SUMMARYA method is described for economizing in the use of fertilizers on deficient soil by soaking the cereal seeds in nutrient solutions containing the deficient element at a sufficiently high concentration to supply a large part of the total requirements of the plants.The result of greatest potential practical importance was obtained on oats. Soaking oats in molecular tribasic potassium phosphate brought about an increase in yield from 17 to 25 cwt./acre (46 %) on phosphate-deficient soil at the cost of 13·6 lb./acre of the potassium phosphate (or 4·6 lb. P2O6) without the addition of any phosphate to the soil. There was a correspondingly large increase in the weight of straw. Nearly 75% of the P2O5 introduced in this way was recovered from the harvested grain. Sodium phosphate appears equally efficaceous for oats. Strikingly beneficial effects were also obtained on barley and wheat.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.