xt7gqn5z7g6s https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7gqn5z7g6s/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1946 journals 049 English Lexington. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Regulatory series, bulletin. n.49 text Regulatory series, bulletin. n.49 1946 2014 true xt7gqn5z7g6s section xt7gqn5z7g6s C OC?   4 zeltzgg
Regulatory Bulletin 49 _ July, 1946
han [__. ,1   . __ _
Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY l
THOMAS P. COOPER, Director
COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS IN KENTUCKY IN 1945 I
By J. D. TURNER} H. R. ALLEN, and LELAH GAULT
A CONTENTS _
. Page Page
Sales in 1945, by grade, Farmers’ samples ...................... 10
T¤`¤l€ 1 ------   ---------·------------------- 2 Information on guaranty tag.. 10 .
_ Table 2—fert1l1zer used in Penalties for violating the
Kentucky, 1918-1945 ............ 2 fertilizer law ............_._,...,,..... 11
Grades of mixed fertilizer in Points a farmer should con-
— 1946 ............................................ 3 sider in buying fertilizer ...... 11 ‘
Functions of nitrogen, phos— Points a dealer should con-
phorus, and potassimn in sider .......................................... 12 ·
Plant UUtI`1t10Il ........................ 4 Points a manufacturer should
_ Need for nitrogen, phosphorus consider .................................... 12
V and potassium .......................... 5 Explanation of tables 4, 5
Supplement manure and to- and 6 ,,...................................... .. 13
bacco stalks with phosphate 6 Standing of manufacturers,
How _to apply commercial Table 4 ...................................... 14
fertilizer .................................... 7 Analyses of inspection samples
Table 3—Pounds of various of mixed fertilizers, super-
‘ grades of mixed fertilizer phosphate, a nd fertilizer
and _materials required to salts, .
furnish 20 pounds of nitro- Table 5 ............,......................... 16"
gen, available phosphoric Analyses of inspection samples ·
acid and potash ...................... 8 of bone, rock phosphate, and
Relation between soil fertility basic slag,
and quality of feeds grown.. 8 Table 6 ...................................... 60
K As estimated from reports of manufacturers, 270,479 tons of com-
_ mercial fertilizer were sold in Kentucky in 1945. This was an increase
of about 19 percent over the tonnage in 1944. Of the total tonnage,
180,309 tons were mixed fertilizers and 71,853 tons were superphos-
phate. In addition, 119,820 tons of 20-percent superphosphate (or
7 _ equivalent) were distributed by the Production and Marketing Ad-
R ministration, Field Service Branch.
1Deceased, January 1, 1946. This bulletin was prepared under the super-
vision of Bruce Poundstone, who succeeded Mr. Turner as Head of the Depart-
ment of Feed and Fertilizer Control.

 2 KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
SALES, BY GRADE, 1945
A summary of fertilizer sales, by grade, as reported by manufac-
turers, is given in Table 1. This tonnage is somewhat less than that
calculated from stamp receipts.
TABLE ]..——FERTILIZER SALES, BY GRADE, 1945, REPORTED BY MANUFACTURERS
 
Other materials Tons   Mixed fertilizer Tons
 
2-12-6 _........_......_,__..._____________ 49,766 Superphosphate, 20% ............ 47,758
3- 9-6 _______________>____________________ 47,519 Superphosphate, 18% ............ 12,908
6- 8-6 ................................,... 37,404 Superphosphate, 19% ............ 11,187
4-12-8 ,.......______.___________________,_ 16,660 Ammonium nitrate .................. 5,107
0-14-7 ........_,,._._,____________________ 11,527 Rock phosphate ......................., 4,785
4-12-4 .......,.._..._.,.,.___.____________ 8,155 Nitrate of soda ........................ 2,858
3-12-12 ...._,__.._i,_______,_______,_____ 3,177 Cyanamid .................................. 2,148
0-12-12 ..,_.,_..___________________,_____ 1,892 Basic slag .................................... 1,650
4-12-0 .,.....____________________,________ 1,334 Florida waste phosphate ............ 840
5-10-10 __________________________________ 857 Triple superphosphate .............. 245
8- 8-8 ..,,,._,,___________________,_______ 843 Dried manure .............................. 245
10-6-4 _,,_________________________________ 307 Muriate of potash ........................ 182
0-20-20 .._.______________________________ 232 Bone .............................,.................. 142 -
3-18-9 ........_,__.._.______,_____________ 195 Miscellaneous .............................. 115
Miscellaneous .................... 441 --—-—
-—-— Total .................................... 90,170
Total .................................. 180,309
 
