This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...XVII. GROUND UNBURNED LIMESTONE VS. BURNED LIME FOR GREEN MANURES. THERE are two reasons why attention must be given to the application of lime or ground unburned limestone to soils upon which green manuring crops are grown for the purpose of soil improvement. In the first place most legumes make a much more vigorous ...
Read More
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 Excerpt: ...XVII. GROUND UNBURNED LIMESTONE VS. BURNED LIME FOR GREEN MANURES. THERE are two reasons why attention must be given to the application of lime or ground unburned limestone to soils upon which green manuring crops are grown for the purpose of soil improvement. In the first place most legumes make a much more vigorous growth if there be an abundance of lime in the soil. This is due partially to the fact that the legumes themselves require a great deal of lime to build up their tissues and also to the fact that the nitrogen gathering organisms which exist in the tubercles on the roots of these green manure plants grow much more vigorously in the presence of lime in the soil than when this mineral is absent. The second reason for the use of lime or ground limestone is. that when a green manuring crop is turned under, acids are generated by the decay of the green plants and this tends to make the soil sour. It, however, lime be scattered over the field in advance of plowing the lime will be ready at the bottom of the old furrow to counteract or neutralize any acidity which may be developed; in this way the soil may be kept in its original sweet condition instead of becoming sour and unfavorable in this respect for the growth of many of the ordinary farm crops. Lime or ground limestone is of special value in the soil in that any acids will combine with the lime or limestone liberating the harmless carbon dioxid and forming an ordinarily harmless compound which is either leached out of the soil or is taken up by the growing plants and utilized by them. Red clover, alfalfa and sweet clover usually require considerable amount of lime in the soil. Cowpeas will grow on soils which are too acid for the growth of such legumes as those just mentioned. There has been con...
Read Less
