July 17 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 456 
 
 220 
 
 Apr. 16 
 May 5 
 June 5 
 June 15 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 790 
 465 
 
 Apr. 29 
 May 12 
 June 16 
 July 6 
 
 6 
 
 3 
 
 1128 
 655 
 
 Apr. 17 
 May 11 
 June 15 
 June 16 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 658 
 355 
 
 Apr. 20 
 May 9 
 June 6 
 June 20 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 475 
 276 
 
 Date of first application 
 
 Date of last application 
 
 Date of harvest (beginning) . . 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 1 
 
 Number of applications to 
 Plat 2 
 
 Total amount applied to Plat 1 
 Total amount applied to Plat 2 
 
 RESULTS OF THE TESTS 
 
 As has already been stated, the crops of vegetables in the nitrate 
 of soda experiment were harvested when they had reached suitable 
 condition, and accurate counts and weighings of the products were 
 made. Data regarding the yields of the various vegetables from the 
 different plats each year are given in Tables 10 to 19 inclusive. 
 
 TABLE 10. YIELDS OF EADISHES FROM TREATED AND UNTREATED PLATS 
 
 Year 
 
 Number 
 of 
 plants 
 
 Percentage 
 of market- 
 able plants 
 
 Total 
 weight 
 of roots 
 
 Aver, 
 weight 
 per root 
 
 Total 
 weight 
 of leaves 
 
 Ratio of 
 roots to 
 leaves, by 
 weight 
 
 Plat 1: Nitrate Once a Week 
 
 1907 
 1909 
 1910 
 1912 
 
 129 
 
 282 
 812 
 665 
 
 54.3 
 61.3 
 54.9 
 66.6 
 
 Ibs. 
 1.81 
 2.39 
 19.03 
 10.66 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 .014 
 
 .008 
 .023 
 .016 
 
 Ibs. 
 1.06 
 1.42 
 11.19 
 5.44 
 
 1:0.59 
 1:0.59 
 1:0.59 
 1:0.51 
 
 Average 
 
 472 
 
 60.0 1 
 
 8.47 
 
 .015 
 
 4.77 
 
 1:0.56 
 
 Plat 2 : Nitrate Once in Two Weeks 
 
 1907 
 1909 
 1910 
 1912 
 
 278 
 261 
 473 
 580 
 
 55.4 
 65.9 
 
 58.4 
 65.2 
 
 3.19 
 2.45 
 12.84 
 10.19 
 
 .011 
 .009 
 .027 
 .017 
 
 1.81 
 1.50 
 6.63 
 
 4.87 
 
 1:0.57 
 1:0.61 
 1:0.52 
 1:0.48 
 
 Average 
 
 398 
 
 61.6 
 
 7.17 
 
 .016 
 
 3.70 
 
 1:0.52 
 
 Plat 3 : Check 
 
 1907 
 1909 
 1910 
 1912 
 
 188 
 214 
 749 
 557 
 
 50.5 
 52.8 
 55.0 
 48.8 
 
 2.07 
 1.65 
 14.35 
 
 7.28 
 
 .011 
 .007 
 .019 
 .013 
 
 1.10 
 1.01 
 12.25 
 3.72 
 
 1:0.53 
 1:0.61 
 1:0.85 
 1:0.51 
 
 Average 
 
 427 
 
 52.2 
 
 6.34 
 
 .012 
 
 4.52 
 
 1:0.71 
 
 'Averages in this column and the corresponding columns in other tables have 
 been calculated from the total number of plants produced during the series of 
 years. 
 
36 
 
 BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 [November, 
 
 TABLE 11. YIELDS OP TURNIPS FROM TREATED AND UNTREATED PLATS 
 
 
 Number 
 
 Percentage 
 
 Total 
 
 Aver. 
 