TABLE 2.-FERTILIZER USED IN KENTUCKY, 1918-1945
YW ,}T,iZii§§§3-  if f£§i8‘a
Tons Tons Tons
1918 ..................._._..._,__.., 134,000 .._._____..___ 134,000
1919 ....i.i......................... 102,000 ,....,..,...,. 102,000
1920 ............i..................... 88,000 .,............ 88,000
1921 ............................,..... 62,131 .............. 62,131
1922 ..............,................... 85,203 .............. 85,203
1923 ...i..i........................... 90,958 .............. 90,958
1924 ......,........................... 85,000 .............. 85,000
1925 .............,.........,.......... 93,000 _,_...___,..._ 93,000
1926. .»......... . ..................... 91,500 .............. 91,500
1927 ..............................,... 70,000 .............. 70,000
1928 .................................. 92,000 ..______._.,,_ 92,000
1929 ..i...............,............... 93,000 .__,_,....,___ 93,000
1930 ................................ 114,000 .............. 114,000
1931 .,............,................. 105,000 ____,,________ 105,000
1932 .......,.......................... 55,000 .............. 55,000
1933 .................................. 58,000 .............. 58,000
1934 ________._________,_,_____,,_,_,,_ 62,000 ________,.____ 62,000
1935 .................................. 73,000 .............. 73,000

 Comivmnciar. Fmarxmzsa, 1945 3
TABLE 2.——FERTILIZER Usan IN Ksnrucxr, 1918-1945—Continued _
Fertilizer AAA 20'P€I`c€“t Total
Year purehased¤ Suvewhesvhete or fertilizer
equivalent
1936 .................................. 89,000 .............. 89,000
1937 ................................ 117,078 18,000 135,078
1938 ................................ 110,201 33,000 143,201
1939 ................................ 119,400 37,000 156,400 .
1940 ................................ 123,090 41,500 164,590
1941 ................................ 121,975 187,481" 309,456
1942 ................................ 146,416 221,171" 367,587
1943 ................................ 164,016 105,272 269,288
1944 ................................ 246,168 67,000 313,188
1945 ................................ 282,000 119,820° 401,820
_ ¤Calculated from stamp receipts.
tollshianigllfges 58,000 tons of 47-percent triple superphosphate in 1941, and 12,367
° The AAA also distributed 8,800 tons of rock phosphate in 1945.
GRADES OF MIXED FERTILIZER IN 1946
Restriction on number and kind of mixed fertilizer grades in V
effect during the war has been lifted. There has been a definite trend
in Kentucky toward higher-analysis fertilizers, and it is hoped this
trend will continue.
At a meeting of representatives of the fertilizer industry, Station
Agronomists, and members of this Department in November, 1945,
manufacturers expressed general satisfaction with the list of grades
in force during the war. It is hoped therefore that all manufacturers '
will cooperate in keeping the number of grades at a minimum and in
advocating use of high-grade fertilizer.
This Department has pointed out the saving to the purchaser in
usc of high-grade fertilizer. Low-grade fertilizer costs more per unit
of plant food supplied because the cost of mixing, bags, freight, and
other incidental costs are the same per bag for high-grade as for low-
grade fertilizer. The saving in using high-grade fertilizer may be
A shown by an example; 3-9-6 and 4-12-8 have the same ratio (1-3-2) of
nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash and 1,500 pounds of 4-12-8
fertilizer contain the same amount of plant food as 2,000 pounds of
3-9-6 fertilizer. In buying the higher grade, the purchaser saves
_ freight, bags, and other such costs on 500 pounds of practically inert
mate1·ial.
This Department considers as high-grade any mixed fertilizer
containing not less than 20 percent of plant food. All mixed fertilizer

