Lime, fertilizer aren’t always needed
GEORGETOWN, Del. -
No matter what the soil test
says, it’s hard to resist the
urge to lime and fertilize.
True, lime and fertilizer
cost money, but how many
farmers are .daring enough
to risk growing crops
without them? What if the
experiment fails?
Fortunately, Delaware
farmers don’t have to ex
periment with their own
crops. Agricultural Ex
periment Station resear
chers do it for them.
For the last ten years,
William Liebhardt has been
growing com and soybeans
at the University of
Delaware’s Georgetown
Substation, with and without
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W I c.-v
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THOMAS FARM SYSTEMS, INC.
2025 Horseshoe Road,
Lancaster, PA 17601
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SEE OUR DISPLAY AT PA. AG PROGRESS DAYS
AUGUST 19-21
the addition of lime, fer
tilizer phosphorous, and
fertilizer potassium. So far,
the fertilizer phosphorous,
and potassium have not
increased yields, and ex
cessive lime has actually
reduced yields.
Even after ten years,
Liebhardt points out, com
and soybeans are yielding
just as well with or without
the addition of fertilizer
phosophorus and potassium.
“We have a long history of
putting on more phosphorous
than we need,” he says.
“Farmers could go years
without putting on more.
We’ve gone ten years with no
problem.”
THINKING
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ABOUT:
• Trigon
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501 E. WOODS DRIVE, LITITZ, PA 17543
PH; 717-626-1151
THOMAS FARM
SYSTEMS, INC.
Phone (717) 299-1706
H-8/16 I
As for potassium,
Liebhardt explains, nature
does a good job of keeping it
in balance. As plants take
the available potassium
from the soil, natural
chemical reactions in the
soil make more potassium
available.
Putting on fertilizer
phosphorous and potassium
when they’re not needed
neither helps nor hurts
yields, the researcher ex
plains. It simply wastes
money. But putting on too
much lime is more serious.
Lime raises the soil pH,
making the soil more
alkaline. If the soil pH is too
high com yields suffer.
P 'Mhes e ' Barn
After Business Hours Phone: Paul Repine - 717-626-2837
Mervin Nissley - 717-872-4565
Juniata County 4-H swine sale champs sold
The Grand Champion hog at the Juniata County Swine Sale last Thursday was
sold to Mifflintown IGA for a price of $3.75 per pound. Shown above with the
animal are left to right: Ronald Mummah, 4-H leader; Rick Barrier, manager of
the Mifflintown IGA, the buyer; Chris McCahren who showed the hog; and John
Groninger, Juniata Concrete, Mifflintown the back up bidder.
The Reserve Grand Champion animal at the Juniata Swine Sale held at the
Port Royal Fairgrounds with Long Brothers auctioneers is shown above with
from left: Ronald Mummah, 4-H leader; Walter Keister, Middleburg, back up
bidder; Greta Lehman, Port Royal, who showed the animal; and John Groninger,
Juniata Concrete, Mifflintown, the buyer.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 16,1980—€39
FOM THE BAJUMCCD DMT
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