LIBRARY, A C: LI CULLICNEZIQ» E-12-432-6M-L183 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION A. B. CONNER, DIRECTOR COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS BULLETIN NO. 449 APRIL, 1932 DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS T. O. WALTON, President STATION STAFF’; Administration: A. B. Conner, M. S., Director R. E. Karper, M. S., Vice-Director Clarice Mixson, B. A., Secretary M. P. Holleman, Jr., Chief Clerk J. K. Francklow, Asst. Chief Clerk Chester Higgs, Executive Assistant Howard Berry, B. S., Technical Asst. Chemistry: l . S. Fraps, Ph. D., Chief; State Chemist E. Asbury, M. S., Chemist F. Fudge, Ph. D., Chemist C. Carlyle, M. S., Asst. Chemist L J 5P1P§I>Q . Ogier, B. S., Asst. Chemist A. . Sterges, M. S., Asst. Chemist Ray Treichler, M. S., Asst. Chemist W. H. Walker, Asst. Chemist Velma Graham, Asst. Chemist Jeanne F. DeMottier, Asst. Chemist R. L. Schwartz, B. S., Asst. Chemist C. M. Pounders, B. S., Asst. Chemist Horticulture: S. H. Yarnell, Sc. D., Chief **L. R. Hawthorn, M. S., Horticulturist H. M. Reed, B. S., Horticulturist J. F. Wood, B. S., Horticulturist L. E. Brooks, B. S., Horticulturist Range Animal Husbandry: J. M. Jones, A. M., Chief B. L. Warwick, Ph. D., Breeding Investiga. S. P. Davis, Wool and Mohair Entomology: F. L. Thomas, Ph. D., Chief; State Entomologist H. J. Reinhard, B. S., Entomologist R. K. Fletcher, Ph. D., Entomologist W. L. Owen, Jr., M. S., Entomologist J. N. Roney, M. S., Entomologist _ J. C. Gaines, Jr., M. S., Entomologist S. E. Jones, M. S., Entomologist F. F. Bibby, B. S., Entomologist S. W. Clark, B. S., Entomologist **E. W. Dunnam, Ph. D., Entomologist **R. W. Moreland, B. S., Asst. Entomologist C. E. Heard, B. S., Chief Inspector C. Siddall, B. S., Foulbrood Inspector S. E. McGregor, B. S., Foulbrood Inspector Veterinary Science: *M. Francis, D. V. M., Chief H. Schmidt, D. V. M., Veterinarian I. B. Boughton, D. V. M., Veterinarian “F. P. Mathews, D.V.M., M.S., Veterinaria W. T. Hardy, D. V. M., Veterinarian —-—i———, Veterinarian Plant Pathology and Physiology: J. J. Taubenhaus, Ph. D., Chief W. N. Ezekiel, Ph. D., Plant Pathologist W. J. Bach, M. S., Plant Pathologist C. H. Rogers, Ph. D., Plant Pathologist Farm and Ranch Economics: L. P. Gabbard, M. S., Chief W. E. Paulson, Ph. D., Marketing _ C. A. Bonnen, M. S., Farm Management “W. R. Nisbet, B. S., Ranch Management **A. C. Magee, M. S., Farm Management Rural Home Research: Jessie Whitacre, Ph. D., Chief Mary Anna Grimes, M. S., Textiles Elizabeth D. Terrill, M. A., Nutrition Soil Survey: **W. T. Carter, B. S., Chief E. H. Teniplin, B. S., Soil Surveyor A. H. Bean, B. S., Soil Surveyor R. M. Marshall, B. S., Soil Surveyor Botany: V. L. Cory, M. S., Acting Chief S. E. Wolff, M. S., Botanist Swine Husbandry: Fred Hale, M. S., Chief Dairy Husbandry: O. C. Copeland, M. S., Dairy Husbandma Poultry Husbandry: R. M. Sherwood, M. S., Chief J. R. Couch, B. S., Asst. Poultry Hsbdma Agricultural Engineering: H. P. Smith, M. S., Chief Main Station Farm: G. T. McNess, Superintendent Apiculture (San Antonio): H. B. Parks, B. S., Chief A. H. Alex, B. S., Queen Breeder Feed Control Service: F. D. Fuller, M. S., Chief James Sullivan, Asst. Chief Agronomy: S D. Pearce, Secretary E. B. Reynolds, Ph. D., Chief J. H. Rogers, Feed Inspector R. E. Karper, M. S., Agronomist K. L. Kirkland, B. S., Feed Inspector P. C. Mangelsdorf, Sc. D., Agronomist S. D. Reynolds, Jr., Feed Inspector D. T. Killough, M. S., Agronomist P. A. Moore, Feed Inspector H. E. Rea, B. S., Agronomist E. J. Wilson, B. S., Feed Inspector B. C. Langley, M. S., Agronomist H. G. Wickes, B. S., Feed Inspector Publications: A. D. Jackson, Chief SUBSTATIONS No. 1, Beeville, Bee County: R. A. Hall, B. S., Superintendent No. 2, Lindale, Smith County: P. R. Johnson, M. S., Superintendent **B. H. Hendrickson, B. S., Sci. in Soil Erosion **R. W. Baird, B. S., Assoc. Agr. Engineer No. 3, Angleton, Brazoria County: R. H. Stansel, M. S., Superintendent H. M. Reed, B. S., Horticulturist No. 4, Beaumont, Jefferson County: R. H. Wyche, B. S., Superintendent **H. M. Bcachell, B. S., Jr., Agronomist No. 5, Temple, Bell County: Henry Dunlavy, M. S., Superintendent C. H. Rogers, Ph. D., Plant Pathologist H. E. Rea, B. S., Agronomist S. E. Wolff, M. S., Botanist **H. V. Geib, M. S., Sci. in Soil Erosion "H. O. Hill, B. S., Jr. Civil Engineer No. 6, Denton, Denton County: P. B. Dunkle, B. S., Superintendent **I. M. Atkins, B. S., Jr. Agronomist No. 7, Spur, Dickens County: R. E. Dickson, B. S., Superintendent B. C. Langley, M. S., Agronomist No. 8, Lubbock, Lubbock County: D. L. Jones, Superintendent Frank Gaines, Irrig. and Forest Nurs. No. 9, Balmorhea, Reeves County: J. J. Bayles, B. S., Superintendent No. 10, College Station, Brazos County: R. M. Sherwood, M. S., In Charge L. J. McCall, Farm Superintendent No. 11, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County: H. F. Morris, M. S., Superintendent **No. 12, Chillicothe, Hardeman County: **J. R. Quinby, B. S., Superintendent **J. C. Stephens, M. A., Asst. Agronomist No. 14, Sonora, Sutton-Edwards Counties: W. H. Dameron, B. S., Superintendent I. B. Boughton, D. V. M., Veterinarian W. T. Hardy, D. V. M., Veterinarian O. L. Carpenter, Shepherd **O. G. Babcock, B. S., Asst. Entomologist No. 15, Weslaco, Hidalgo County: W. H. Friend, B. S., Superintendent S. W. Clark, B. S., Entomologist W. J. Bach, M. S., Plant Pathologist J. F. Wood, B. S., Horticulturist No. 16, Iowa Park, Wichita County: C. H. McDowell, B. S., Superintendent L. E. Brooks, B. S., Horticulturist No. 19, Winterhaven, Dimmit County: E. Mortensen, B. S., Superintendent **L. R. Hawthorn, M. S., Horticulturist Teachers in the School of Agriculture Carrying Cooperative Projects on the Station: G. W. Adriance, Ph. D., Horticulture S. W. Bilsing, Ph. D., Entomology V. P. Lee, Ph. D., Marketing and Finance D. Scoates, A. E., Agricultural Engineering A. K. Mackey, M. S., Animal Husbandry *Dean School of Veterinary Medicine. J. F. R. Brison, B. S W. R. Horlacher, Ph. D., Genetics J. H. Knox, M. S., Animal Husbandry S. Mogford, M. S., Agronomy ., Horticulture A. L. Darnell, M. A., Dairy Husbandry iAs of April 1, 1932. “In cooperation with U. S. Department of Agriculture. Potash salts of commercial value are apparently con- tained in deposits which underlie a considerable area in western Texas and New Mexico, according to the in- vestigations made by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the U. S. Geological Survey, and the University of Texas. Although other minerals are present, polyhalite is the chief and most abundant mineral found in the Texas deposits. Polyhalite is a double sulphate of potassium and calcium and is not readily soluble in water, but 73.6 per cent of the total potash of polyhalite ground to pass a 20-mesh sieve, was found soluble in water by the A. O. A. C. method for potash in fertilizers. The availability of the potash in finely ground polyhalite, measured by eight pot experiments with corn, was 96 per cent of the potash in muriate or sulphate of potash. Only 38.6 per cent of the potash in polyhalite ground to pass a 10-mesh sieve, but not a 20-mesh sieve, was soluble in water. Polyhalite is suitable to use as a potash fertilizer when ground to pass a screen with 20 meshes to the inch. CONTENTS Introduction Polyhalite Solubility of the potash in water Pot experiments with polyhalite Soils used Discussion of results Summary References BULLETIN NO. 449 APRIL, 1932 AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE G. S. FRAPS’ A salt deposit resulting from the evaporation of an ancient sea under- lies approximately 40,000 square miles in western Texas and New Mexico, and apparently contains deposits of potash salts of commercial value (2,3). Evidence of the presence of deposits of potash in Texas was first an- nounced by J. A. Udden of the University of Texas, in 1912, who found brines from a well drilled for oil in Dickens county to contain 5.4 per cent of potassium chloride. This lead to the examination for potash of cuttings from oil wells drilled in Texas and New Mexico by representatives of the U. S. Government and of the University of Texas. The strata are mixed or partly dissolved in the oil-well borings, so that the analysis indicates little more than the presence or absence of potash. For‘ this reason, core wells which do not mix the strata, are necessary for satisfactory ex- ploration. The first core drilling (6) which revealed potash beds of com- mercial value was finished in April, 1926, by the Texas Potash Corporation on allocation