The silver messenger., 1911-01-17
CRUST UNDER MULCH
Difficult to Prevent Formation
Under Dry Conditions.
Hard Layer Can Be Rendered Partially
Harmless by Right Kind Of Plow-
ina and Soil Treatment Two
Factors.

Farmers in dry land regions have
become familiar with the TACT that
crust often forms beneath the soil
mulch. It is very difficult to prevent
this formation II the dry period lasts
tor any considerable time. 1t also
causes a great deal of trouble In that 1t
does not permit Of the growth OF
plants. The subsoil becomes so hard
that 1t is almost impossible for the
roots to penetrate it. writes II. F. Pat
terson in Farmers Tribune. This |
mulch does not form upon land that
Is summer fallowed, but upon the
land that is growing crop. The top |
Inch of the soil begins to dry first,
then the second, and the third, and
then the crust begins to form under
meath and each succeeding day 1t be-
comes thicker. II there Is no crop
upon the land this hard layer can be
easily removed, but 1t Is impossible
to break up the crust without destroy
Ing the crop.
However, this hard layer can be
rendered partially harmless by the
right kind OF plowing and soil treat
ment. The formation of this hard pan
depends upon two factors. first, the
drought above and the moisture condi-
tons below. The moisture In the dry
land soils falls upon the surface and
is carried to the lower soils by grav-
lty. Upon very dry soils this moisture
does not go to any considerable depth
because there Is not a sufficient guam
tity to thoroughly saturate all of the
soil particles. For this reason We Of
tentimes find a dry layer of soil be-
meath the moist strata. By keeping a
dust mulch on the surface We are able
to prevent the rapid evaporation OF
this moisture. Some people state that
after the moisture has gone down to
considerable depth 1t is with diff
Guilty that the plants obtain the use
of it. However, 1t can be made use of
by the action of capillary and by
proper methods of soil management.
This soil moisture does not rise to
the surface at a very rapid rate and
If the best results are to be obtained
we must plant crops that go down
after the moisture or handle the soil
in such a way that the moisture is
brought to the surface. 1t has been
advised that good results will be OBJ
tanned by plowing deeply, not only sla
or seven, but eight or nine and ten OF
twelve inches. If we were to plOw
six or seven inches deep and ther
were to keep a three-inch mulch Oyel
this surface, and then if a two-inct
crust was formed we should have bu
little space left in which the roots
could develop. Land handled in thi.
way cannot produce profitable crop
1t is sure to dry out before the season
is over. On the other hand, if WI
plow from 10 to ~ inches deep W.
shall have at least six inches of th'
Boil left for the crop before we COM
to the hard layer or the subsurfac
soil.
Rolling the soil increases the cor
ductivity, but reduces the moistur
holding capacity of the land for waite
and promotes the formation OF a'crus
In heavy clay or gumbo soils. How
ever, those heavy compact soils Or
out very slowly and it sometimes r.
quires five or six months for the so
to dry out to depth of six or seve
inches. Therefore, if we have plowe
our land 10 or u inches deep the root
can obtain sufficient moisture frol
the lower part CT the plowed are;
Sandy soils that have been mad
more compact will also be able
hold larger amounts of water tha
II they are allowed to remain ope
and porous. 1t is true that deep ploy
Ing Is very unpopular with the farm
' ers in the west, especially is this tru
of the farmers who have not lived
an arid region for any considerabl
length of time. Fair results are ofte
obtained by shallow plowing durin
wet seasons for the reason that
:, there is sufficien rainfall to soak tt
subsoil the roots of the crop do NJ
n stop at the bottom of the same, but E
k down into the moist solid soil unde
meath; but even in a wet year lii
the past, in the semi-arid regions
the northwest, deep plowing alway
v pays. Farmers who have lived in tn
4 region for a number of years a.
heartily in favor of this method
soil management. In fact, unle
. deep blowing and subsequent sc
! tillage is practised 1t will be with d
/ ticulty that the farmers will succee