of a D-4 crawler tractor did not seed at the same rate as the one
behind the D-8 tractor. The speed at which the seed drops through
the seeder openings is dependent upon vibration of the particular
tractor and the movement of the wires hanging pendulun-like below
the seeder box. The seed automatically quits flowing once the
machinery is stopped. The second model was speedily calibrated to
seed the right amount by changing to the proper opening in the
metal plate.

This material is a condensation from an article by Roy
I, Shipley, Range Conservationist, Soil Conservation Service, Ter-
ritory of Hawaii, as published in the October, 1953, issue of
Westland Pasture Journal.

TITAA-4


CHAIN DRAG

It has been said that "woody vegetation requires two to four
times more water to produce a pound of dry leaves than does grass,"
Thus, a different kind of "brush control machine" has been developed
in Hawaii,

The development of a heavy anchor chain drag has done a lot
toward bringing about brush control and grass improvement on the rough,
broken and rocky rangelands of the Territory of Hawaii. The anchor
chain drag, for use in brush control, was first conceived and used on
the Kaalualu Ranch in Kau. The Kaalualu Ranch is owned and operated
by the Hutchinson Sugar Plantation Company with headquarters at Naalehu.
Back in 1944, Kaalualu Ranch Manager, Mr. Allan P, Johnston, like most
ranchers in the Territory, was faced with the problems: controlling
such brush as lantana, puakeawe, and alii, guava and Christmas berry
and with preparing the land for seeding improved varieties of grasses,

Although several machines for removing and controlling brushy
vegetation such as: beaters, power mowers, dozers, powered saws, heavy
root plows, tree shears, rail drags, disc harrows, and buck rakes, have
been developed and used on the mainland with varying degrees of success,
no such machines were available for local trials or even seemed too well
adapted to much of the rough and rocky rangelands in the Territory.

Stockmen know that a brush control machine to be successful
needs to break up and kill brush of considerable size, This meant the
machine would have to be heavy. It also would need to be adapted to

areas of little or no soil, very often aa and pahoehoe lava flows, It
must follow the land surface, though very irregular, and remove the

TITA3=-1


Pure live seed - percent of purity x percent of germination
100

"The germination of brome grass and rye shall not be less than
85%, the germination of western wheatgrass shall not be less than 65%,
and that of sand lovegrass not less than 75%. Seed shall contain no
noxious weed seed or cuackgrass (Agropyron repens) and shall contain
not more than 4 percent of other weed seed, All grass seed shall comply
with the seed laws of the State of Nebraska. The age of seed of the
brome grass and rye shall not exceed two years, The sand lovegrass and
brome grass seed shall have been produced in Nebraska, Kansas, or
Colorado.

"The seed of brome grass, western wheatgrass, rye, and sand
lovegrass shall be separately packaged and labeled so they can be uni-
formly and thorouchly mixed after they are received on the job. The
mixture of grasses specified herein shall be uniformly distributed on
the designated areas to be seeded by means of a hand seeder or grass
drill. When seed is sown by means of a hand seeder, immediately after
broadcasting the seed shall be properly covered with soil to a depth
not to exceed 1/2 inch by means of a spike tooth harrow, a treader
(rotary hoe run backwards), or any similar implement acceptable to the
contracting officer, If seed is sowm with a grass drill, the drill
shall be regulated so that the seed will be properly covered with soil
to a depth not to exceed 1/2 inch. Seeding shall be done from February
1 to April 15 unless weather conditions, unfavorable soil moisture, or
seedbed conditions are prohibitive to seeding, as determined by the con-
tracting officer: Provided, that when moisture and seedbed conditions
are favorable, the contracting officer may order the contractor to con-
tinue operations in a period other than that stated above.

"(e) Measurement and payment.—Measurement for payment for
furnishing and spreading fertilizer md furnishing and sowing grass
seed will be made of the areas actually prepared, fertilized and
seeded, The areas will be computed to the nearest 1/2 of an acre.
Payment for furnishing and spreading fertilizer and furnishing and
sowing grass seed will be mde at the unit price per acre bid there-
for in the schedule. The quantities as stated in the schedule for
furnishing and spreading fertilizer and furnishing and sowing grass
seed are estimates for the purpose of comparing bids and the contrac-
tor shall be entitled to no additional compensation above the unit
price bid in the schedule by reason of any amount or none of this
work being required,"

Examination of the specifications will show that they meet

several essential requirements needed to get the grass seeding done
properly. First, the specification is written to enable Reclamation

ITTA6-3


Regional Director, Boise, Idaho
Regional Director, Sacramento, California
Regional Director, Boulder City, Nevada
Regional Director, Salt Lake City, Utah
Regional Director, Amarillo, Texas
Regional Director, Billings, Montana
Regional Director, Denver, Colorado
Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer,
Denver, Colorado, Code 400.

Please add my name to your mailing list to receive additional
jnformation which may be published regarding equipment used
for controlling weeds on irrigation systems:

Name.