 Total 
 
 Eatio of 
 
 Year 
 
 of 
 plants 
 
 of market- 
 able plants 
 
 weight 
 of roots 
 
 weight 
 per root 
 
 weight 
 of leaves 
 
 roots to 
 leaves, by 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 weight 
 
 Plat 1: Nitrate Once a Week 
 
 
 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 
 1907 
 
 181 
 
 74.6 
 
 60.50 
 
 .334 
 
 144.50 
 
 1:2.39 
 
 1908 
 
 214 
 
 53.7 
 
 45.60 
 
 .213 
 
 95.50 
 
 1:2.09 
 
 1909 
 
 160 
 
 60.0 
 
 173.10 
 
 1.082 
 
 226.30 
 
 1:1.31 
 
 1910 
 
 134 
 
 64.9 
 
 59.53 
 
 .444 
 
 98.75 
 
 1 : 1.66 
 
 1911 
 
 208 
 
 32.2 
 
 39.10 
 
 .188 
 
 136.30 
 
 .1:3.49 
 
 1912 
 
 240 
 
 65.4 
 
 45.75 
 
 .191 
 
 111.25 
 
 1:2.43 
 
 Average 
 
 189 
 
 57.8 
 
 70.59 
 
 .408 
 
 135.43 
 
 1:1.92 
 
 Plat 2 : Nitrate Once in Two Weeks 
 
 1907 
 
 179 
 
 70.9 
 
 58.25 
 
 .325 
 
 140.01 
 
 1:2.40 
 
 1908 
 
 189 
 
 58.7 
 
 53.85 
 
 .285 
 
 118.75 
 
 1:2.21 
 
 1909 
 
 110 
 
 51.8 
 
 98.90 
 
 .899 
 
 197.00 
 
 1:1.99 
 
 1910 
 
 144 
 
 70.8 
 
 64.78 
 
 .450 
 
 106.25 
 
 1:1.64 
 
 1911 
 
 205 
 
 36.1 
 
 44.70 
 
 .218 
 
 146.70 
 
 1:3.28 
 
 1912 
 
 213 
 
 72.3 
 
 49.00 
 
 .230 
 
 101.50 
 
 1:2.07 
 
 Average 
 
 173 
 
 60.1 
 
 61.58 
 
 .401 
 
 135.03 
 
 1:2.19 
 
 Plat 3 : Check 
 
 1907 
 
 183 
 
 56.3 
 
 49.75 
 
 .272 
 
 118.50 
 
 1:2.38 
 
 1908 
 
 178 
 
 59.6 
 
 46.70 
 
 .262 
 
 97.50 
 
 1:2.09 
 
 1909 
 
 117 
 
 65.0 
 
 92.60 
 
 .791 
 
 181.50 
 
 1:1.96 
 
 1910 
 
 150 
 
 70.7 
 
 54.31 
 
 .362 
 
 107.00 
 
 1 : 1.97 
 
 1911 
 
 188 
 
 42.0 
 
 49.50 
 
 .263 
 
 156.50 
 
 1:3.16 
 
 1912 
 
 222 
 
 63.1 
 
 46.00 
 
 .207 
 
 94.25 
 
 1:2.05 
 
 Average 
 
 173 
 
 58.8 
 
 56.48 
 
 .359 
 
 125.84 
 
 1:2.23 
 
1015} 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 TABLE 12. YIELDS OF BEETS FROM TREATED AND UNTREATED PLATS 
 
 
 Number 
 
 Percentage 
 
 Total 
 
 Aver. 
 
 Total 
 
 Ratio of 
 
 Year 
 
 of 
 
 of market- 
 
 weight 
 
 weight 
 
 weight 
 
 roots to 
 
 
 plants 
 
 able plants 
 
 of roots 
 
 per root 
 
 of leaves 
 
 leaves, by 
 weight 
 
 Plat 1: Nitrate Once a Week 
 
 
 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 Ibs. 
 
