Fred Urquhart Farm, Presque Isle
Contributed by Aroostook County Historical and Art Museum
Description
International Fertilizers promotional photograph. Fred Urquhart farm, Presque Isle. 1200 pounds of 8-16-20 fertilizer per acre, yielding 217 barrels of potatoes this field.
Common fertilizers are rated as having certain variable percentages of nitrogen (N) phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). The percentages appear as a series of three numbers as, for example, 3-10-15.
When applying fertilizer it is not simply a matter of, the more the better. Too much fertilizer can damage plants. When selecting a fertilizer, the farmer must consider the condition of the soil, the expected growing conditions, and the needs of the crop. While yields are affected by the proper application of fertilizer, they are also affected by the particular variety of a crop that has been planted, growing conditions, soil, and the skill of the farmer. The limited data provided with these International Fertilizers photographs gives information about only one of the many factors that affect crop yield and quality.
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