Organizati on,

Address,



SEED SCARIFIER

Mr. Johnston, Kapapala Ranch, Hawaii, recommends placing
hard coated seed in a cement mixer with two bags of crushed rock
and running the mixer for a few minutes. Seeds then may be sepa-
rated from the rock by screening through proper-sized mesh,

ITTA5-1


Construction Details:

The bank shaper pictured has been very efficient and was
developed and constructed by maintenance personnel of the Tucumcari
project, A similar device is being manufactured commercially. The
first shaper developed by project forces and pictured herein was
controlled entirely by the tractor operator by means of cables. How-
ever, to prevent the blade from "riding" in areas where a large
amount of cut is necessary, the hydraulic actuating arm installed
on the device has definite advantages for raising and lowering the
blade in lieu of the cable control. Another improvement in the
shaper blade consisted of placing an extension on the blade at a
45-degree angle to clean the bottom of laterals as well as the slopes,
Both adaptations are very useful for the reshaping and cleaning of
both small and large canals.

Upon completion of bank reshaping, the blade is removed
from the tractor, anda grass drill attached as shown in the top
photograph on the preceding page. The grass drill used in Region
5 is adapted to seeding all varieties of grass, either individually
or in mixtures, Regulators are installed on the disc to govern the
depth of seeding. :

The grass drill may be removed from the rig and attached to
a conventional wheel type tractor for use in seeding adjacent rights—
of-way and reservoir areas.

The unit cost for seeding canals and rights-of-way will
average about $10.00 per acre, exclusive of canal bank reshaping and
cleaning.

TIIA7-2


A good stand of grass on the banks of a canal on the Mirage
Flats project, Nebraska, is shown in the preceding photograph. Much
of the ditch bank seeding in Region 7 has been done under contract.
To indicate how the work is done, an excerpt from a typical seeding
specification is presented:

"Spreading fertilizer and sowing grass seed. (a) General.—
Areas of excavation surfaces, emban'ments, spoil banks, and drains,
as shown on Drawing No. 271-701-1392, or as designated by the con-
tracting officer, shall be prepared for seeding and fertilized and
seeded. All seeding: operations shall be in accordance with the pro-
visions of this paragraph.

"(b) Seedbed preparation,—The contractor shall compact or
loosen the surfaces of laterals, drain ditches, embanicnents, and spoil
banks as directed prior to seeding, in order to obtain a firm well-
packed seedbed. Compaction for seedinz may require 2 passes, but not
more than 2 passes, with a packer and mulcher similar but not restrict-
ed to the 'Westem Sprocket Packer and Mulcher' manufactured by the
Western Land Roller Company of Hastings, Nebraska. No separate pay—
ment will be made for compacting or loosening areas to be seeded and
all costs of seedbed preparation shall be included in the unit price
per acre bid in the schedule for furnishing and spreading comercial
fertilizer and furnisiing and sowing grass seed.

"(c) Commercial Fertilizer,—-The contractor shall furnish a
standard commercial fertilizer of 16 (nitrogen), 20 (phosvhorous), 0
(potassium) formula, and shall wiformly broadcast or drill the speci-
fied fertilizer at the rate of 100 pounds per acre into the surfaces
of the areas to be seeded unless otherwise directed, Fertilizer shall
be applied to the prepared seedbed previous to seeding operations, or
at the time of seeding if a grass drill with a fertilizer attachnent
is used,

"(d) Seeding.—The contractor shall furnish and sow a mix-
ture of brone grass and wheatgrass on all the areas to be seeded,
except that portion of Ayres Creek Channel Change from Station 34+00
to End Station 44+50. This mixture shall consist of brome grass
(Broms inernis), Lincoln or Achenback strain, at the rate of 14
pounds of pure live seed per acre and westem wheatgrass (Agropyron
smithii) at the rate of 4 pounds of pure live seed per acre, For
that portion of Ayres Creek Channel Chanze from Station 34+00 to End
Station 44+50, the mixture of grasses to be sown and the rates of
seeding are as follows: (1) Brome grass (3roms inermis), Lincoln
or Achenback strain at the rate of 10 pounds of pure live seed per
acre; (2) Rye (Secale cereale), at the rate of 20 pounds of pure
live seed per acre; (3) western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), at
the rate of 4 pounds of pure live seed per acre}; (4) Sand lovegrass
(Bragiostis trichodes), at the rate of 1 pound of pure live seed per
acre.

IITA6-2


The feeder openings bored through the bottom of the hopper
are about 3/4-inch in diameter and spaced 16 inches apart, The box
ig divided into small compartments by fitted wedge-shaped wooden
dividers, The dividers prevent the grass and legume seeds from "run-
ning" to one end on rough terrain or when traveling on a slope. The
wooden dividers are fastened midway between the "puka" openings.

A 1/2-inch pipe runs the entire length of the seeder box
and is mounted in the top center so that the lid can be closed with-
out binding on the pipe.