 4 Knnrucxy Aoarcurxruaar. Expnarmnnr STATION
grades sold in Kentucky last year had a minimum of 20 percent of
plant food except 3-9-6 and 4-12-0.
Two grades, 2-12-6 and 3-9-6, constituted about 54 percent of the
mixed fertilizer sold in Kentucky during 1945. Although 2-12-6 has
20 percent of plant food, it is doubtful whether 2 percent of nitrogen
is enough to be of much bene-fit in many eases where it has been used. ‘
Less 3-9-6 and more of higher grades should be used.
FUNCTIONS OF NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND
POTASSIUM IN PLANT NUTRITION
The percentages of guaranteed nutrients present in a commercial
mixed fertilizer are printed on the state tag as nitrogen, available
phosphoric acid, and potash, in this order. These are the nutrients
needed in greatest amount by crops and are most likely to be deficient
in soils. Some of the functions of these nutrients are the following;
Nitrogen promotes leaf and stem development, produces rapid .
early growth and, in proper amount, aids in maturing the plant. It
adds to the percentage of protein in the plant. In excess it may delay
maturity. The principal sources of water-soluble nitrogen in ferti-
lizers are ammonium sulfate, ammonia liquors, sodium nitrate, am-
monium nitrate, calcium cyanamid, and urea. The sources of water-
insolublc nitrogen are bone, tankage and similar materials. Most of
the nitrogen in mixed fertilizers is water soluble.
Phosphorus promotes 1·oot formation, acts as a balancer of an
excess of nitrogen, aids maturity of plants and fruiting, and increases
the ratio of grain and fruit to the plant stalk. It is usually present in
fertilizers in various forms of calcium and ammonium phosphates. It
is guaranteed and reported as phosphoric acid (P2O5) of which 43.7
percent is phosphorus. Available phosphoric acid is that part of this
plant nutrient which is soluble in water and can be readily utilized
by plants. The percentage of available phosphoric acid in mixed fer-
tilizers and superphosphate is guaranteed and printed on the guar-
anty tag. The percentage of total phosphoric acid in bone, tankage,
rock phosphate, basic slag, and similar materials is guaranteed and
printed on the guaranty tag.
Potassium is usually present in fertilizers as potassium chloride
or potassium sulfate and is guaranteed and reported as potash (K2O),
of which 83 percent is potassium. It aids in the general growth of the

 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER, 1945 5
plant, in resistance to disease, and in the development of sugar and .
starch; and it improves the quality of the plant and fruit. Potash in
fertilizers is soluble in water.
NEED FOR NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM1
Nitr0ge·n.—Most soils in Kentucky are low in nitrogen. Constant
attention must be given to have enough for crops. Enough nitrogen
may be furnished by growing legumes and either returning part or
all of the top growth to the land or feeding them and returning the
manure. If this is not done a nitrogen fertilizer may be used, if the
value of the expected crop increase would exceed.thc cost of the fer- V
tilizcr. IVhen production of livestock or livestock products is a main `
farm enterprise and a considerable acreage of legume crops is grown
for feed and pasturage, enough nitrogen should be furnished by the
4 legumes for good yields of general field crops.
Fertilizer nitrogen will have most of its effect 011 tl1e immediate
crop. I11 a seasonable year, on soil needing nitrogen but not lacking
phosphorus and potassium, tl1e proper application of nitrogen may
give increases as large as the following; corn, 1 bushel for each 2 to 
pounds applied; wheat, 1 bushel for each 3 pounds applied; tobacco,
A 6 pounds for each pound applied; and grass hay, 50 pounds for each
pound applied. On land capable of giving moderate to high yields
without addition of nitrogen, smaller increases than these are to be
expected. Nitrogen fertilizers usually are not profitable on meadows
and pastures where legumes make up over half tl1e herbage.
Ph0sph0ms.—Tl1e phosphorus content of most soils is too low 4
’ for good crop yields. This is true of all soils in Kentucky except part
of the soils in tl1c Bluegrass region, particularly in the Inner Blue- .
grass, and the lllOSi] productive bottomland soils. It is very profitable
to use fertilizer phosphorus on low-phosphorus soils. O11 low-phos-
phate land phosphorus should be added in fertilizers at the rate of 20
4 pounds of phosphoric acid per acre per year. llalf this amount should
be enough on soils of moderate phosphorus content in tl1c Bluegrass
region. None is needed 011 the high-pliosphorus soils of the Inner
Bluegrass. The entire quantity for a rotation usually should be ap-
J plied to the sinall-grain crop i11 which the legumes and grasses are
B 4 seeded. Another application, however, furnishing about 80 pounds of
phosphoric acid per acre should be made on tobacco. Also, before a
m and the next two sections were prepared by P. E. Karraker, of the
Agronomy Department.

