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"Thus the more we cultivate, the more we hasten the nitrification, oxidation, or destruction of the organic matter or humus of the soil. Where the soil is well supplied with decaying organic matter, we rarely need to cultivate in a humid section like this, except for the purpose of killing weeds.
In this state it is well fitted to retain moisture and to absorb all soluble substances, as well as for the process of nitrification. The bones of dead animals, the harder parts of insects, the shells of land mollusks, leaves, twigs, etc., are before long all buried beneath the accumulated castings of worms, and are thus brought in a more or less decayed state within reach of the roots of plants.
I have seen the principles of agriculture so taught as to leave with the student the impression that he could raise more corn than his neighbor and sell it at a higher price if he mastered the principles of nitrification; and all without one single reference to the basic principle of conservation upon which the welfare of the human race for all time to come must inevitably depend, without a single reference to the moral iniquity of waste and sloth and ignorance.
Although, however, nearly the whole of this evidence has been before the scientific public for more than seven years, the ferment theory of nitrification can hardly be said to have obtained any general acceptance; it has not indeed been seriously controverted, but neither has it been embraced.
Thornton, "you say the cowpea grows when nitrification is most active, and yet you say that it takes less nitrogen from the air than clover. Isn't that somewhat contradictory?" "I think not," said Percy." Let me see. Just what do you understand by nitrification?" "Getting nitrogen from the air, is it not?" "No, no. That explains it. Getting nitrogen from the air is called nitrogen fixation.
Nitrification will not take place in an acid solution; it is essential that some base should be present with which the nitric acid may combine; when all available base is used up, nitrification ceases. It appeared of interest to ascertain to what extent nitrification would proceed in a dilute solution of urine without the addition of any substance save the nitrifying ferment.
As ammonia is so readily nitrifiable, we may safely assert that every nitrogenous substance which yields ammonia when acted upon by the organisms present in soil is also nitriflable. Certain Conditions having Great Influence in the Process of Nitrification.
The Substances Susceptible of Nitrification. The analyses of soils and drainage waters have taught us that the nitrogenous humic matter resulting from the decay of plants is nitrifiable; also that the various nitrogenous manures applied to land, as farmyard manure, bones, fish, blood, rape cake, and ammonium salts, undergo nitrification in the soil.
It is only experiments made in this way that can have any weight in deciding the question. Leaving now the theory of nitrification, I will proceed to say a few words, first, as to the distribution of the nitrifying organism in the soil; secondly, as to the substances which are susceptible of nitrification; thirdly, upon certain conditions having great influence on the process.
The quantity of nitrifying organism present has also a marked effect. A solution receiving an abundant supply of the ferment will exhibit speedy nitrification, and strong solutions may by this means be successfully nitrified, which with small seedings would prove very refractory. The rapidity of nitrification also depends on the degree of alkalinity of the solution.
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