The problem of getting grass seed to flow evenly through
feeder openings was overcome by the use of 6-gauge galvanized wire,
about 4 or 5 feet long. It runs through the feeder openings and is
fastened at the top to the one-half inch pipe mounted inside and
near the top of the box. The pendulum motion of the wires aids in
a steady flow of seed throuch the openings.

In calibrating the seeder to seed the proper pounds per
acre, three holes, 3/8, 7/16, and 1/2 inch diameter respectively,
and about 2 inches apart, were bored through pieces of heavy tin
about 2 inches wide and 6 inches long. The 2 by 6 inch tin plates
were then "slipped" over the wire through the size of opening de-
sired and were fastened to the bottom of the hopper by small screws
exactly over the 3/h-inch hole drilled through the bottom of the
hopper.

The seeder broadcasts the seed behind the tractor. A chain
is dragged behind for covering the seed, Observations of germination

IITA4-2


OFF-SEASON PROTECTION OF UNDERGROUND WCRKS

Weed racks placed at the ends of siphon structures prevent
the entrance of trash, tumbleweeds, and animals during the nonoperat-
ing season on the Cambridge Canal of the Frenchman-Canbridge Unit of
the Missouri River Basin project in Nebraska. The lightweight racks,
similar to the ones shown in the photograph above, are placed in the
fall after the irrigation season and removed the following spring
before water is again placed in the canal systed.

Construction Details:
The lightweight racks consist of pipe, steel rail or wooden

frames, to which a wire msh is attached, They have been very effec-
tive and are believed to have reduced O&M costs materially,

IB7-1


PUNCTURE—PROOF TUBES ON WEED MOWERS
REDUCE O & M COSTS

By the use of puncture-proof tubes in the front tires of weed
mowers, the Tucumcari project in New Mexico, has made a direct saving
of $800 in operation and maintenance costs during 1952. The pneumatic
tires on the mowers are subjected to musually severe operating condi-
tions, as they are used to cut weeds on the steep wide slopes of the
canals and borrow pit areas, Pnewnatic tires on the weed mowers were
continually being punctured by mesquite thorns, other thornyplants,
debris, nails, and sharp rocks not encountered by other equipment
which normally uses the operating roads exclusively.

The four tractor-mowers used by the project operated during
the entire 1952 season without punctures, This is in contrast with the
operation of these same machines during the 1951 season, during which
the machines averaged one puncture per week, at an approximate cost
for repairs of $800 for the season's operation. The repair cost was
entirely eliminated by the installation of the puncture-proof tubes,
with a resulting increase in operational efficiency which cannot
readily be evaluated directly in money saved,

Puncture=proof tubes were not obtainable for the size tire
originally supplied with the mowers. It was necessary, therefore, to
change the wheels to a size which would permit use of standard auto-
mobile tires. This was accomplished by cutting the rims from the
original tractor wheels and welding on rims from automobile wheels
obtained from an auto wrecking yard at a cost of $1.00 each. It was
discovered that 1942 Plymouth wheels would fit the Model B, Allis—
Chalmers hubs without alterations, Total cost of the change over
was approximately $60 and this included the preparation of two spare
wheels.

Interior - Reclamation - Denver, Colo,

IVAS1


POWER WAGON MOUNTED WEED CUTTER

A simple weed cutter which works very effectively in substa-
tion yards as a means of reducing maintenance costs has been constructed
by the Power O&M crews of the South Platte River District, Region 7.

The device was constructed for attachment to the front bumper of the
truck as shown in the photograph and drawing below,

Construction Details:

The cutter is reported to work very effectively in gravelled
substation yards where the cutter bar is set to cut two or three inches
below the surface. In moving forward the blade slides through the
gravel cutting the weeds below the surface and bulking and freshening
the packed gravel. In backing, the blade drags, pulling out the weeds
and leveling the gravel.

The cutter was built at a cost of $22.95, all of which was
labor, Materials for construction of the device were obtained from the
shop scrap pile. It is estimated that work previously accomplished by
two men in 40 hours, is now done with the cutter in about 5 hours.

The success of the first cutter led to construction of a
second which is now in use, For further details regarding the weed
cutter, contact the Regional Director, Rezion 7, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, Colorado, or Superintendent of Transmission Lines and Substa-
tions, U, S, Bureau of Reclamation, Loveland, Colorado.

ITIA9=-1


MOSS FORK AND TRAPS

An extensive system of open drains which is essential to the

on of 190,000 acres of irrigated land of the Klamath project

er 500 miles in lengtt d is moss and weed infested more

of the la amount of water carried and the flat

curr the drain discharges are evacu-
various er 30 in number, Keeping the drains

a major problem. Several methods of control ave in general use——
ar c sol i ing, and dredgz. The removal of the dislodzec
moss and weeds have floated dowstre2m to the punps or to culverts
an past years been done to quite an extent by hand labor

ively high cost, » due to the use of
syst here gratifying and be~
.

fork was op 1 by a truck
move around to various ditcl
Following the adaptation and suc
it became evident t!