 
 1907 
 
 168 
 
 69.6 
 
 51.06 
 
 .304 
 
 57.50 
 
 1:1.13 
 
 1908 
 
 211 
 
 73.9 
 
 44.75 
 
 .214 
 
 42.25 
 
 1:0.94 
 
 1909 
 
 117 
 
 77.8 
 
 64.30 
 
 .550 
 
 51.80 
 
 1:0.81 
 
 1910 
 
 183 
 
 65.0 
 
 39.75 
 
 .217 
 
 40.50 
 
 1:1.02 
 
 J911 
 
 242 
 
 65.7 
 
 41.4 
 
 .171 
 
 28.60 
 
 1:0.69 
 
 1912 
 
 187 
 
 70.1 
 
 36.0 
 
 .192 
 
 58.75 
 
 1:1.63 
 
 Average 
 
 184 
 
 69.8 
 
 46.21 
 
 .274 
 
 46.56 
 
 1:1.01 
 
 Plat 2: Nitrate Once in Two Weeks 
 
 1907 
 
 149 
 
 73.8 
 
 44.75 
 
 .300 
 
 50.50 
 
 1:1.13 
 
 1908 
 
 154 
 
 81.2 
 
 43.00 
 
 .279 
 
 33.50 
 
 1:0.78 
 
 1.909 
 
 112 
 
 76.8 
 
 60.30 
 
 .538 
 
 48.30 
 
 1:0.80 
 
 1910 
 
 180 
 
 73.3 
 
 42.09 
 
 .234 
 
 47.34 
 
 1:1.12 
 
 1911 
 
 231 
 
 61.9 
 
 45.70 
 
 .198 
 
 29.50 
 
 1:0.65 
 
 1912 
 
 190 
 
 71.6 
 
 40.75 
 
 .214 
 
 61.25 
 
 1:1.50 
 
 Average 
 
 169 
 
 72.0 
 
 46.10 
 
 .294 
 
 45.06 
 
 1:0.98 
 
 Plat 3 : Check 
 
 1907 
 
 177 
 
 48.0 
 
 29.88 
 
 .169 
 
 49.00 
 
 1:1.64 
 
 1908 
 
 181 
 
 75.1 
 
 35.75 
 
 .197 
 
 34.50 
 
 1:0.97 
 
 1909 
 
 120 
 
 64.2 
 
 47.80 
 
 .398 
 
 41.50 
 
 1:0.87 
 
 1910 
 
 190 
 
 71.1 
 
 40.69 
 
 .214 
 
 41.25 
 
 1:1.01 
 
 1911 
 
 222 
 
 59.9 
 
 44.00 
 
 .198 
 
 28.70 
 
 1:0.65 
 
 1912 
 
 188 
 
 66.0 
 
 27.00 
 
 .143 
 
 45.50 
 
 1:1.69 
 
 Average 
 
 179 
 
 64.0 
 
 37.52 
 
 .219 
 
 40.07 
 
 1:1.07 
 
38 
 
 BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 [November, 
 
 
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1916] 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 
 
 39 
 
 
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40 
 
 BULLETIN No. 184 
 
 [November, 
 
 
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1915} 
 
 NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EAKLY VEGETABLES 
 
 41 
 
 
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42 BULLETIN No. 184 [November, 
 
 DISCUSSION OF THE EESULTS 
 
 EADISHES 
 
 An examination of Table 10 shows that altho there were wide 
 differences in the number of radish plants in the different plats (due 
 to differences in rate of seeding 1 ), the results of applying nitrate of 
 soda were quite marked. In percentage of plants producing market- 
 able roots, total weight of roots, and average weight per root, one or 
 the other of the plats to which the nitrate had been applied was al- 
 ways superior to the check plat. The four-year averages for percent- 
 age of marketable plants and average weight per root were slightly 
 in favor of Plat 2, to which applications of the nitrate were made once 
 in two weeks. Plat 1, .to which nitrate had been applied once a week, 
 was superior in total weight of roots. This was due mainly to the 
 exceptionally large number of roots produced on this plat in 1910. 
 
 In neither of the plats receiving the nitrate was the foliage ab- 
 normally developed. In fact, the ratios of weight of roots to weight 
 of leaves show that in only one year of the four were the leaves of 
 the plants on the untreated plat relatively lighter in weight than those 
 of the treated plats ; and that, as an average for the four years, the 
 roots of the plants from both treated plats were considerably heavier 
 in proportion to the leaves than were those of the plants from the 
 check plat. 
 
 TURNIPS 
 
 In the production of early turnips, the applications of nitrate of 
 soda did not seem to have much influence upon the percentage of 
 marketable roots, since in three years of the six the check plat pro- 
 duced higher percentages of marketable roots than did either of the 
 plats to which nitrate had been applied, and as a six-year average the 
 check plat was superior to one of the treated plats in this respect and 
 only slightly inferior to the other. (See Table 11.) However, in re- 
 spect to total weight of roots and average weight per root, the check 
 plat was inferior to one or both of the treated plats five years of the 
 six, and as an average for the six years was inferior to both. In com- 
 paring the treated plats, it appears that in total weight of roots and 
 average weight per root, Plat 2 was superior to Plat 1 four years of 
 the six, even tho the six-year averages are in favor of Plat 1, on ac- 
 count of the exceptional development of the roots in that plat in 1909. 
 