 6 KENTUCKY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
11ew seeding of alfalfa, an application should be made to furnish 20
pounds per ac1·e of phosphoric acid for each year the crop is to occupy
the land. Permanent pastures should be top-dressed every few years
with enough phosphorus fertilizer to add 20 pounds of phosphoric
acid per acre per year. \
P0lassium.——l\~lost soils in Kentucky are well supplied with potas-
sium but ofte11 it does not become available fast enough for large
crops. Most of the potassium in crops is in the roots, stalks, stems,
and leaves. lf these parts of the crop are carefully returned to the
soil either as crop residues or as farm manure, fairly good yields of
most crops can be`produced without using potassium fertilizers. If
this is not done, these fertilizers must be used on most soils for con-
tinued production of good crops. Tobacco and corn are the first crops
to suffer from lack of potassium. `Alfalfa is close behind. On soil
needing them, both phosphorus and potassium can be used profitably
even when crop prices are low. .
For 111OSt crops, where potassium fertilizer is needed, it should be
applied at a rate to supply a total of 25 to 50 pounds of potash per
acre during a 3- to 4-year rotation. Usually this can be applied most
conveniently on the small grain in the rotation. lf this has not been
done and potassium deficiency is expected, a potassium fertilizer also
should be applied on corn at a rate to furnish 20 to 40 pounds of
potash per acre. Also enough potassium fertilizer should be applied
on tobacco to supply 50 to 100 pounds of potash per acre unless it is
certain that the soil has enough potassium for tobacco. For a new
seeding of alfalfa, 20 to 30 pounds of potash should be applied for
each year the crop is to occupy the land. On limed land well supplied
with phosphorus, it may be profitable to top—dress permanent pasture
with a potassium fertilizer every few years at the rate of 10 pounds
of potash per acre per year.
SUPPLEMENT MANURE AND TOBACCO STALKS WITH
PHOSPHATE
An application of 10 to 15 tons of average farm manure per acre
or 1% to 2% tons of tobacco stalks per acre in the rotation will supply
the nitrogen and potassium needed for good yields of general farm
crops in Kentucky. But as these materials are low in phosphate, 300

 COMMERCIAL Fizarimzizn, 1945 7
pounds per acre of superphosphate should be added except on those l
soils in the Bluegrass region which have a moderate to high phosphate
content.
Nitrogen fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, ammonium sul-
` fate, and sodium nitrate, are effective when applied to the surface of
the soil for small grain, hay, and pasture crops or as side dressings for
A row crops. They are soluble and are carried into the soil by rain.
However, in dry seasons they are most effective for row crops when
plowed under or applied at the bottom of the furrow in plowing, but
this should be do11e after the first of April, because nitrogen may be .
lost by leaching if applied earlier. These fertilizers when placed deep 4
also stimulate growth of seedling weeds much less than when placed
shallow.
T Phosphorus and potassium are held by the soil where placed and
hence are not very effective on the immediate crop unless placed in the
soil so as to be easily accessible to plant roots. These fertilizer con-
stituents, unless applied heavily, are much less effective on the imme-
diate crop when mixed with the soil than when concentrated in bands.
HOW TO APPLY COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER
On tobacco, commercial fertilizer, unless applied heavily (more
than 800 pounds per acre) is most effective applied in two bands, one
on each side of the row, 3 to et inches from the 1·ow and at least three
inches below the surface of the soil. The fertilizer should not come in '
contact with the roots of the plants when set, and should be deep
enough to be in moist soil during dry periods. Special fertilizer at-
tachments to setters apply fertilizers fairly well in this way, or a one-
row fertilizer distributor can be used. The application should be
_ made shortly before, during, or soon after setting, except that nitro-
gen is fairly effective applied later.
`When more than 800 pounds is applied, it may be best to apply
only 200 or 300 pounds at the row and distribute the rest more uni-
0 formly. A more even residual effect of the fertilizer on following
crops is obtained in this way. The part not to be applied at the row
can be broadcast before plowing and plowed under or applied at the
bottom of the furrow in plowing. Attachments to plows to do this
can be bought or made. Less preferably, the fertilizer may be broad-