The



TUCUMCARI SPRAY BOOM

The above spray boom is being developed on the Tucumcari
project, Tucumcari, New Mexico, Designed primarily to patrol small
laterals, a cable adjustment tilts the spray bar for operation
against either the inner or outer bank slopes.

Construction Details:

A lever adjustment raises or lowers the boom and it swings
either front or back against the truck in order to pass obstructions.
Mounted on a Dodge Power Wagon, which carries a tank and pump, this
equipment can travel almost anywhere and is calibrated to deliver
100 gallons of spray per mile of travel. While more than one man is
shown in the photograph, the equipment is being perfected for one-
man operation,

TAl2-1


and stand on some of the earliest seedings show a surprisingly uniform
stand of seedling. Johnston sums up the resilts of the seeder in this
way: "The stand is much more uniform than when seed was broadcast by
hand and there is a considerable saving in labor, Now one man is doing
a better seeding job than three men were previously doing. This is ac-
complished by seeding and covering the seed in one operation,"

Calibrations:

Calibrating the seeder to drop enough, but not too much seed,
der until Johnston hit on an idea, The gimmick was a two-
ee can with a hole in the bottom large enough to slide upward
of the wire ends hanging below the seeder. The can was then

t the bottom of the hopper so as to catch all the seed com-
one opening.

was a stic
pound cof.
over 0}
t A

Johnston oper. der over a distence of about 1000
feet, | ffee can over the distance traveled is
weighed and multiplied by the total openings in the drill. Thus it
was possible to calculate the pounds of seed being applied per acre
to the land. When too mch seed was going through an opening the
metal plate was moved so that a smaller opening was used,

Johnston explains that the second seeder mounted on the back

TITAL-3


A BOOM IS USED TO DSFLECT WEEDS INTO 4 WASTEWAY

As shown in the above photograph, a simple floatins boon has
en installed across the Gila Canal at the wasteway immediately up=
strean from the Gila River Siphon to deflect weeds and debris into the

wasteway during chaining operations,

sonstrustion Details:

Short vertical boards on the upstream face of the boom, as

shown in the sketch below, extend below the water surface a nominal

stance to prevent float: material from being drawn under the boom.
Logs may be substituted ¢

the horizontal members of the boom and the
th of the boon varied to fit she given canal or lateral, Although
S a platform fron which to operate, the boom could be
made so by providing a decking,

a

ii

ANU



to make field changes in the seeding methods, For instance, it may
be necessary to require the contractor to compact or loosen the ditch
banks prior to seeding, Secondly, the specifications enable Reclama-
tion to direct the contractor to seed miscellaneous spoil areas that
are created during construction. In other words, if it is determined
during construction that an additional bank will be constructed which
is not anticipated in the original specifications for the canal or
lateral, provisions are made in the contract that require the contrac-
tor to seed this additional area. Flexibility in the contract is also
obtained by requiring the seeding of different species of grasses on
different areas that are seeded, By going over such areas prior to
preparing a specification, it can be determined what grasses are best
adapted to the different soil types and drainage conditions encountered.

A special grass seeder has been developed by the Kansas River
projects staff working in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service.
The seeder, photograph below, premares the seedbed and plants the seed
in one operation. Excellent results have been obtained with its use.

It consists of a native grass seeder and has a tillage width of 8 feet,
and weighs 1,050 pounds.

A érawing, No. 271-701-198, showing the modifications made
to a commercial seeder to adapt it for ditch bank work, and any fur-
ther information relative to the seeding operation can be obtained by
writing to the Projects Manager, Kansas River Projects, Bureau of
Reclamation, P. 0. Box 737, McCook, Nebraska, or the Director, Region
7, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado.

TITA6-4


Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

~ OPERATION AND MAINTENANC

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
RELEASE NO. 8

VE

7

z
LAST COPY - DO NOT REN.

CONTENTS

Tucumeari Boom Spray

Moss Fork and Traps

A Boom is Used to Deflect Weeds into a Wasteway
Off-season Protection of Underground Works
Copper Sulphate Treatment for Algae--Madera Canal

"Equipment For The Prevention,

Control, and Disposal Of Weeds On Irrigation Projects."

Boom-mounted Dise
Chain Drag

“Home-made” Grass-Legume Seeder

3, 8, 16, and 37 were om the subject

of Weed Control Equipment and have been superceded

Seed Searifier

Ditch Bank Seeding

Canal Bank Reshaper and Grass Seeder
Disposal of Waste Oils

Power Wagon Mounted Weed Cutter

Release No. 1 is out of print and will not be

reissued.
by Release No. 97,

Releases No.

Weed Spraying Report Forms
Puncture-proof Tubes on Weed Mowers Reduce O&M Costs


foot, a concentration of 26.6 PPM for 20 minutes is achieved, This
concentration usu2lly results in restoring practically tt full capa-
city of the canal within 24 hours. A treatment usually clears the
entire lined section. However, in some systems it might be neces-
sary to add additional material at 4 to 6 mile intervals to secure
the best results. The chemical is purchased in 20 and 100 pound
bags to facilitate closer measurenent of the material. The fine
erystals dissolve faster than the "nut" or coarse grade, and are
less irritating to skin and eyes of the operator than the powdered
grade, In all, the fine crystals proved most satisfactory from
all angles.