 There was considerable variation in the ratios of weight of roots 
 to weight of leaves in different years. As an average for the six years, 
 however, the check plat had the greatest weight of leaves in propor- 
 tion to the weight of the roots. That is, in the nitrate-treated plats, 
 foliage growth was not stimulated out of proportion to the develop- 
 ment of the roots. 
 
1915] NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 43 
 
 BEETS 
 
 Table 12 shows that Plat 1 was superior to the check plat in per- 
 centage of marketable beets and in total weight of beet roots four 
 years of the six, and that Plat 2 was superior to the check plat in 
 these respects every year. In average weight per beet root, both 
 treated plats were superior to the check plat five years of the six. In 
 all three respects, the six-year-averages are strongly in favor of the 
 treated plats. Altho Plat 1 was superior to Plat 2 in certain years, 
 the six-year averages for percentage of marketable roots and average 
 weight per root are in favor of Plat 2, which received applications of 
 nitrate once in two weeks. The six-year average for total weight of 
 roots is very slightly in favor of Plat 1, on account of the larger aver- 
 age number of plants in the plat as compared with Plat 2. 
 
 The smallest amount of foliage as compared with the weight of 
 the roots was developed on Plat 2, if the six-year averages are con- 
 sidered. In one year of the six (1910) the foliage was relatively 
 lighter on each of the other plats as compared with Plat 2. In four 
 years of the six the foliage on the check plat was heavier in propor- 
 tion to the roots than on either of the treated plats. 
 
 ONIONS GROWN FROM SEED 
 
 In the crop of onions grown from seed, the percentage of market- 
 able bulbs was highest from Plat 2 three years of the six, and the six- 
 year average in this respect was also in favor of Plat 2 (see Table 13). 
 However, the total weight of crop was greatest from the check plat 
 (Plat 3) four years of the six. The six-year averages for total weight 
 of crop and for average weight per bulb were also greater for the 
 check plat than for either of the treated plats. 
 
 ONIONS GROWN FROM SETS 
 
 In 1907 and 1908, when the onions grown from sets were har- 
 vested as green bunch onions, the plat to which nitrate was ap- 
 plied most frequently (Plat 1) gave the lowest average yield by weight 
 and the lowest average weight per plant. Altho the plants in Plat 2 
 (treated with nitrate once in two weeks) averaged slightly heavier 
 than those in Plat 3 (check) both years, the slightly greater number 
 of plants in Plat 3 resulted in a heavier average total yield for the 
 check plat. (See Table 14.) 
 
 In the four years in which the onions grown from sets were har- 
 vested as ripe bulbs, Plat 2 gave the heaviest total crop three years, 
 and had the best four-year average for total weight of crop. How- 
 ever, the check plat (Plat 3) had the highest average weight per bulb 
 two years of the four, and the best four-year average in this respect. 
 
44 BULLETIN No. 184 [November, 
 
 Except in one year (1911), Plat 1 was inferior to Plats 2 and 3 in 
 respect to total weight of crop. In average percentage of marketable 
 bulbs, Plat 3 was slightly superior to the other two plats. (See 
 Table 15.) 
 
 SPINACH 
 
 In four years of the six, the total weight of the spinach crop from 
 Plat 2 was greater than from either of the other plats. The greater 
 weight of the crop from Plat 1 in the other two years was evidently 
 due, in part at least, to the greater number of plants in that plat those 
 years. Plat 1 was inferior to the check plat (Plat 3) in regard to 
 total weight of crop two years of the six. Plat 2 was superior to the 
 other two plats in average weight per plant four years of the six, and 
 also showed the highest six-year average in this respect. (See Table 
 16.) On the whole, the spinach in Plat 2, to which nitrate had been 
 applied at intervals of two weeks, was plainly superior to that in either 
 of the other plats. 
 
 LETTUCE 
 
 In this experiment, the attempts to grow head lettuce from seed 
 sown in the open failed to produce satisfactory crops except in 1907. 
 In 1910 the lettuce was grown by transplanting. In 1909 and 1911 
 the crops were so near failures that records of weights were not taken. 
 