 8 KENTUCKY AeR1cur.·ruRAc ExrER1MEN·r STATION
east after plowing and disked in as deep as possible. This does not
place the fertilizer deep enough in d1·y seasons. If applied after plow-
ing, drilling in deep with a. grain drill may be better.
On corn, fertilizer attachments to planters apply fertilizer with `
satisfactory results up to 200 or 300 pounds per acre at the hill or 500
pounds along the row. \Vhen more is applied, stand and growth of
the young plants may be injured in dry seasons. For heavier appli-
cations, use one of the methods mentioned in the foregoing paragraph.
Refer to Table 3 for conversion of pounds of introgen, available
phosphoric acid and potash to pounds of various grades of mixed fer-
tilizer and materials.
TABLE 3.—POUNDS or Vmnous GRADES or MIXED FERTILIZER AND MATERIALS
REQUIRED ·ro Fumvisn 20 PoUNDs or NITROGEN, AVAILABLE Puos-
rnoaic ACID, AND Porzisn
  -
Pounds of fertilizer needed to furnish 20 pounds of--
Available
Grade Nitrogen phosphoric Potash
acid
 _._.
2-12-6 ................................................................ 1000 166 333
3-9-6 .................................................................... 666 222 333
3-12-12 ................................................................ 666 166 166
4-12-4 .................................................................. 500 166 500
4-12-8 .................................................................. 500 166 250
5-10-10 ...................,............................................ 400 200 200
6-8-6 ..............i...................»................................. 333 250 333
8-8-8 .................................................................... 250 250 250
Superphosphate, 20 percent ................................ 100 ......
Sodium nitrate, 16 percent .........i........._.......... 125 ,..... . .....
Ammonium nitrate, 32.50 percent ................ 61.5 ...... . .....
Sulfate of potash, 48 percent ...,...__,,.____..,___,__,._____ _ __.,_ 41.7
Muriate of potash, 50 percent .............................. . ..... 40
 
RELATION BETWEEN SOIL FERTILITY AND QUALITY
OF FEEDS GROWN
How to grow good yields of high-quality food and feed crops, rich
in the mineral elements essential for both man and livestock, is one of
the great problems of agriculture. Knowledge that infertile, WOF11-
ont soil will not return good yields is, of course, nearly as old as farm-
ing itself. But the fact that crops grown on soil capable of producing
satisfactory yields may be inferior as feed or food because they are
deficient in some nutrient element for which they are dependent on
the soil, is less generally known and is only beginning to receive the at-
tention it deserves. Experiments have shown that where the soil is

 C0MMnRcrAL Fiznrrmzna, 1945 9
deicient in some essential nutrient, the crops grown, though satis-
factory in yield, may nevertheless be inferior as feed, and may lead to
unthriftiness of livestock. In Tennessee, for example, legnme hay
produced on soil where phosphorus was deficient was too low in phos-
phorus to give the results generally expected of legumes for growing
or producing livestock, unless supplemented by some other source of
phosphorus. Improvement of the feeding quality of crops is therefore
another important reason for use of the proper fertilizers, where ¥
needed. i
_ For good yields of high-quality plants the mineral nutrients must
» not only be present in the soil, but they must be in proper amounts and
in available form. Some are required in relatively large amounts;
some only in small amount. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and
calcium are required in largest amounts and, of all nut1·icnts, are
most likely to be needed as soil amendments; consequently these (ex-
cept calcium) are the nutrients usually guaranteed in commercial
i fertilizers. Magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, boron, copper, zine,
and probably molybdenum also are essential nutrients of plants but
they are needed only in relatively small amounts. Animals need, in
addition, iodine, cobalt, sodium, and chlorine, which are obtained
from the soil indirectly through feed plants, though sodium and .
chlorine are supplied chiefly in common salt. Iron, manganese, boron,
copper, zinc, iodine, and cobalt become toxic if present in quantities
slightly larger than those required. Fluorine, barium, arsenic, lead,
and selenium are highly toxic at low percentages.
Present knowledge of the need for "minor elements" in Kentucky
' soils does not justify general recommendations for inclusion of them
in fertilizer mixtures. There are sonic indications that the applica-
tion of these nutrients to soils where they are not needed might, in
. time, do much more harm than good. Best practice seems to favor
the use of a minor-element fertilizer only when a definite need for a
particular element has been demonstrated. Most Kentucky soils seem,
according to our present knowledge, to be supplied with these minor
_ elements for ordinary farm crops, though boron has been found de-
ficient for alfalfa a11d some fruits in some soils. These crops on these
soils has responded to fertilization with borax.