Only one man and a pick-up truck are required for the opera-
tion.

Each of the material bags is opened before the actual appli-
cation begins, assuring no lost time or irregularity in the rate of
application. This method has proven entirely satisfactory and the
most economical of all methods tried,

A schedule of the optimum tim between treatments has been
worked out, based upon curves expressing the relationship between the
discharge through the needle valves, discharging into the canal, and
a gaging station located about a mile downstream from the Dam, These
curves are kept on a daily basis, When the recorder at the gaging
station shows a 4 to 6% rise in the apparent canal flow, and the
valve discharge has not been increased, a treatment is scheduled,
Likewise a daily climb of 2% at the recorder (no increase having
been made at the valves) usually indicates an application of copper
sulphate is needed,

Treatments have been required most frequently during the
warmer summer months. Over the past three years, four or five ap-
plications have sufficed for the months of June, July and August,
with two or three others spread over the spring and fall months,

Concentrations up to 35 PPM have not killed fish in the
canal, However, higher concentrations have been known to do so on
certain species. This is a secondary consideration because no
effort is being made to propagate or protect the fish. Fishing
and hunting are not allowed along the canal right-of-way.

This article was written by Max Wilson, Canal Superinten-

dent, Friant Unit, Operations, UJ. S, Bureau of Reclamation, Friant,
California.

TTA3-1


COPPER SULPHATE TREATMENT
FOR ALGAE — MADERA CANAL

Unretarded growth of algae in lined canals can mterially
affect their carrying capacities, This is especially true during
the hot summer months when the demand for water is the greatest and
any interruption in service may mean costly crop losses, The problem
of algae growth in the Madera Canal is, no doubt, typical of condi-
tions in many other canal systems.

This canal is 36 miles long and has an initial capacity of
1,000 cubic feet per second. Only the first 7.7 miles is lined, and
it is this lined section which is appreciably affected by algae
growth, In past years (this part of the canal was placed in opera—
tion in 1945), before an effective schedule of treatment had been
worked out, the capacity between treatments was occasionally reduced
by as much as 29 percent, It has been determined that the most pre-
valent algae form present was "Ulothrix."

Method of Treatment:

Early methods of treatment consisted of suspending "nut"
size copper sulphate, in burlap bags, in the canal as near the out-
let valves of Friant Dam as possible. These treatments, at seven
to ten day intervals, were frequently insufficient to restore the
full capacity of the canal; and another treatment was required within
two or three days. When the algae growth was far advanced, and the
required dosage was in doubt, as many as 13 or 1, treatments were
made each water season (usually 6 to 8 months long). Later exper-
ience, together with aid from the Bureau of Reclamation's laboratory
in Denver, Colorado, established that two pounds of copper sulphate
to each second foot of flow provided an optimum rate of application.
Lesser amounts frequently proved insufficient, and the treatment had
to be repeated, Heavier applications appeared unnecessary.

Other methods tried included: placing copper sulphate in
solution before applying, the use of chlorinated line, and the appli-
cation of Rosin Amine D, Acetate with a weed spray rig. Satisfactory
control was achieved with these various chemicals but all required
considerable time and labor to get these materials in solution.

The present method of application is to "slug" the canal
with fine crystals of copper sulphate, dumped directly into the
stilling basin at the head of the canal. The fine crystals dissolve
rapidly and the turbulent action in the stilling basin assures satis—
factory diffusion throughout the entire cross-section, The material
is dumped at as uniform a rate as possible over a 15 minute period,
Allowing an additional 5 minutes for total dissolution, the entire
treatment covers a 20 minute period, Using 2 pounds per second

IIA}-1


WEED SPRAYING REPORT FORMS

A practical form for maintaining records of ditchbank weed
control, suggested by personnel of Region 5, U. S. Bureau of Reclama-
tion, is given below.

N=512

Naze Ditch

Date - ~~ None : Hrs. : Rate : Amount

Ditch Miles Spray Used
“TerBaRe: Rt. Bak; Channel a OTL (Gal jre,5-D (LB) :PeP(qts) X-100( Pte):

?
n

(Cost)

Total cost =e ee

Station (Start) (Bnd)
Name 2 Hrs, : Rate : Amount

Name Ditch -
Date ----

Miles Traveled Ditch Miles
a r TRE a

co pean ane.

7 :

tart

Ditch Miles
EoBok.; Rt.Bok.: 3

IVA7-1


Angle inor clips
bolted to bumper

2}" Pipe---

“Set screw for adjusting

Power wagon bumper-- depth of cut

---2'Pipe with i$" pipe
inside for reinforcement -~.

_of'ta" Bolt with cotter pin

5 Ft long used grader
blade, shorpened~

Pipe

IF Pipe.

