Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], September 15, 1951, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
]' HELENA
September 15, 1951
i
(fhc for Your Soil
A Chemical Analysis Will Assure
Proper Prescription for Needs
DOCTORS NEVER prescribe medicine for patients until
they have made a thorough examination. This is exactly
what the soils specialists do when a soil sample is sent to
them.
If a soil fails to produce as well as it should a sample
may be sent to the chemistry research departmeilt at Mon
tana State college. This soils work is headed by Dr. E. E.
Frahm. Dr. Frahm gives the soils sample a thorough chem
ical test, which shows which of the plant foods it lacks and
measures the presence of acids or alkalis which reduce pro
duction capacity. f
As soon as a soils test is completed it is sent to Dr. J. C.
Hide of the agronomy and soils department. Because he has
studied so many soil samples and conducted so many field
tests in various sections of Montana, Dr. Hide is able to tell
from the chemical analysis and other information provided
with the sample, just what fertilizer to add if any is needed.
When he has interpreted the information. Dr. Hide makes a
definite recommendation by letter to the farmer who sent
in the sample.
Montana is fortunate in one respect because it has very
few soils that are lacking in many of the plant foods. This
is because agriculture is relatively new here compared with
the earlier settled agricultural areas of the United
Because agriculture is new, about the only chemical tests
that are necessary are those ^hat determine the acidity, the
alkali and soluble salts present and the nitrogen' and phos
phorus content of soils.
Here is the procedure followed when a soils sample is
sent to the chemistry research department.
First it will be analyzed chemically. This may be a
sample which will have a pH of 7. This indicates the acidity
of the soil. If the pH is lower than 7, it means the soil is acid.
This particular sample may have a conductivity of 50.
This is a measure of the soluble salts or alkali in the soil.
States.
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ABOVE: Dr. E. E. Frahm. using the Solu-Bridge tm
measure the conductance of an electric current
through a soil extract. This in effect measures the
amount of alkali and soluble salts in the soils. BE
LOW; Willis B. Johnston filtering water saturated
soil sample to get a soil extract which in the next
step of a soil analysis will be used to measure con
ductance. The equipment he is using is called a
suction filter. (Montana State college photos)