made by Mr. Max Agress of Dallas. About 23 such wells have been drilled by the U. S. Bureau of Mines in cooperation with the U. S. Geological Survey, and cuttings from a large number of oil wells have also been examined. Potash salts have been found in wells drilled in . Ector, Crane, Winkler, Reagan, Glasscock, Upton, and Crockett counties, Texas, and in Leo and Eddy counties, New Mexico (2). Some of the layers located are of sufficient size to be of commercial importance. Commercial shipments of potash salts containing about 27 per cent of potash were made in 1931 from a potash mine in Eddy county, New Mexico (5). In- dications are that a large source of supply of potash salts may be developed (5), though the deposits are not well located with respect to transporation costs. The chief potash salt found is polyhalite, though some sylvite (KCl) and other potash minerals have been found also. POLYHALITE Polyhalite is the chief potash mineral so far found at various points in western Texas and New Mexico, in wells drilled by the United States Bureau of Mines and by private operators. Large quantities are found in these deposits. It is also found in the European deposits of potash salts, but to a relatively small per cent. It is a dense, hard, relatively insoluble mineral, varying from pink to white in color and containing about 16% of potash when pure. Polythalite is a double sulphate of potash and calcium. All the potash is not soluble in water. The composition of pure polyhalite, according to the U. S. Bureau of Mines (1, 2), is KLPSO4.MgSO4.2CaSO4.2H20¢ The fertilizer laws of most of the states allow credit only for Water-soluble potash; thus that portion of the potash in polyhalite that is not soluble in water would not be included in the official analysis or the guarantee. The potash in polyhalite can be manufactured into sulphate of potash, 6 BULLETIN NO. 449, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION which is a recognized source of potash of high quality. Studies of polyhalite; and the possibility of manufacture of potash salts from it, are being g made by the Bureau of Mines (1, 7, 8, 9, 10) and by Dr. E. P. Schochij of the University of Texas. Any process for the treatment of polyhalite’ would of course involve the expense of manufacture. If the crude salt could be used without treatment as a satisfactory source of potash in areas close to the supply of polyhalite, it could be supplied at a lower = price than sulphate of potash manufactured from it. It is, therefore, desirable to know if polyhalite can be used directly as‘. a source of potash in agriculture, and to what extent the potash in it~ can be taken up by plants. This investigation to secure this information! was suggestedeby the Bureau of Mines, andiwas conducted in informal, cooperation between it and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station}. The polyhalite used was furnished by the Bureau of Mines. \ It was made up of fragments from various core sections from the borings in western Texas or New Mexico. SOLUBILITY OF THE POTASH IN WATER In case of a difficulty soluble mineral, both the solubility of the potash 1. in water and the availability may depend upon the ‘fineness of the sample. The sample was ground and sifted into two portions, one composed off particles passing through a sieve, 20 {meshes to the inch, the other of particles which passed through a 10-mesh sieve and remained in the 20-mesh f sieve. The water-soluble potash was determined by the method of the Association i‘ of Official Agricultural Chemists, the use of which method is required by the fertilizer laws of the various states. A portion (2.425gm.) was treated with water as prescribed in the method for fertilizers and the analysis completed in the usual way. The results are given in Table 1. Table 1-—Solubility of potash in polyhalite 31153, fine 31152, coarse polyhalite, less polyhalite, 10- than 20-mesh to 20-mesh Water-soluble potash, per cent .............................................. .. 9.70 4.86 Total potash, per cent .... ._ 13.25 13.22 Percentage of total potash which is soluble in water ..... _. 