(第28號)臺灣省農田肥力測定

Abstract

Soil testing is a practical method for evaluating the fertility status of soils and for providing a sound basis for making recommendation in respect of fertilizer applications and soil amendments to farmers for increasing crop production. It is estimated that 1,000,000 metric tons of fertilizers are consumed annually in Taiwan. The distribution of such a large amount of fertilizers to farmers is carried out under the fertilizer/paddy barter system. The per hectare fertilizer allocation rate for different crops are based on regional field trials. They do not necessarily represent the optimum rate for a great multitude of individual farm. It is, therefore, the application of fertilizers must be guided on a scientific basis in a rational manner to schieve the best result. The project of soil tests on cropland of Taiwan was started in 1959 and ended in 1967. The surface-soil samples were collected systematically from every 10 hectares of cropland from county to county by using a cadastral map having a scale of 1:4,800. A total of 78,635 samples covering an acreage of 786,350 hectares of cropland in Taiwan were taken in which 15 counties were included with the exception of the Pescadores Island. Most of the soil samples were taken by the county-extension workers who had received a short course on the soil sampling method given by the soil scientists of the Laboratory of Soil Fertility of the Institute. After sampling, they were packed and mailed to the Laboratory for analysis.