Quantity and Relationships of Certain Elements in Michigan Legume Hays 1

A number of data relative to the chemical composition of alfalfa, sweet clover, and red clover have been collected in the past ~3 years by the Soils Section of the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Although portions of these data have been published, no attempt has been made to compile or correlate the results of the various studies. This paper attempts to summarize all such data and to interpret the results statistically. As the primary object of the paper is to present these findings from a mathematical standpoint, it is unnecessary to dwell upon the experimental methods employed in collecting the data. Detailed procedures and data may be found in the indicated references. It should be mentioned, however, that the plant samples were placed directly in bags in the field, and hence were not subject to loss of parts or to chemical changes resulting from handling, curing, and storage in the hay-making process. In interpreting the results, the popular "coefficient of linear correlation" and its "standard error of prediction" are used. Experimental significance is attributed to the results in which the correlation coefficient is greater than twice its standard error. Less difference is considered insignificant because it might have been due to chance or experimental error alone. In the discussions, free use is also made of Student’s odds method to show significance, odds of greater than 2 o:i being, considered significant.