73.2 36.8 The analysis shows that 73.2 per cent of the potash was dissolved from the _fine polyhalite, while 36.8 per cent was dissolved from coarse polyhalite. On the basis of this work, the fertilizer laws of most of the states would permit a guarantee of 73 per cent of the total potash in the finely ground polyhalite, and only 36 per cent of that in the coarsely ground polyhalite. i’ The guarantee could be 9.5 per cent water-soluble potash in the finely ground polyhalite and 4.8 per cent in the coarsely ground material. All the potash may be brought into solution (4) by boiling with water and allowing to stand over night (Steiger), or by heating with water “ and sodium carbonate in excess of that required to react with all the lime and magnesia present. POT EXPERIMENTS WITH POLYHALITE The availability of plant food to plants can be measured by comparing . the quantity taken up by plants in pot experiments with the quantity taken iup from a material containing the same plant food in a highly available rform. Pot experiments were conducted to test the‘ availability of the potash of Iipolyhalite to plants on sands and on several. samples of soils. Galvanized Tiron pots containing 5,000 grams of soil were used. Each pot received 1.0 * I vrzeevenzaui-Aiwffla it l QFigure 1. Comparative effect of potash in polyhalite, sulphate of potash, and greensand 1 on the growth of corn in quartz sand No. 311 6. gram of dicalcium phosphate, and 1.25 to 2.0 gm. of ammonium nitrate. ‘The quartz sand No. 3116 received in addition 2.0 gm. of calcium sulphate, l 1.5 gm. of magnesium sulphate, and 0.13 gm. of ferricchloride. The potash '4 materials added usually contained about 0.25 gm. potash, as shown in the ‘if tables. Water was added to one-half the saturation capacity of the soil. AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE 7 _ the growth on three of the pots. On one soil, the second crop rem" 8 BULLETIN NO. 449,‘ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Corn was planted as the first crop. The loss of water was replaced times weekly. At the end of the period the crop was cut near the fl dried, and analyzed for potash. In some cases the soil was dug up, a_ second crop, sorghum, planted, which was handled in the same manner SOILS USED 5 31170 Tabor fine sandy loam, Brazos county, 0-7 inches._ 31329 Potter clay loam, Potter county, 0-7 inches. Active potash 203 parts per basicity 6.3 per cent. _ - f? 31330 Potter clay loam, Potter county, 7-19 inches. Active potash 35 parts per mi- basicity 9.9 per cent. '. 31883 Frio clay, Frio county, 7-19 inches. Active potash 186 parts per million, I- .- 10.0 per cent. ;_ 33130 Bowie fine sandy loam, Polk county, 3-7 inches. Active potash 58 parts per - I basicity 0.06 per cent. '- 33134 Susquehanna fine sandy loam, Polk county, 0-7 inches. Active potash 61 pa million, basicity 0.4 per cent. , 33136 Susquehanna fine sandy loam, Polk county, 18-24 inches. Active potash 96 pa million, basicity 0.34 per cent. . 32646 Lake Charles very fine sandy loam, Galveston county, 0-7 inches. Active potash‘ parts per million, basicity 0.9 per cent. f 32648 Lake Charles very fine sandy loam, Galveston county, 13-32 inches. Active u; 81 -parts per million, basicity 1.9 per cent. DISCUSSION OF RESULTS Details of the pot experiments are given in tables 2, 3, 4, and 5. a. soil used for the work presented in Table 2 (31170) is the surface; of Tabor fine sandy loam of Brazos county. The crops on the pots r‘ ing a double amount of muriate of potash did not do well and are * included. The averages given are for three pots, and also for two in two of the groups with polyhalite; in one pot in each of these iQ groups the corn did not grow well. Quartz sand (N0. 31116) was w: in the experiments in Table 3. Very little potash was removed by the i grown without additions of potash. . A summary of the pot experiments is given in Table 6. Figure 1 l; appreciable amounts of potash, but the amounts removed by the =5 crop from the other two soils are very small or none at all. On one face soil (No. 31329) the potash of the plyhalite was much more a” able than that of the sulphate of potash, while on the subsoil of this = I soil (No. 31330) the reverse occurred. - According to the average of all, experiments, the crop took up slightly more potash from finely gro polyhalite (less than 20-mesh) than from muriate or sulphate of po v If the two experiments varying the most are not