 10 Knnrucxy Aonrcurrunmi Expnaimrnr S·1·Ar1oN A
FARMERS’ SAMPLES .
Anyone who buys commercial fertilizer in Kentucky for his own
use may submit samples for free analysis to the Department of Feed
and Fertilizer, Agricultural Experiment Station, Lexington 29, Ken- ~
tacky.
l. Samples talrcu. according 1*0 provisioins 0f K.R.S. N0. 250.360
tltrouylt N0. ,950.480 (lfentueky Fertilizer Law).-To make the sample
ol’t'icial it should be taken according to Section No. 250.440 of the
statute referred to above. This section of the statute requires that
witnesses be present when the sample is taken. Copies of the statute
may be obtained from the Department of Feed and Fertilizer.
2. Unofficial sam.pZes.—lf an analysis is wanted for the pur- {
ehaser’s information only, samples of fertilizer may be taken in the
following manner ; _
Take portions (each about a handful) from 10 percent of the
bags, unless this requires portions from more than 20 bags. If there
are less than 10 bags, sample all. Take samples from as far down in
the bags   possible. Place all portions on a clean paper and mix well.
Place about one quart in a tight container, include a tag from one of
the bags, mark the container with name and address of the sender
and send to the Department of Feed and Fertilizer, Agricultural
Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, Lexington 29, Kentucky.
State in a letter the amount of fertilizer on hand, the number of
bags sampled. and the reason for wanting analysis. If analysis is
materially below guaranty, a representative of the Feed and Fer-
tilizer Department may be sent, if possible, to take an inspector’s
sample.
INFORMATION ON GUARANTY TAG
A state guaranty tag issued by the Kentucky Agricultural Ex-
periment Station, showing the manufaeturer’s guaranty, must be
attached to eaeh bag of l`ertilizer before it can be lawfully offered for
sale in Kentucky. lt is a violation of the law to change the tag in any
mainier. either by addition or erasure. Purchasers of fertilizer should
be guided by the int`ormation printed on the guaranty tag in selecting
a fertilizer. lt` the fertilizer is not tagged with a state guaranty tag,
or if the tag has been ehanged in any manner, it should be reported to

 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER, 1945 11
the Department immediately. The following information is printed
011 the guaranty tag:
Brand name of fertilizer
Name and address of manufacturer
Guaranteed analysis showing:
Minimum nitrogen, percent
Minimum available phosphoric acid, percent
Minimum potash, from muriate or sulfate, percent
Estimated value per 100 pounds
Total phosphoric acid, in place of available pl10Spl10l'lC acid, is ,
guaranteed in bone, tankage, basic slag, Eilltl 1·ock phosphate. At tl1e
bottom of the tag must be a sta111p on which is pri11ted the llét weight
. of the fertilizer in the package a11d authorization by the Director, of
its sale. The estimated value is used for c0111pa1·i11g values of fertil-
izers of different grades, and it should 11ot be confused with the sell- .
ing price. Selling price cannot be accurately estimated because of
the many factors, some of tl1en1 variable, which are i11cluded i11 it.
PENALTIES F OR VIOLATING THE F ERTILIZER LAW
i Any manufacturer, firm, dealer o1· VC11Cl01' who sells o1· exposes
for sale in Kentucky commercial fertilizer without complying with
the provisions of the fertilizer law is subject to a fine of from $100.00
to $500.00 for each offense. Furthermore, if a fertilizer is short i11
net weight or short i11 tl1e essential pla11t-food 1111t1`1€11lS, a manufac-
turer, firm, or dealer 111ay not Ollly be fined $100.00 to $500.00 for '
violating the fertilizer law, but "shall be liable for reasonable dam-
ages sustained by the purchasc1· of such fe1·tilizer. "
It is important therefore that tl1e dealer should protect himself
by purchasing from reliable firms who comply with the law. Other-
wise, he will lay himself liable for selling fertilizers i11 violation of
» tl1e law. _
POINTS A FARMER SHOULD CONSIDER IN BUYING
FERTILIZER
1 1. Ascertain the needs of the soil and what will supply them.
No fertilizer will give proper results if it does 110t contain the plant
11l1t1`l€11tS in which the soil is deficient. lf in doubt as to the kind
of fertilizer the soil needs, consult the county agent or the Experi-
ment Station.
2. Be guided by the l11f.01`l113tl01I given 011 the state guaranty tag.
3. Buy 110 fertilizer that is not registered and tagged with a state

