Plant Products and Chemical Fertilizers s. h. Collins

INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY S E R R S OF VOLUMES G V COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF

BEING A A

r

1

I

N

THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES

INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY BEING A SERIES OF VOLUMES GIVING A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF

THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES EDITED BY

SAMUEL RIDEAL,

D.Sc. LOND., F.I.C.

FELLOW OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON

ASSISTED BY

JAMES

A.

AUDLEY,

W. BACON, M. H.

B.Sc.

J.

F.

BARROWCLIFF, F.I.C. GARNER BENNETT, M.Sc. H. CARR, F.I.C.

S.

HOARE

COLLINS,

M.Sc., F.I.C.

H. H. GRAY, B.Sc. H. C. GREENWOOD, D.Sc. C. M.

R.

PARTINGTON,

ARTHUR

B.Sc., F.I.C.

ERIC

K.

D.Sc. (Viet.)

E. PRATT, B.Sc. RIDEAL, PH.D., M.A.,

W. H. SIMMONS, B.Sc. R. W. SINDALL, F.C.S. SAMUEL SMILES, D.Sc. D. A.

SUTHERLAND,

HUGH WHITTAKER,

S.

B.Sc.

TAYLOR,

F.C.S.

D.Sc.

F.I.C.

First Edition

.

.

Reprinted

.

.

.

April 1918 January, 1919 >

PLANT PRODUCTS AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS

BY S.

HOARE

COLLINS,

M.Sc., F.I.C.

LECTURER AND ADVISER IN AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY, ARMSTRONG COLLEGE, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE (UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM) FORMERLY ASSISTANT AGRICULTURAL CHEMIST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AUTHOR OF " HANDBOOK OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY FOR INDIAN STUDENTS " ;

;

NEW YORK D.

VAN NOSTRAND COMPANY 25

PARK PLACE 1919

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

GENERAL PREFACE THE

rapid development of Applied Chemistry in recent years has brought about a revolution in all branches of technology. This growth has been accelerated during the war, and the British Empire has now an opportunity of increasing its industrial output by the application of this knowledge to the

raw materials available in the different parts of the world. The subject in this series of handbooks will be treated from the chemical rather than the engineering standpoint. The industrial aspect will also be more prominent than that of the laboratory. Each volume will be complete in itself, and a general survey of the industry, showing how chemical principles have been applied and have affected The influence of new inventions on the manufacture. development of the industry will be shown, as also the will give

requirements in stimulating invention. be a feature in dealing with the different branches of the subject, but they will be kept within moderate limits. Present tendencies and possible effect of industrial

Historical notes will

future developments will have attention, and some space will be devoted to a comparison of industrial methods and

progress in the chief producing countries. general bibliography, and

each section.

There

will

be a

also a select bibliography to follow

Statistical information will only

be introduced

in so far as it serves to illustrate the line of argument. Each book will be divided into sections instead

of

and the sections will deal with separate branches of the subject in the manner of a special article or monograph. An attempt will, in fact, be made to get away from chapters,

GENERAL PREFACE

vi

the orthodox textbook manner, not only to make the treatment original, but also to appeal to the very large class of readers already possessing good textbooks, of which there are quite sufficient. The books should also be found useful

by men of affairs having no special technical knowledge, but who may require from time to time to refer to technical matters in a book of moderate compass, with references to the large standard works for fuller details on special points if

required.

To

the advanced student the books should be especially His mind is often crammed with the hard facts

valuable.

which crowd out the power of These books are intended While recapitulating the will at aim basic essential facts, they presenting the reality It has been a drawback of our of the living industry. long technical education that the college graduate, on commencing

and

details of his subject

realizing the industry as a whole. to remedy such a state of affairs.

industrial career, is positively handicapped by his academic knowledge because of his lack of information on A book giving a comprecurrent industrial conditions. hensive survey of the industry can be of .very material assistance to the student as an adjunct to his ordinary textbooks, and this is one of the chief objects of the present Those actually engaged in the industry who have series. specialized in rather narrow limits will probably find these books more, readable than the larger textbooks when they wish to refresh their memories in regard to branches of the subject with which they are not immediately concerned. The volume will also serve as a guide to the standard his

and prove of value to the conhaving obtained a comprehensive view of the whole industry, he can go at once to the proper authorities for more elaborate information on special points, and thus save a couple of days spent in hunting through the

literature of the subject,

sultant, so that,

libraries of scientific societies.

As far as this country is concerned, it is believed that the general scheme of this series of handbooks is unique, and it is confidently hoped that it will supply mental

GENERAL PREFACE

vii

munitions for the coming industrial war. I have been fortunate in securing writers for the different volumes who are specially connected with the several departments of Industrial Chemistry, and trust that the whole series will contribute to the further development of applied chemistry

throughout the Empire.

SAMUEL

RIDEAI,.

PREFACE THE raw

materials of Agriculture are often the waste products of the other industries, and the produce of Agriculture again forms the raw material for other industries.

The following pages attempt to pick up the story

of those

products which are useful as fertilizers, on through the soil and crops, until new

industrial waste

and carry products

it

are

available for industrial uses.