included, the crops‘ moved on an average 64.1 per cent of the potash applied in finely gr) polyhalite, compared with 66.8 per cent of the potash applied in muria J; sulphate of potash. The potash in finely ground polyhalite seems t0)- only about 4 per cent less available than that in muriate or sulpi of potash. The availability of the potash in finely ground polyhalit” therefore much higher than the solubility of its potash in water, whic 73.2 per cent (see Table 1). , In one of the pot experiments with the coarsely ground polyhalite é; to 20-mesh), the availability of the potash was the same as that in finely ground polyhalite or in the muriate of potash. In one of the f“ experiments, the availability was less than that of the finely gro, polyhalite while in two others it was greater. On an average of few tests made the availability of the potash in the coarse polyhalite‘ p slightly greater than that in the fine. This result requires confirmation"; additional work as it does not seem probable. The availability of the Q5 polyhalite was nearly double its solubility in water (36.8% in Table 1).,‘ ACKNOWLEDGMENT _ 1 The sample of polyhalite was furnished by the U. S. Bureau of Mi Analytical and other work was done by Mr. E. C. Carlyle, S. E. Asb T. L. Ogier, Waldo Walker, and other members of the staff. i AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 8mm. :3. 2 www~w>< . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.5. E5 N4 smfion .8». 2:5. 523.5 we v9.2.2.2 QMNZQ 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.3. S4 Wm imwuon 3w 25.... ifison we wfiwisi QMNZQ mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.3.. N3. Qfi c353 Em 0.6m. £38m we midisi QMNZQ S.“ 9F $3. 5%. ..... 1 . . ................................... .. mm us.» “é Boa we wufimzé‘ mi" m3“... 3Q. 3a >42 . ........ .. .. www~w>< . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Zwm. Saw Q3 zflsbn .6“ wSN. .25 xfizwisom mmZQ m; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. S3. ma...» W3 ...............<............swfion .Ew wEN. .25 .B:§E_¢m hGZQ mm . . , . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3mm. a?» ma ............................nwmpon 3w wSN. .25 auzwzzom nib/HQ 3w #3 $3. 5.3.. ...................................................................... =5 £538 www$>< 9S 3nd .32.. 3a #3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ow§$>< ...... .. .52.. .3.” ma: swwfin .5». NSN. 6226 §zwsfiom IZQ mm . . . . , . . . . . . . . . .. 3.5. Qua Y3 ................:........smapon Eu NSN. .333 ..$:¢£:om flZQ 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $3.. _ iv...“ Q3 smwpoq d5 NEN. dmfiwou dflgwnbom IZQ S W2. _ $3. SE. _ :8 .35 .......................................................................... .. wwd~w>< . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5.2. iww 1S swwfin .Ew 3mm. imwuon we wfiwisi wMZQ § . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. NIB. i.“ Qww 55cm 4am 55w. iflfion we wfiwisi QMZQ mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. SQ. S.” Q3 smfioq Em 55w. imfiom we wgkisi QMZQ N» . . . , . . . . . . . . .. 33. L 3N m3; ~w§6>< . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53. mma ma“ xcfim 2Q S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. m3”. S.“ 93 . V155 Zn 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. f5”. 2a W3 V155 Zn 3 wohrwouwn 5.3M smwaon ammo mom @895 Enos swwuom .wo.$>ooo.~ @5910 :58 we “Ewmw? w¢omfiw©< wuwnfisn 8m pcoo uwm Smwuofi iw Smauoh wwifl .02 30w CO 0:50PM CHOU hfi UWQU>OUUH fimfluOnfllfl Qfifidmm. .. i. n€imui 10 BULLETIN NO. 449, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION < ‘ ‘ \ . . . , . . . . . ; wQQO. QMWHQ>< \\\\ < . . mag. fie Z. = 1 . x55 2Q 3 . . . , . . . . . \ . . . . ; 82.. $5 I. xcfim ZQ 3 . . . . I . . . . . . . . . : 25o. 3... fio .185 ZQ mm 9E $2. £3. N»; W: wua~w>< .... 1 . $5. ma; Wm .. : 53.5 .Eu wSN. .25 Jszwsfiom rmHZQ 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., “Si. m“: Qfi nwficn 4cm wflfi. .25 .w»:§~bcm hflZQ .3 . . . . . . . . . , . . . I .. .33. $4 WE swfiom Em wEN. .25 dgzmsfiom hflZQ mm <5 $3. M23. 3A Q2 ................ z .. 1 ww~$>< 2.2. 23 I: swwpoa anw NEN. 63x3 .w..:@€:om EZQ E . ~33. B; Qfi ........................ zsmwaoa .8». NSN. dmgxoo .w»:§::om HZQ 3 ...... .. wSN. 3.4 9S swfion dew NEN. .9053“. 