 12 Ksnrucxy Aearcurruimr Exrnnnvrsnr SrAr10N
official tag. lf it is not tagged with a state guaranty tag, it is being
sold in violation of the law and it should be refused. ‘
4. Buy high-grade fertilizer because plant food comes cheaper in
those even though the price per bag is higher than for low-grade
fertilizer.
POINTS A DEALER SHOULD CONSIDER
1. Handle no fertilizer that is not registered and tagged with a
state guaranty tag at the time of purchase.
2. Handle only high-grade fertilizer—-fertilizer that will most
economically serve your customers.
3. Buy only from reputable manufacturers who have good rec-
ords and are complying with the fertilizer law and will assist you in
complying with the law. ‘
4. Have definitely in mind the kinds of fertilizer your trade
needs, and buy only fertilizers that will meet these needs.
5. Insist that the tags be attached to the bags by the manufac-
turer when shipment is made. Some manufacturers place tags in the
truck or ear with the shipment of fertilizer without attaching them to
the bags. This often results in confusion and failure to tag at all,
as the tags may be misplaced or lost.
POINTS A MANUFACTURER SHOULD CONSIDER
Before a manufacturer sells or offers fertilizer for sale to farmers
or dealers in Kentucky, he should carefully consider and comply with
the following:
1. Sell or offer no fertilizer for sale in Kentucky until it is regis-
tered and labeled according to the requirements of the law so that all
concerned will be within the law and properly protected.
2. Every brand must be registered and bear a state official tag
showing the manufacturer ’s guaranty.
  The state official tag contains the only legal guaranty, and
any statements on private tags or containers to the contrary are not
within the requirements of the law.
4. No alteration, either by additions or erasures, of the official
tag, is permissible under the law, and any alterations made are in
violation of the law.
5. All fertilizers must equal or exceed the guaranties made by
the manufacturers. An excess of one plant nutrient does not com-
pensate for a deficiency of another.

 COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER, 1945 13
6. A state official tag must be attached to each and every pack-
age of fertilizer. Do not make shipments to dealers or farmers in Ken-
tucky without properly attaching tags, for you would thereby subject
your customers to embarrassment in handling fertilizer not labeled
according to law.
7. Check weights of ingredients in mixed fertilizers carefully,
and mix thoroughly. Prepare as nearly as possible mixtures that will y
not segregate. Many analyses made by this Department show one i
nutrient to be considerably above guaranty while another is far below
‘ guaranty. This may be caused by insufficient mixing or by segre-
gationd
, EXPLANATION OF TABLES 4, 5, AND 6
Table 4 gives the standings of the manufacturers as determined
} by the results of analysis of official samples. Attention is directed to
. column 2, showing the number of samples equal to guaranty in all
respects, and to the next-to-last column at the right, showing the num-
ber of deficiencies of more than % of 1 percent (the tolerance al-
lowed in the Kentucky Fertilizer Law).
In some samples a deficiency in one nutrient is accompanied by an
over-run in another nutrient. This is evidence of improper mixing or ,
weighing by the manufacturer. Extreme variations of this kind can-
not be attributed to separation of materials (segregation), though
this 1nay be a minor factor. Excess of one nutrient cannot compensate
for deficiency of another nutrient. The purchaser is entitled to receive
the full guaranty in all nutrients as expressed by the manufacturer
. on the tag.
Table 5 gives the results of analysis of all inspection samples ex- l
cept bone, rock phosphate, and basic slag, which are given in Table 6.
If an analysis shows a deficiency of more than 011C-liOU].‘ltll of 1
~ percent below the amount claimed for nitrogen, phosphoric acid, or
potash, or if the relative value is 4 percent or more below the guaranty,
the result is indicated in bold-face type.

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