Among

the

many plant products which are obtained from the soil, food takes a high position as an industrial raw product, since it. No particular to give encyclopaedic completeness of information, but the aim has been to give a fair conspectus of a large subject, with an appended bibliography for those

neither

effort is

men

nor horses could work without

made

who

are able to pursue their studies further. Details of analytical chemistry are not considered in this volume

unless the standard text -books

named

in the Bibliography

appear incomplete or unsuitable. The volume covers the cycle from factory to fertilizer, from fertilizer to field, and

from I

field

to factory once more.

have to thank Mr. A.

S. Blatchford, M.Sc., for valuable

help in revising proof-sheets. S. February, 1918.

HOARK COWJNS.

CONTENTS PAGE

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION

.,',..,

.

,

Brief view of authorities.

The Sun

.

.

.

,

.

.

.

.

,

.

.

.

.

xi

,

I

The

vegetable leaf as an absorptive agent to convert Solar energy into Chemical energy. The soil as a medium for vegetable growth. The chief factors determining as a source of energy.

3

vegetable growth

Need

The

Barren soils. Exhausted Virgin soils. Losses and gains in Nature. Losses and gains in practice . balance of life for

fertilizers.

soils.

......... .

References

3 8

9

PART

SECTION

FERTILIZERS.

I.

NITROGEN GROUP OF

i.

FERTILIZERS.

......

General properties (a)

Sulphate of Ammonia. Application to the land.

apply. Secondary effects on the suited for sulphate of ammonia

soil.

(b)

Ammonium

(c)

Nitrate of Soda.

Origin.

Mixtures.

and chemical

properties.

Time

Ultimate

Chloride, Nitrate,

effect

on the

suited to nitrate of soda (d) Nitrate tion.

10

.

Useful and impracticable mixtures. Physical and chemical properties. Time to

Origin.

soil. .

of Lime. History. Suitable mixtures

.

.

and Carbonate

Crops most

on crops.

Effects

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

-17

Application to the land.

Physical

to apply. Methods of application. Effect on the crop grown. Crops most .

.

.

.

.

.

.18

........

Crops best

suited.

Difficulties of applica-

Indian and Egyptian methods of manufacture. Local agricultural uses. Nitre earths. Nitre wells. Manu. . . , . v facturing wastes Calcium Cyanamide. Nitrolim. Storage. Properties. Difficulties of (/) Times to apply. Crops most suited. Secondary application to soil. (e)

Nitrate of Potash.

effects

on the

n

.

20

History.

soil

*

xi

21

.21

CONTENTS

xii

PAGE (g)

Organic Nitrogen Manures. Fish meal. Composition. Types of soil and crop most suited. Objections and difficulties. Dried blood. Hoofs and horns. Refuse oil cakes. Industrial waste materials

...

22

References

24

SECTION

THE PHOSPHORUS GROUP OF

2.

FERTILIZERS. General properties. pounds used as (a)

fertilizers

Fineness.

.

25

.

Secondary and Lasting effect

soil.

27

.

Mineral Phosphates. Occurrence and distribution. Direct use on the land. SoluSecondary effects. Water solubility. Citric solubility. Fertilizers containing both Nitrogen

Bone

flour.

dissolved

different soils

and Phosphorus.

Guano.

Dissolved bones.

30

Bone meal.

Bones.

Mixtures to imitate guano or

to apply mixed Their relative value and suitability

General considerations on time

bones.

nitrogen and phosphorus

on

......

Reversion

bility in other reagents. (f)

.

Factors needed to ensure success.

returns.

ultimate effects on the physical condition of the (b)

phosphorus com-

different

....

.

History and development. Composition. Citric solubility. Application to the soil. Soils most suited. Crops giving

Basic Slag.

good

The

Chemical condition.

and

fertilizers.

......

to different crops

32

References

36

SECTION

POTASSIUM GROUP OF MANURES

3.

German potash manures. Geological

Wood

Nitre.

manures References

ashes.

in the soil

(b)

(d)

.

.

Muriate and sulphate. General reactions of potash

Kainit.

.

. .

4.

.

...

.

.

.

.

.

excreta.

(/) Poultry dung.

Humogen. References

.

48

Drainage. Preservation. Effect Valuation of farm-yard manure.

Storage of manure. Denitrification. of farm-yard manure on the soil.

Human

40

.42

.

,

Passage from food to dung-heap. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. and sort of manure Relationship between type of food and type of beast . . produced. Quantities made under varying conditions

5

Its lasting effects (e)

37 39

MIXED FERTILIZERS.

Containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. (Artificial mixtures) Farm-yard manure. Its constituents ; cow, pig, sheep, and horse dung. Urine of farm animals. Litter used in making manure. Physical properties of litter

(c)

.

.

SECTION (a)

origin.

Blast furnace dust.

Sewage. Sewage farms. Sewage sludge Beech mast. Composts. Vegetable mould.

Seaweed

.

.

.

.

.

54

Peat. /

-5" 58

CONTENTS PART

SECTION

SOILS.

AND THEIR PROPERTIES.

SOILS

i.

II.

xiii

....

(b)

...

soils

The chemical

properties of the different classes of soils Balance of fertilizers. (d) Useful and useless elements.

(c)

......... ........... ............ food in

total plant (