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Show Some Results From Applications of Coal to Utah Soils1 James P. Thome and D. W. Thorne'' There has been considerable dispute concerning the value of as a fertilizer. Some German investigators have reported beneficial effects from applying coal to soil. Other German studies and most investigations in England, Canada and the United States have shown little or no benefit from the use of such materials. The question has been focused upon public attention in recent years by the advertizing and sale of .Iertilizers composed largely of coal and for which it is claimed that much of the value depends upon the influence of coal upon soil fertility. coal In opposition to the concepts promoted by certain fertilizer companies, many farmers and agricultural specialists working in the vicinity of coal mines in this state have claimed that accumula .... tions of slaked coal on the surface of soil have 'been definitely injurious to crops. Most of the' favorable reports on the use of coal for soil treat printed in a few trade journals in Germany. Thus' Ludmila (5) reported that additions of '10,000 to 20,000 kg. of powdered coal per hectare increased the yields of grain as much as 55 percent on certain soils. The beneficial effect was attributed to the formation of humic acids in the soil with a resulting im provement in soil aeration and drainage and an increase in avail able phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. In an analogous re port Kissel (3) claimed increases in grain yield varying from 24 to 55 percent from the tise of coal for soil treatment. It ws claimed that the coal generally rejuvinated the soil, returning it to its original fallow condition. Lieske (4) also advocates the use of coal and coal products as fertilizers. .... ment have been .... .... .... Dunnewald made several greenhouse tests with coal He reported beneficial results from coal treatments of heavy clay soils, but that there was no increased plant growth on loams or coarser textured soils as a result of such treatments. (1) treatments on Wyoming soils. Crowther and Brenchley (2) report that "it has been claimed already sufficient evidence to show that manuring that there is lApproved for publication by the director, Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. 2Assistant soil technologist, Soil Conservation Service, U. S. of Agriculture, and associate agronomis t, Utah Department Aqricultural Experiment Station. Volume 21, Proceedings of the Utah Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters 79 |
