The Utility of Sulphate of Ammonia in Agriculture

Abstract

THIS is the essay which won the prize lately offered by the Sulphate of Ammonia Committee. Mr. Muir has carefully compiled his little treatise, and made a judicious selection of results of field experiments to illustrate the use of sulphate of ammonia, and to compare its results with those obtained from the use of nitrate of soda. Naturally, the results of the Rothamsted experiments are those most largely drawn upon; Woburn is also quoted from to a considerable extent, and the author considerately always gives references to his authorities. The comparisons between the effects of nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia are fully and very fairly drawn, and the farmer should find the essay a great help in deciding which of these nitrogenous manures to apply in any particular case. No doubt the farmer, for whom the essay is chiefly written, will turn to the last three pages, which contain a summary of conclusions and comparisons between the two important nitrogenous manures. This summary is in twenty-seven paragraphs, and but few of these lay themselves open to criticism. We can only suggest that the author might have pointed out more clearly in this summary, paragraph 3, that leguminous plants can, under favourable conditions, make use of free nitrogen; paragraph 7, that nitrogenous manures, and especially ammoniacal manures, do not give their best results unless plenty of ash constituents are present, phosphates as well as potash; paragraph 20, that phosphates are a highly desirable addition in the manuring of barley; and paragraphs 24 and 27, that both phosphates and potash should be used on potatoes and on grass-land when sulphate of ammonia is used to supply nitrogen.

The Utility of Sulphate of Ammonia in Agriculture.

By James Muir Pp. 68. (London: Sulphate of Ammonia Committee, 4 Fenchurch Avenue, E.C., 1899.)