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The Effect of Calcium Arsenate upon the Productivity of Several Important Soils of the Cotton Belt 1
Author(s) -
Dorman Clarence,
Tucker Frederick H.,
Coleman Russell
Publication year - 1939
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1939.00021962003100120004x
Subject(s) - agricultural experiment station , agriculture , archaeology , geography , agricultural economics , forestry , economics
I NVESTIGATIONS have indicated that accumulated arsenic in certain soil types has reduced their productivity. Morris and Swingle (6) ~ believed that the incorporation of arsenical compounds in the soil is dangerous practice and may cause considerable injury as the concentration of arsenic increases. Large amounts of arsenic have been found in some virgin soils but greater quantities occur in cultivated soils whose crops have been treated with arsenates for insect control. Many southern soils whose cotton crop is often dusted with calcium arsenate for boll weevil receive considerable quantities of arsenic; therefore, it is of economic importance to determine its effect upon the soil and its possibility of becoming a serious problem to agriculture. Earlier workers have found that the effect of arsenic depends upon the nature of both soil type and crop. In South Carolina, Cooper, et al. (3) have shown that cotton grows normally on some soil types which have received e,ooo pounds of calcium arsenate, but its growth is greatly reduced on other soil types which have received only 50 pounds per acre. They have also reported that different crops vary in response. Rye, corn, sweet potatoes, and tobacco were very tolerant, but cowpeas, vetch, soybeans, cotton, and oats were very sensitive to arsenate applications. In Louisiana, Reed and Sturgis (7) found that cotton treated with calcium arsenate was not affected, but that rice following it was seriously injured. Investigations have already revealed many interesting facts about the effect of calcium arsenate upon some soils, but r~ore information is needed to determine the influence of arsenic oh other soils of the cotton belt. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of calcium arsenate upon the productivity of several important soils of the cotton belt and to determine its probable influence upon the future soil status.