62:23am mZQ mm 33 mfim 3mm. S...“ g i. ......... , < wwwfii» \\\\ 1 . . $3. mm.» bw . smwgbn 3w 26m. dwfisbn .6 wfiwisi “MNZQ 9.. . \ . . . , . . . . . . . , : wafi... $4.. 9Q smwpom 4cm 22E. dwfion we wpxisz sMNZQ mm . . . . . , . . . . . . .. 3.5. 2Q Wm smauon Em Q25. 523cm we Ewfizfi QMNZQ i“ it £3 32. $4 i: .... l wwwpwiw .. .33. £4 W3 . .... .. swap...“ .8». 3mm. 323cm .3 wfiwisfi wMZQ m.» , . . . , \ . . . . , . . ., 53. i; Q2 c232“ Eu 25w. 533a we wfiwmpsi QMZQ mm . . , . . . . . . . , . . . l $3. NQN Q3 smfion 4cm 3mm. imfioa we 82.52 wMZQ 3 wwaw>oooa Esau smwaom acme #5 madam 5.5a swam-om iwhtrouwn wEmEU 5.5a mo pswmwz, mnomfigjw wuwnfifl: Qom ammo Hum smwaom Gm swwaom UUMMQ .wamam .02 wcwm NQHMQU CO c395 GHOU >3 wwflgooo» AmwQQnmIm QT~QF 11 AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE o £3. 324. £4 can ................... lcmnccc 4cm wEm. .00.Smsfi0m E20 w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ . . . .. $3. 5A m?“ :::.........i...4303a 4cm 33w. ficficzom WZQ m m ..... .. o 33. Sam. 3A mi .... .4352“ 4cm NEE. .3430.» co $22315 uMZQ 4. -.H . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . , . z NEE. $4 0.5 .... Jcmasc 4cm NQN. .4303.“ M0 051:5 wMZQ m Pwmm ...... z £3. 2S. 5A .54.» 022m ZQ N . , . . . . . . . . . . , . .. $43. £4 Q3 x455 ZQ 4 cmfilommcm m? $3. N30. mwww. 3am Q43 ..................... .43wcom 4cm 2mm. .3$w4t£0m WZQ w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . .. :54. $4. f“ .-..--....,..-.---.-...cmfioc 4cm wFw. dccwcrom HZQ m $0 25H. 2.3 $3.. 3m.” Q8 .... .4343?“ 4cm mfiwm. .8360 m0 wficfisw uMZQ w mmmm . . . . . . . . , . , . . . .. £3. 2E Q: ‘....-43.apoa 4cm NQN. images co fiwccfiw aMZQ m ...... a 35. 54. m6 xcflm ZQ m ...... .. 4cm”. M20”. 5d :4 vism ZQ H =c8l¢£$ 09m 3A5. ...... z $3. m“: 0.8“ ..................... .4330.» 4cm 2mm. Jccwcficm NZQ 134m $2.. ...... .. $5. $4 Z4. 5552c 4cm ~30». imfioc m0 00.04315 QMZQ . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . .- 23v. $4 Na". “Eflm ZQ 30.5 “E0003 cficxlémmfim Em 254. ...... .. $34 mad 44.3 ..................... .4159» 4cm wSN. 633.33% NZQ m w? 8w... ...... .. vmmué £3 W; ..... ..Aw.3oQ 4cm NQN. 5250a m0 wficflam QMZQ m . . . . \ , . . . . . . . . . . . .- omEHA ofim 9mm 045E ZQ fl ccovlmumcm 3.425094 mEfihM 4303a 4330a £50 .80 4cm 50.40 43.30.» €wno>00oc Bcscu EcwnU $0.3 cm no aswmuB c0350?» cc.» mow .5855: 00m 0:00 nwm Amwaom owwco>< Amdpom wvifl 6mg .303 3 wmcw>oowu smmconwlw 039w 12 BULLETIN NO. 449, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Q3 MZ 2 Wm $2.. 25w. wmmw. 2: mam ................. .4589“ .Em wEN. apzwsfiom EZQ m . , 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ . . , .. ~33 21w mam swfion Em wEw. .8.:wn3om EZQ w . ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33. S: 9mm smwuom dam wSN. dfiisfiom IZQ \ m: $.39 M63. $36. Id gm .233 .Em NQN. éfifion m. wififism wMZQ w . . \ . , , ‘ . . . . . . , . . . . . . . ‘ .. $3. m“: 9mm nmwpon .Ew NQN. dwflon .8 wfifitzsm QMZQ m . ‘ . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $3. 2: 1mm smfioa dam NQN. 535cm we wpwnfism wMZQ w . , K . . . . . 1 , . . . . ,. 33. 31F. NQA :5 V155 ZQ m . . . . , . , . , ‘ A . , . . . E , , \ $9.6. g4 Qmm , xcfim 2Q w . . 1 1 . , , . . . , . . ‘ . . . . . . . ‘ .. $3. mwa mam V155 ZQ H . AQOMU wcouwwv .~@MNXI\mwwHm v.3 $6: amfi; S4“. Q3 .................. znwaaom Eu wEN. §zwsfiom EZQ m . , 1 . . 1 . . . . . . . . .. £2: 3Q YNN swapon d5 wSN. dpzwnrcm EZQ w , . , . . . . . . . . . . . .. Nwwfifi 3i. 5mm c2355 d3 wSN. dazmnfiom EZQ v WE. m2? $2“. 3Q Q3 .288 éw NQN. 523cm w. fiflarzw QMZQ w . . . , . . . . . . . , . . z wmmfifi 3% m.» smwpoa d5 NSN. image.“ we Bwsfisw wMZQ m . ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . \ . , . . . , . .. $54 $3 95 swfiom d5 N3“. imwaon we wawirsw QMZQ d. . . . . . . . . , . . . , , .. 2x54 2mm. 3Q W3. xcfim ZQ m m . , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. N214 Se Nam xcfim ZQ N . . . . . . . { . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .5304 $4. Nmmm xcwfiw ZQ H fio?i%wflm wwhtiouon 952w AmwuoQ Jmdpom paws 3n 4cm do: . 53cm €onw>oowa wEdhM wEsnU done E mo “E995 comfiwwm was mom “M555: 3m acme Hum smuaom wwaao>< nwfiom wwifl Awwflcficoov omaH 620.3 3 wwpoivuoa Smmuofilv 05am. 13 AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASI-I IN POLYHALITE . . . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . . . . .. SEN. 5.4. 1w c2324 we wfififism NKQZ N . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. NmNN. EZN. 3N N; v4.55 . QZ N . . , . . , , . , . . . , , . . . . . . . . : MEN. mfim Nd v4.55 . QZ 4 £5» 46w Q2. 42.4. 5mm. . 52. NN4 W2. ........................................... Ewwaaoo Ufiswsbom SQZ o4 2w N54. g5. 2.4m. N44 m4; .............................................. :25 wazifirom WQZ N . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23m. _ 34 NNN Ezflrzom WQZ w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . .. IS. _ mN4 N42. 25 dx1£b@m wQZ N. 4.3 N54. 5.3. 35m. _ 34 W? ...................................... 1.2.2.5 we 8.22am mMQZ w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ENW £4 gm .4325 No 82:44am “v52 m . . . . . . . . . . . , . . , . . . . . . . ,. 3mm. $4 mi swfioa 4o 8.22am $52 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4.3m. 43m. mw. n15. 452m OZ m . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . .. 43$... ow. v.3. 452m DZ N . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . .. mwwm. i“. Ndm . v4.55 QZ 4 4.3% mow N45 SS. 45.... _ £3. NN4 _ 44m ............. ..=.$3Q d5 mN... .25 64:23am VQZ w . . . . . , . , . . . . . . . . . . . . , . .. NNS. 444 . New .4253 .8» £5 .25 62.22am MQZ P , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . .. 23m. £4 3N 4.93.5 .EN £5 .25 ...s.:~€:om wQZ w 9E. wwmz. N43. 4544.. oN4 54$ ..... zsmwvom énw £5 imflon a. 08.24345 mMQZ m . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . 1 $2.. NN4 42mm smwuon .Ew mNd £3524 w. wfififism NMDZ 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. “NNN. SQ. Ea YwN xcfim OZ w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. wvwN. N». 9mm v4.55 QZ N . . . . . , . . . . . . , . . . . . . . , , .. wiN. ww. 94m xcfim DZ 4 _ 34mm mow vwamtrooo» CZ .496 smwaom mono 5 wcwu .424 wiwuw Amdaon swcaoq wEdhN swwuon £330.» no.8 c3335 us.» Sow N04455: 8m Q3 pom 5&0 owwaw>< medha 3924244 uo .35 .HMQH JMBOU NAQ wouo>oowu Smduonm .m. 14 BULLETIN NU. 44s», TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION wwaw>o OUR Nmmfi. mwmm. N54. DZ nm>e nwwuea ewww smwwen wfiafiw wu§~w>< _ wwon. V »w.H ~¢w¢. @@.H m@¢m. _ _ Ho.N m¢Ev. _ mw.H ¢@@¢. _ ¢¢.~ N>wv. _ ¢>.H mwmm. k @m._ ¢¢»@. mm.H wamm. _ w¢.H wove. m¢.N Eowe. ~m.H wwmq. Ne; mmee. E @q.H Hmwe. m@.H Qvwe. @¢.H menu. mm. ¢~@~. ¢@. @@@~. m¢.H ¢¢~¢. >n.v wwvm. Hm.w wwwm. ¢».m awe». E¢.¢ E Q93 E acme hum smdaem smmaen @2530 _ mwm3wc< ‘ New ................................................ dam aezfizzom ma» ............................................... .. 95w 62:23am N? ............................................... .. 25 aezwszom Wmm ...................................... .. £80m we wefifi=w fiw ....................................... c zwweg we wafififi .321. ........................................ : $939M we wefiflzw 5mm ................................................................ : ism ~.$N ‘ 1 . . , . . . r ifim v.3 .............................................................. .. V155 $3M mew mAm .............................................. a 25 aezfifibom W2... .............................................. z 25 afiwgram gm ................................................ .25 azwfizom mg .................................. .. i525 we wfipfifi=w 15 ..................................... .. ifioe we wfigfizgw Nam ...................................... z swweoe we wefifism oQN .............................................................. .. ism 38 : .... : ism New ................................................................ : ism Q22 mow m5 .................. 1 \ wmumoo Ezwfisom ow ............................................... 1 25 aezwfisom Wm ............................................... .. 25 aeifibom m.w ....................................... 588a we @2225 madam no.8 comfiwww was Zew we .35 Awwecweceov _C.~OU %Q veuwieom» smwdenw .0 U~QWQ~ Q u! :4 M Q Q Z Z F4NCW’<£'LO§OP'°°@ Hmcevmcob-wm EQZ WQZ WQZ sMDZ filtbtbl“ .3255: pom AVAILABILITY TO PLANTS OF POTASH IN POLYHALITE 15 Table 6. Percentage of potash recovered from polyhalite and from sulphate of potash. Muriate or Soil Crop Coarse Fine sulphate of Number polyhalite polyhalite potash 31170 Corn . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . . .. 62.1 71.6 79.8 31116 Corn __ . ........ .. 77.1 77.0 75.7 31329 Corn, first crop ................................................... .. 55.4 33.5 Kafir, second crop ........................................... .. 37.4 22.8 Total, 2 crops, corn and kafir ....................... _. 92.8 56.3 31330 Corn, first crop .................................................. _. 49.3 62.2 Kafir, second crop . ____ .. 0 0 31883 Corn, first crop ............... .. .. .... .- 40.4 47.2 Kafir, second crop .. .... .. 2.7 1.6 Total, 2 crops, corn and kafir .... .. 43.1 48.8 33134 Corn ____ .. 69.9 75.5 32646 Corn 70.0 62.9 70.1 33136 Corn ..... .. 78.1 51.4 50.9 33130 Corn ____ .. 77.3 79.6 32648 Corn .... .. 59.8 54.2 Average of all (10) ____________________________________________ __ 65.5 65.3 Average, omitting 31329 and 31330 (8) .... .. 64.1 66.8 Average where coarse polyhalite used (4) 71.8 65.7 69.1 i Average availability, omitting 3 and 4 (8) ____ _. 96 100 SUMMARY Potash salts of commercial value are apparently contained in deposits which underlie a large area in western Texas and New Mexico, accord- ing to investigations by the U. S. Bureau of Mines, the U. S. Geological Survey, and the University of Texas. Although other potash minerals are present, polyhalite is the chief and most abundant potash mineral present in the potash minerals found in deep wells in western Texas and in New Mexico. Polyhalite is a double sulphate of potash and lime. It contains about 12 per cent of total potash. The potash of polyhalite is not com- pletely soluble in water, but 73.2 per cent of the total potash in polyhalite ground to pass a 20-mesh sieve was found to be soluble in Water by the A. O. A. C. method for pot-ash in fertilizers. The availability of the potash in finely ground polyhalite, as found on the average of‘ eight pot experiments, was 96 per cent of that of sulphate or muriate of potash. The potash in polyhalite which passed a 10-mesh sieve but did not pass a 20-mesh sieve, was 36.8 per cent soluble in water. The availability of the potash in four pot experiments was equal to that of muriate of potash. Polyhalite is suitable for use as a potash fertilizer when ground to pass a 20-mesh sieve. REFERENCES 1. Clarke, Loyal, J. M. Davidson and H. H. Storch, 1931. A study of the properties of polyhalite pertaining to the extraction of potash. Part III, Calcination of polyhalite in a laboratory sized rotary kiln. U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3061. 2. Mansfield, G. R., 1930. Potash in the United States. Jour. Chem. Education 7:737. 16 10. BULLETIN NO. 449, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Hoots, H. W., 1925. Geology of a part of western Texas and south eastern New Mexico with special reference to salt and potash. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 780-B. Schoch, E. P., 1932. Private communication. . Smith, H. I., 1931. Potash mined in the United States may meet all domestic needs. U. S. Geological Survey publication 57554. Sellards, E. H. and E. P. Schoch, 1928. Core drill tests for potash in Midland county, Texas, Univ. of Texas Bull. 2801. Storch, H. H. and L. Clarke. A study of the properties of Texas polyhalite pertaining to the extraction of potash. U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3002. Storch, H. H., 1930. A study of the properties of Texas polyhalite pertaining to the extraction of potash. II. The rate of decompo- sition of polyhalite by water and by saturated sodium chloride ' U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3032. Storch, H. H. and F. Fraas, 1931. A study of the properties of Texas polyhalite pertaining to the extraction of potash. IV. Experiment on the production of potassium chloride by the evaporation of leach liquors from decomposition of uncalcined polyhalite by boiling sat- urated sodium chloride solution. U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations 3062. Storch, H. H. and N. Fragen, 1931. A study of the properties of Texas-New Mexico polyhalite pertaining to the extraction of potash. V. Suggested processes for the production of syngenite and by- product magnesium. U. S. Bureau of Mines Report of Investiga- tions 3116. solutions.