 In the three years in which data were secured regarding the let- 
 tuce grown from seed sown in the open, each of the three plats led one 
 year in percentage of plants that produced heads. (See Table 17.) 
 In total weight of plants produced, including both those that headed 
 and those that did not, and in average weight per plant, Plat 1 led 
 two years and Plat 2 one year. If the records for the four years are 
 combined, including the three years that the lettuce was grown from 
 seed sown in the open and the one year that the plants were trans- 
 planted, the untreated plat (Plat 3) shows the highest average per- 
 centage of plants headed, on account of the proportionately higher 
 percentage of plants heading in that plat in 1908. The check plat 
 also shows the highest average weight per plant when the four years' 
 records are considered together. In total weight of crop, Plat 1, to 
 which nitrate of soda was applied once a week, is superior to the other 
 two plats, as an average for the four years. 
 
 CABBAGE 
 
 The variations in numbers of cabbage heads from the different 
 plats and in different years were due principally to the loss of plants 
 by reason of cut worms and other accidental causes, rather than to 
 any differences in the percentage of plants producing heads. In every 
 year except 1908, both plats which received the nitrate of soda (Plats 
 
NITRATE OF SODA TESTS WITH EARLY VEGETABLES 45 
 
 1 and 2) were superior to the untreated plat in regard to total weight 
 of crop and average weight per head ; and the six-year averages show 
 marked differences in favor of the treated plats in both of the re- 
 spects mentioned. (See Table 18.) Of the two treated plats, Plat 2, 
 to which the nitrate was applied once in two weeks, was superior to 
 Plat 1 in total weight of crop and average weight per head four years 
 of the six, and showed the higher average for the six years in both 
 respects. 
 
 In percentage of crop which matured early, Plat 2 was superior 
 to both the other plats four years of the six, and showed a slightly 
 higher average for the six years than either of the other plats. The 
 check plat led in percentage of early crop two years of the six, and 
 showed a slightly better six-year average in this respect than Plat 1. 
 On the whole, the best results with cabbage were secured in Plat 2, 
 which received applications of nitrate of soda once in two weeks. 
 
 CAULIFLOWER 
 
 In a cauliflower crop, one of the most important features is the 
 percentage of plants that produce marketable heads. Data on this 
 point in regard to the cauliflower grown in the nitrate of soda experi- 
 ment are given in Table 19. It will be seen that Plat 2 produced the 
 highest percentage of plants with good heads three years of the six, 
 and had a higher six-year average in this respect than either of the 
 other plats. In the six-year average, both treated plats were plainly 
 superior to the untreated plat. The influence of the nitrate of soda 
 upon the heading of cauliflower was most strikingly shown in 1911, 
 when a high percentage of the untreated plants failed to produce any 
 heads whatever. The weather that year was exceedingly hot and dry. 
 
 CONCLUSIONS 
 
 In the light of the data secured in connection with the nitrate of 
 soda experiment reported on the preceding pages, the following con- 
 clusions are warranted: 
 
 1. Under the soil and climatic conditions attending these tests, 
 nitrate of soda usually does not induce an excessive development of 
 foliage on the common early root crops, radishes, turnips, and beets, 
 without a corresponding development of the root. 
 
 2. Top-dressings of nitrate of soda may reasonably be expected 
 to have a beneficial effect upon the following crops of early vegetables, 
 on well-manured brown silt loam in the corn belt : radishes, turnips, 
 beets, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower. The beneficial effect may consist 
 in a higher percentage of plants reaching marketable size or condition 
 within a given time, greater size of the individual specimens, or 
 greater total yield. (If the stand were uniform, the last two points 
 would be correlated.) 
 
46 BULLETIN No. 184 [November, 
 
 3. Under the conditions of these tests, the benefits to be derived 
 from top-dressings of nitrate of soda to onions and head lettuce do 
 not appear to be sufficiently marked or consistent to warrant the use 
 of this fertilizing material on these crops. 
 
 4. Nitrate of soda applied at intervals of two weeks seems to be 
 fully as effective as when applied at more frequent intervals, even tho 
 the aggregate amount of material is correspondingly less; in many 
 cases it is more effective. 
 
 5. Under the conditions of these tests, the beneficial results of 
 using nitrate of soda in the production of early vegetables do not ap- 
 pear to be so pronounced as results which have been reported from 
 certain other sections of the country. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA