The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1909-08-18
MOISTURE in LAND
Retained by Layer of Loose Soil
by Diminishing Evaporation.
This Mulch, If Maintained Throughout
the Season, by Proper Cultivation
Will Prove More Beneficial Than
Straw to Conserve Water.

II the soil reservoir has been well
prepared and rains have filled it with
capillary water, tillage should be d.
rected to reducing the loss of water
by evaporation to the lowest possible
point. The water that passes through
the plants themselves is of benefit to
the crops; that evaporating directly
from the soil is wholly lost. In spite
of all that can be done there will be
losses from the soil in drying weather,
but these may be materially reduced.
A loose soil with large pores has
low capillary power and will absorb
but little water from moist soil in
contact with it; therefore layer of
such soil covering the moist soil reser-
voir will conserve the water in the
latter by diminishing direct evapora-
ton from 1t. 1t is well established
by the experience of farmers as well
as by direct experiments that layer
of loose dry soil three or four inches
deep is effective in preventing the ex-
cessive drying of soils. If this mulch
be maintained through the season by
proper cultivation, it is more bene-
fetal than a straw mulch. In the
course of a long dry period it has
been found to conserve the moisture
as well as the straw mulch, and there
are several disadvantages with the
latter. If put on early, the straw
mulch keeps the surface soil wet in
the spring and earRy summer. This
makes the soil cold, excludes the air
and causes plants to root near the
surface. When this surface soil dries
out, these roots cannot supply water
and the crop suffers. The soil mulch
and the cultivation to produce 1t
cause the plants to root deeply, the
aeration of the soil is improved. ans
in all respects the effects of the dust
mulch are good. To be most effective
the surface tillage must be kept up.
The soil must be cultivated after each
rain of sufficient amount to puddle
the surface-that is, cause it to run
together and form crust on drying.
Experience has shown that the
rapid and complete drying of the sur
face which ensues in some portions
of the semi-arid region forms a mulch
which serves to reduce evaporation
from the deeper soil. In some cases
II has been claimed to be as effective
as that produced by tillage, but it is
less certain and should not be relied
on. Therefore in dry farming in the
west, as well as in farming under
humid conditions, tillage to produce
and maintain a dust mulch should be
the universal practice. In dry time
1t will pay to run small tooth cult
vator through the corn. although 1t be
later in the season than corn is usual
ly cultivated and the plants are so
tall that the double cultivator cannot
be used. II the soil has been kept
loose on top of the plants will have
rooted below the dust mulch and the
late culture of the surface will not in
lure them. 1t will aid in retaining
moisture. will facilitate the aeration
of the soil, and increase the activities
of desirable micro-organisms.
It is usual to speak of n dust
mulch" but the better mulch has a
granular structure and is not COM
posed of dust. In open countries the
dust would blow of. to the detriment
of the soil, and dust surface would
not absorb the rainfall so steadily as
that composed of very small Jumps of
soil