The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-08-02
TO CONTROL MOISTURE
Packing Brings Supply Of Water
From Below.
Stirring the Surface Leaves a Mulch
and Checks poratlon-Harrow
May Be Used After the ordl-
nary Land Roller.

To properly understand the effect
of any implement on the moisture
content of the soil It is necessary
that we understand the way water
acts. The kind of soil water which is of
most Importance to a farmer is what
Is sometimes called capillary water.
This capillary water is what is COM
ing up from lower levels in the soil
all the time to the surface. The ac-
ton of this water is seen when dry
sand or earth is put In a small basin
OF water so that the soil is away
above the vessel containing It, II
there is enough water in the basin 1t
would saturate the soil to the very
top, much in the same way as
sponge would absorb the water, or a
lamp wick acts in conveying the oil
from the bowl of the lamp to the end
that is lighted. The finer the soil
particles are the more water they
will retain and hold as a Aim around
these particles. This is moisture
which the plants growing in such
soil may use The harder the soil is
packed the more readily this capil-
larry water comes to the surface. The
looser this soil is the slower it comes
This will explain why 1t is necessary
then to use the packer or heavy roll
er to secure this firmness of soil in or
der to bring the capillary water free
ly to the point of contact with the
roots of the plants. Supposing the
soil is packed and left smooth on the
surface as the ordinary land roller
leaves it, then the capillary water
would come right to the surface and
the wind would lick it up with the
heat and away it would go In the
air. Any system of cultivation that
will prevent this will cut off the chin
neys, so to speak, from coming right
to the surface so that they discharge
the moisture in the loose soil below
the surface where the plant roots are.
Hence 1t is that in a cultivated hoe
crop, even in the driest time, one can
with the use of his boot uncover the
moist soil. Often when walking and
looking back at ones foot prints the
moisture shows at the surface of the
packed soil even when the loose sur
face soil Is apparently dry. AS the
ordinary land packer would not leave
the surface as smooth as the round
roller, and it wouldn't have the same
effect in encouraging the evaporation
of the capillary water 1t shouldn't
be forgotten, however, that harrow
may be used after the ordinary land
roller, and 1t will break up this waste
of soil moisture by restoring the dust
blanket. 1t should not be overlooked
either that In bare following the land
the surface soil becomes very finely
divided into soil particles to some
depth, say eight or nine inches, and
this becomes a reservoir for the reten
ton of capillary water for the crops
which follow. The more and the finer
this soil is worked the more water II
will hold and the surer one is of a
crop in dry climate or in a dry sea
son.
In a test made some years ago by
Prof. F. H. King, the surface Of the
soil was cultivated frequently to 6
depth Of three inches during a period
of forty-nine days while an adjacent
strip was untouched Both pieces
were kept free from weeds or othel
vegetation. During the whole time
the average daily loss of water was
14.4S tons per acre from the cult
waited ground and 17.6 tons on the un
cultivated land. This was differenc,
of 1929 tons of water per acre in sew
en- weeks in favor of the cultivated
land. If a man should attempt to hau
this amount of water on to the lant
with teams he would have a stupen
Dus undertaking, and yet the actua
difference in loss of water must haV,