2°42" }" Angie iron

F'Bolt welded to 1}" pipe~ rea
Andie Bante all ED
existing nolee nyt fStop ten

in bumper. ’
eh wee

“s-2f" Pipe 10" long

POWER-WAGON MOUNTED WEED CUTTER

ITIAS-2



most successful method, termed a "moss trap," consists of two 30-foot
power or telephone poles or large timbers placed parallel to each
other and three 4 by 12—inch tinbers bolted crosswise, one at each
end and the third in the middle, thus forming two stilling ponds,

The length of the 4 by 12-inch cross tinbers depends on the width of
the ditch, These traps are placed in the ditch at points readily
accessible to the truck crane and are held in place by cables.

As the moss and weeds are torn loose by chaining and float down-

stream, they lodge azainst the upstream cross tinber of the trap. Some of
the floating material is forced under and lodges against the middle cross
tinber, Very little moss is found in the second stilling pond of the trap.

The blanket of moss lodged against the trap has been a quarter of a mile
long without seriously impeding the flow of water, When sufficient moss
has been ponded, the truck crane removes it with the moss fork, These
traps are left in place throug! t the year.

+ from the use of the moss fork
d bo be about 10,000 man-horws of un=
operator md oiler, being required
cost of the moss fork purchased in
The estimated cost for construction of each moss trap
» elve of these traps were placed in operation in 1952,
each one more t g for itself in savings of man power during the
first irrigatio

condensed
This material is a/reprint of an article by E, C, Cakin,
Agriculturist, Xlanath Project, as published in the June, 1953, issue
of Reclamation Zra.

IB5-2


DITCH BANK SEEDING

The best method of controlling weeds on irrigation systems is
to plant desirable adapted grasses. Experience under the climatic con-
ditions in Region 7 shows that four to five years after planting the
grasses, weed control expenditures hit rock bottom. During the four to
five year period that the grasses are becoming established, they must
compete with weeds for nutrients, water and light. Spraying with 2-4D
during that time eliminates most of the weeds and encourages more rapid
development of the grasses, Studies of grass stands previously estab-
lished have shown that for every one dollar invested in seeding grasses,
about $2.50 is saved in O&M costs,

What does it cost to establish a new stand of grass on a ditch
bank? In 1952, cost records were kept in planting work done on the
Frenchman-Cambridge and Bostwick Divisions, Missouri River Basin project.
The costs ran from $6.60 to $13.76 per acre, depending upon conditions
encountered and method of seeding used. In the same Divisions, weeds
were sprayed with 2-4D using ground rigs, at costs ranging from 33,23
to $4.95 per acre. Mowing costs averaged about 32.45 per acre. How
ever, mowing had to be accomplished two or three times during the
season to give results comparable to those obtained with one 2-/,D
spraying. Isn't the comparatively high initial investment in seeding
worth the chips . . . even if for no other reason than eliminating the
recurrent need for annual spraying and mowing?

IIIA6-1


The framework on the tractor and the bank reshaper were shop
constructed and the grass drill was purchased commercially, Additional
information regarding the work done in this area may be obtained from
the Project Manager, Tucumcari Project, Tucumcari, New Mexico, or the
Regional Director, Region 5, Amarillo, Texas,

ITIA7-3


INTRODUCTION

This release of the Oreration and Maintenance Equipment and
Procedures Bulletin, like Release No. 3, issued March-April 1953, is
being devoted exclusively to the description and illustration of "shop-
built" equipment for combating undesirable weeds on irrigation systems
and irrigation project lands, and information pertinent to the equipment
and materials used,

In Release No. 3, of the Bulletin, the intention to print and
distribute additional information on weed control equipment was mention-
ed. Accordingly, the earlier issue of the Bulletin was punched for bind-
ing in a standard 3-ring binder and divided by subject matter into
sections, with the pages numbered correspondingly. This issue is being
prepared in the same manner for your convenience in incorporating the
material from this present release with that in Release No. 3. You will
also note that a new index has been provided,

Our thanks to the many contributors of information for this
and other releases of the Bulletin. In many instances, it has not been
possible to give credit for the design and construction of equipment to
an individual. Photographs, except as noted, have been taken by Bureau
of Reclamation photographers.

As in previous Bulletins, reference to a trade name does not
constitute an endorsement of that product, and omission of any particu-
lar commercially available item does not imply discrimination against
any manufacturer. Frequently, mention is made of specific articles
which are used as integral parts of the equipment. When necessary to
express a point or to indicate which parts have been used in a particu-
lar instance, the name of the manufacturer has been given. Undoubtedly,
other products would serve as efficiently as those which have been desig-
nated. It is hoped that labor saving or less costly equipment developed
by the resourceful water users and Bureau personnel will be a step toward
commercial development of equipment for use on irrigation projects in con-
tinued effort to reduce costs and increase operating efficiency.

