The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1916-02-23
Diyersification OF Crop Rotation.

Diversifieation OF Crop Rotation.
We hear a great deal nowadays
about crop rotation, according to the
Cyclopedis Of American Agriculture,
is "a recurring succession OF plants
covering regular period OF years and
maintained on alternations fields Oh
the farm" Crop rotation can best be
explained by giving good rotation
for this section of the country. lst
year cotton followed by bur clover or
abruzzia rye; 2nd year corn with COW
peas or velvet beans which should be
cut up with cutter-a-way harrow aud
turned in the fall: 3rd year small grain
followed by cow peas the next Spring.
Cut what vines you need for hay pur-
poses, and what you do not need ,urn
under TO add the much needed humus
to the SOIL The end OF the 3rd year or
before you plant cotton again, Is a very
good time to DO your deep fall plowing.
Plow deep in the fall, and SOW either,
but clover or rye on the land to act as
your plant food preserver which is
very necessary. 10 the spring you may
cut up the clover or rye with disc and
plow under as green manuriug crop.
This will aid you greatly 10 making
your cotton the following summer.
AS word of explanation will men-
tion in passing the origin OF Crop Ro-
ta.ion The system of farming which
was originally followed was to grow q
crop on a piece of land continuously un-
~ tba x-;oIde Iooraoca9 ho1ou, he y,oipr
where production was profitable. Then
the land was allowed to rest or 10 go
back to state OF nature, growing up
in weeds, bushes ETC., while new
piece was cleared and worked the
same way. II the old field was cleared
after few years, its original fertility
was restored for reasons which we all
know.
Then came the period OF the resting
the land for single season which l
need not discuss at this time. But land
is now too valuable, we cannot afford
to practice either one of these meth
DDS, but the only solution 70 the prob
lem is tc practice diversi6cation, or
crop rotation, which will beyond a
single doubt, will keep our lands up to
a high state OF cultivation if properly
managed. Sad to say that most OF the
lands IN this county are very deficient
in humus. due largely to the fact that
the farmers have not practiced the
proper crop rotation, which they Soon-
er or later will have TO come TOO. And
| know of no better time to start than
right now. You cannot start too early.
Within the next few years we are 90
ing TO have TO depend on some other
crop other than Gotten for our money
crop, and unless we have our lands in
better state of cultivation than most
of them are. we are going to have q
pretty hard row TO hoe. Now you
might as we'll begin to prepare for the
boil weevil, which will discuss later.
because it is now only question OF
time with him, and the only salvation
for the farmer, and the merchant as
well, is start DOW 10 Encourage diversl-
fcdtioD.
l will now mention few Of the al
vantages of a crop rotation. A rota
tion OF crops improves the physical
condition of the soil, helps to conserve
moisture and vegetable matter 10 the
soil, lessons the damage from insects
ard plant diseases, aids in the control
of weeds. increases crop yields, dis
tributes The necessary labor OF crop
production, and helps to systematize
farm operations. I would discuss each
one OF these nine advantages seperate-
", but IL would require too lengthy
discussion, but will be glad to answer
any questions concerning the m, it
there be any.
Rotations do not conserve fertility.
Many people hold that rotations COO
serve soil fertility. While crop vie 'ds
will decrease much more slowly where
several crops are grown 10 rotation
than where any one is grown contin-
ously, crop rotation is just as sure TO
exhaust the supply of available fertil-
ity eventually, if no fertilizers are used
as the, single cropping system. The
various crop plants all require the
same elements Of plant food, tao' some
draw more heavily on one and some on
another. The three which are most
largely used and which are most like
~ to become depleted are nitrogen,
PHOSPHORUS, and potassium. The leg.
umes take the nitrogen from the air
and store it in the soil in form avail
able for other plants, so if the legum-
inouS crop is grown as Often as say
even once in three years there is little
danger OF the exhaustion OF this ele-
ment, but rssure's supply OF potassium
and phosphorus must eventually be
supplemented.
Live stock farming aids 10 conserv-
iug these elements, for live stock pro-
ducts remove much less of them than
grains. hay, cotton, and tobacco II
the manure is properly handled and re.
turned to the land, the exhaustion OF
the land will be very slow indeed, but
it will be constantly taking place. The
products which are sold will remove
some of the potassium and phosphorus,
while there vii! be considerable loss
due to teaching of the manure. Some
potassium and phosphorus should oc-
caSiopally be added from outside
sources IN order to maintain or in
crease the soil fertility.
In conclusion will mention the es-
sentials of a good rotation: An inter
titled crop, crop for cash returns, a
crop for feeding to live stock. and a
crop to increase the supply OF yegeta
BILE matter in the soil and also 10 add
nitrogen TO the soil. Two or more OF
these essentials may be embraced 10 a
single crop. Thus clover may be used
for live stock or it may be used for
adding humus and nitrogen to the soil.
Corn is cultivated crop, and may be
used either as cash crop or one for
feeding TO live stock
T. II. Clark,
County Agent.
T. s. Dent. of A oriculture.