The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-12-29

Economical Distribution of Water
at ones disposal and use it in way
which will not be detrimental to the
soil and in a way to result in the
greatest returns to those concerned.
This question is one of prime import
ance to the farmers in this arid region
and too much stress cannot be laid
upon it.
Situated as we are in a section
where the rain and snowfall is very
low, we are dependent almost abso-
lutely upon irrigation water to in
crease our agricultural possibilities.
The farming lands are almost unlim-
tied within the borders of our states,
but there is decided limit to the wa
ter supply The question then, is not
how much land have we? but how
much water have we at our disposal?
The State of Utah represents an
area of over $1,000 square miles, of
which only 1900 square miles are cul-
tivated and less than 1000 square
miles or slightly under LIS per cent
of the total are actually irrigated.
Idaho is in a similar condition.)
What we need then most of all is a
distribution of the water in such a
way that the greatest possible returns
can be obtained. The problem is not
difficult of solution if we will only
apply ourselves to a study of condi-
tons as we find them and to the in
formation available. In the short
time at my disposal I hope to open
up a line of thought which will help
some of you in your work; for, after
all, each of your individual problems
must be solved by yourselves.
The amount of plant growth is de-
pendent in a decided measure upon
the amount of moisture, within GER
tain limits, in the soil. The supplying
and maintaining of this moisture in an
amount which will bring the greatest
returns, then, our problem.
The water found in soils is of three
kinds:
LIST. Free water or the water found
between the soil particles of sat
urated soil.
I'd. Capillary water or that which
is held in a thin film around each of
the soil particles of a moist but not
saturated soil. This is the water used
by the plant in its growth.
Sd. Microscopic water which is the
water held by the soil but which, in
all probability is not used by the
plant.
Only aqueous or water plants can
grow in a soil containing free water
Hence our problem is confined to the
regulation of the capillary water only,
and to the conditions which govern
plant growth.
There are three ways by which soil
moisture can escape:
1st. By sinking into deep soils out
of reach of the plant roots, and es-
Gaping by under drainage.
I'd. By evaporating from the sur
face.
Sd. By passing through the plant
itself in process known as transpira
ton.
Each of these losses can be govern
ed to certain extent The first by
making lighter applications of water
at each irrigation. The second, or
surface evaporation, can be checked
by cultivating the surface sufficient
to form a dust mulch, thus closing
up the openings of the capillary tubes
which form when the surface soil be-
gins to dry out. And the third or
Transportation can be checked by the
addition of soil fertility or by ordinary
cultivation. Thus, the last two can
be governed by the simple operation
of stirring the surface after an irri-
CATION.
The thought is prevalent among far
mers that certain amount of water
must be used by plant in order to
produce a certain weight of dry mat
ter AS early as 1899 Woodward
found that il required less water to