The interest shown in weed control information has resulted in
a much larger required distribution of Bulletins devoted to this subject
than that of the regular issues of the Bulletin. For this reason, some
information that has appeared in previous Bulletins is being repeated
herein,

For the benefit of those that did not receive the earlier re-
lease on weed control, a few copies are available. If you are interested
in receiving the earlier release or additional information that may be
published on the subject, please fill in the blank on the next page and
forward it to the nearest Bureau of Reclamation office. These offices are
as follows:



brush in the low spots as well as on the high spots, This meant the
machine could not be rigid in construction. Finally the machine
would have to be durable enoush to stand the constant grinding of
the rocks, be relatively free of breakdown and constant repair. In
short, "the machine used in removing brush, must met the require-
ments as to sturdiness and economy of operntion. The equipment must
be suited to handle the plants to be removed and the terrain over
which the work is to be done."

Many hundreds of acres of range and pasture lands are
presently being dragged for brush clearing and seeding to adapted
grasses and legumes. Clearing with chain drag is going forward on
such ranches as Kaalualu and Kapapala in Kau; McCandless and
Puuwaawaa in Kona; Kahua in Hohala.

Ranchers point out that the development of the chain drag
has permitted brush clearinz and control on rough rocky lands that
could not otherwise have been treated and as a result they have been
able to establish many high producing pastures. The success of the
brush clearing or control is sonewhat dependent upon the kind of
brush being treated and season when work is done, On puakeawe and
alii there are reports where 90% kill have been made with once over.
On Lantana 50% and on guava 30% kills. On lantana and guava dragging
in two directions gave the hizhest percentage of kill.

In suming up, the "Johnston Chain Drag" has:
1. Provided a relatively simple and inexpensive

machine with a low original and maintenance
cost.

»w

. Permitted brush control and seedbed prepara-
tion in roush rocky areas not otherwise pos—
sible with other equipment.

3, Left trash and debris on the surface soil
for erosion control.

4. Low cost per acre of brush control, As low
as $3.50 per acre double chainins operation.

5, Simplified livestock nanagenent and handling
by removing high brush in rough rocky areas.

Construction Details:
Brush control work in the Territory shows the chain drag

really has contributed to the range improvement program of many
ranchers, and has often been referred to as the "Johnston Shain

ITIA3-2


"HOME-MADE" GRASS-LEGUME SEEDER

A "home-made," low-cost grass—legume seeder for use on brush-
cleared rangelands, has been devised by Allan P, Johnston, manager of
the Kapapala Ranch, Hawaii. Johnston, chairman of the Kau Soil Conser-
vation District, worked out the seeder after years of wrestling with
range seeding problems. The seeder has real promise because it can be
built at low cost and keeps planting costs down, The first seeder
worked so well that Johnston has since made a second one. The second
one was built in much less time and at considerably less cost. He
estimates that the total cost now is about $25.00, including both labor
and materials.

Construction Di tails:

The first seeder was mounted on 4 by 4 inch timbers on the
back of a D-8 caterpillar tractor at about the same height above the
ground as the driver's seat. The seeder is well suspended about 5
feet above the ground, well away from the rocks, brush and rough ter-
rain that so often wrecks the conventional drill. The seeder is
relatively free from repairs and after a month's operation no repairs
were necessary. A few slight improvements were mde as the original
model was put to test,

The seeder box, or hopper, is constructed very much after the
pattern of a seeder box on most conventional drills, The box is about
12 feet long and about 12 inches deep. The top of the box is 12 inches
wide and tapers at the bottom to about 4, inches wide, The box was con-
structed of unplaned lumber one inch thick,

ITIAA-1


PREVENTIVE WEED CONTROL:

Weed-seed Screens, Cattle Guards, Grass Seeders, etc.:
Cattle Guards... - se ee te eee
Seed Scarifier «+e eee rere
Chain Drag 2+ ees eee eee
"Home-made" Grass-Legune Seeder .
Seed Scarifier «++ eee eee
Ditch Bank Seeding . +++ +s
Canal Bank Reshaper and Grass Seeder
Disposal of Waste Oils «2 ++ + +s
Power Wagon Mounted Weed Cutter .. «

.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS RSLATING TO WEED CONTROL:

Application Problems, Size of Sprayers, ete.:
Method of Determining Spray Droplet Patterns
Slide Rules for Computing ‘eed Problems...
Short Guts to Weed-killing Calculations . . -
Output of Spray Rigs for 2, 4-D Ditchbank Spraying
A Method for the Testing and Comparison of Brodjet

Sprayers «eee ee eee ee ee ee
Turbidimeter for Sstimting Concentration of

Benochlor #0. ss. e ee ee errr errr nee
Weed Spraying Report Forms «4 + + ese ts ee te
Puncture-proof Tubes on ‘eed Mowers Reduce O&f Costs

ii

Page

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CANAL BANK RESHAPER AND GRASS SEEDER

A good cover of low growing grasses along irrigation canal
banks and rights-of-way was effective in reducing the annual opera-
tion and maintenance charge by reducing weed growth and canal bank
erosion on the Tucumcari project, New Mexico. Prior to seeding the
low growing grasses on established canal banks, it is generally neces—
sary to reshape the ditch banks by filling in erosion cuts, and remov~
ing most of the weed vegetation. In order to accomplish this phase
of the operation a crawler-type tractor was equipped with a special
blade as shown in the photographs below,

TIIA7=1


CONTENTS

(The contents of these pages supersede and supplement page "i"

of Operation and Maintenance Equipment and Procedures Release

No. 3, but do not remove the "Introduction" show on page 1 of
that release. Pages marked with an asterisk (*) will be found
in Release No. 3 and are not included with this release.)

