Influence of applications of sodium molybdate and ground limestone on a newly sown pasture

Abstract

Summary On a newly sown pasture suitably treated with superphosphate four replications of applications of ground limestone at 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, and 40 cwt were set out; across these limed strips sodium molybdate at 0, 1, 2 and 4 oz per acre was applied, giving 24 treatments per replication. At low rates of liming, sodium molybdate increased clover growth more than at high rates; there was no advantage in applying more than 2 oz sodium molybdate per acre. Increasing the rate of application of limestone improved the growth of the pasture even in absence of molybdate. Three years after laying down, all plots carried the same amount of fodder in the spring. Implic3.tions of this result are discussed. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium contents of white-clover leaflets varied relatively little with treatment. Manganese content was reduced by liming, but was little altered by variation in rate of application of molybdate. Manganese decreased as molybdenum content increased. A logarithmic relationship between mang...