DITCHBANK WEED CONTROL:

Application of Chemicals, Burning, Mowing, etc.:
Power Weed Sprayer... .. eee sees
Truck-mounted Need Sprayer... ..,
Hydraulic Spray Boom, 2... ee ee
Jeep-mourted Sprayer eee eww rae
Truck-mounted Need Sprayer—burner . .
Amphibious Spray~burner .......

Trailer-mounted Weed Sprayereburner .

Portable Sprayer. ....-.004.
Propane Hand Sprayer. .....,
Compressed~air Need Sprayer ...
Belle Fourche Weed Sprayer... ,
Tucumcari Spray Boom... ....

Trapping or Removing Needs and Debris:
Wire Weed Trap. wee ete ee te ee
Weed Trap we ee ee eee ee eee
Mechanical Weed Fork... ees eeu

Scraper for Cleaning ‘leeds and Sediment from Dite!

Moss Fork and Traps ....-0050 ees seer
A Boom is Used to Deflect Weeds into a Wasteway
Off-season Protection of Underground Works . ..

CHANNEL WEED CONTROL:
Application of Chemicals:

Aromatic Solvent Mixer. . 4... ee eee ae
Pump and Engine for Introducing Aromatic Solvent

he

Copper Sulphate Treatment for Algae~—Madera Canal

Chaining or Discing to Control “later Weeds:
Chaining Carb 2. wee ee re ee
Side-arm Boom and Drag. ....,
Water-propelled Scraper ....,
Channel Groover... eee ee eee
Hand Water-weed Cutter for Small Laterals
Boom-mounted Disc 2. ....+ 4-005

rs

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TIB6


DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS

The mobile oil spray unit shown above has been developed by
the Shasta Division of the Central Valley project and is used effec-
tively for the disposal of waste oils.

Construction |

Normally waste cils are disposed of in a dump, but by use of
the mobile oil sprayer, 400 gallons of oil may be disposed of at one
time. On the Central Valley project the oil is used along the shoulders
of roads for weed and erosion control or in areas where dust may be a
problem. The oil tank and gasoline-driven pump are mounted on an ordi-
nary trailer which may be pulled by a pick-up truck. If more detail
is desired on the unit, contact the Regional Director, Bureau of
Reclamation, Sacramento, California.

IITAS-1


WI ISI III

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BOOM-MOUNTED DISC

Operated by the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, Newlands
project, Nevada, the unit above has been very successful in controlling
water weeds in large canals.

Construction Details:

A Hyster boom is mounted on the back of a D-7 Caterpillar
tractor, Two rows of heavy discs, 18 inches in diameter, are attached
in tandem to the boom by adjustable cables. The cables are controlled
from the power take-off and can be adjusted to lengthen or shorten the
distance between the boom and the discs, or to control the direction
of the discs, The discs also can be raised over drops or other obstruc—
tions by manipulating the cables and boom.

TIB6-1


Drag." The drag is made from old battleship anchor chain. Each link
in the chain weighs 80 pounds. The chain drag constructed for use
behind the large crawler-type tractors has a total of 180 links. The
links are arranged in three loops behind an "I" beam 14 inches wide,

6 inches high and 12 feet long. The first or outside loop has 60
links, the inner loop 50 and the center loop 540. The hitch contains
30 links. The ends of the chain loops are secured to the bottom of the
"I" beam by "U" clamps. In operation the "I" beam rides on top of the
chains, They serve as skids under the beam. The hitch, 30 links, is
actually a continuation of the center loop. Keeping the hitch near
the center of the "I" beam permits the beam to pivot or swing when the
ends are caught by trees, heavy brush, boulders, etc.

A chain drag, as described above, weighs approximately 73
tons. The 180 links weigh 14,400 pounds and the "I" beam approxinate-
ly 809 pounds.

Materials for the original drag cost about 3472 for all
items, The battleship anchor chain was purchased as scrap metal at
$60 per ton, including freight from Honolulu. The "I" beam cost
about $30. Another 315 was needed for "U" clamps.

Lighter chain drags, made from battleship anchor chains,
have been made for use on the smaller crawler type tractors. Some
drags instead of being constructed with 180 links have 150 links.
Other versions of the drag have only two instead of three chain loops
behind the "I" beam, Thus, the weight of the chain drag is varied
for use behind a particular size crawler tractor. In fact ranchers
"taller make" the chain drag to their choosing.

Material for this article was supplied by Allan P. Johnston,
Manager of Kapapala Ranch, Hawaii.

IIIA3-3