The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1916-03-03
SOIL AND SOIL FERTILITY.
No. q. Farm Drainage.
BY De F. Hungerford, Assistant Ag
economist, University of Arkansas

economist, University of Arkansas
The question of retaining the
swampy lands of this state has been
occupying the attention of lawmakers,
farmers and business men for many
years. Several important drainage
districts have been organized and pro
posed which, when completed, will
change hundreds of square miles of
land that is now unproductive into
the most productive land in the
South. These are we'll known facts
and no one attempts to belittle or
deny the value of such reclamation
projects in increasing the states re
sources. II is not SO we'll known,
however, that the yield on thousands
OF acres of land that is now being
farmed could be greatly increased by
adequate drainage Almost every
/ farm has some land that is too wet
for the highest crop production. Too
much water is as injurious to crops
as not enough. Many farmers realize
that parts OF their farm do not pro
duce az much as would be expected,
/ but they fail to recognize that the
trouble may be due to poor drainage.
How Drainage Benefits the Soil.
Drainage enables the plant roots 10
penetrate into the soil The plant
roots Will not penetrate soil that is
saturated with water, so if the sub
soil is too wet all the plant food that
i il contains is unavailable. When
crops are planted on poorly drained
4 land the root systems are shallow.
When drought comes the surface
4 In Well=drained soil on the other
hand the roots go down deeper into
lie sub=soil which dries out more
slowly and the crop is able 10 resist
temporary drought
\ Well drained soil warns up quick
er in the spring because the heat
from the sun is not used up in evapo-
rating surplus water. Crops can
therefore be planted sooner which is
an important point ia a region OF
summer droHghts Where land is
we'll drained il is possible 10 cultivate
quickly after every rain thereby de
stroring weeds while they are young
The physical condition of soils is
much improved by drainage. This Is
due parity TO the fact that the surface
dries out rapidly thus promoting gran
ulation and partly TO the deep roofing
and more abundant growth of plants
j Drainage induces better aeration be-
4
the subsoil air is drawn down to take
its place The air thus drawn into
the soil nelps make plant food availa-
Bile. promotes the growth of beneficial
bacteria, assists in the formation OF
humus and destroys toxic substances
or posons that may exist there
Drainage With Open bitches.
Open bitches provide the best means
Of drainage where large volumes II
water are to be taken care of as in
the reclamation Of large swampy
areas They can also be used to adj
vantage when it is necessary to pro
vide an outlet for water in a small
depression Open bitches can be con
structed more cheaply than under
ground drainage systems, but are less
permanen; and must be frequently re
paired They ere unsightly occupy
land that could otherwise be used for
growing crops and as usually con.
struoted. provide place for weeds.
When II is necessary 10 use open
bitches for financial and other rea
sons. they should be constructed with
wide slopng banks gotten into SOD
so they can be moved for hay and to
keep down the weeds good form
Of open ditch i. the dead furrow
This Is adapted to land that is nearly
fat. The field is plowed in narrow
beds with deep dead" furrow be
tween the higher intervening spaces
Tile Drainage.
The drainage of farm land can N
obtained most efficiently and perma
nently by means of tile laid under
ground Two kinds of tile are in usc
clay and concrete. Clay tile is useC
more extensively, oeing usually
cheaper and more easny handled
Concrete tile is satisfactory. however
ii il can be obtained as cheaply Fo
making concrete tile rich proportion
of cement and good sand should D
used and they should be mixed as We
as is practicable The proper dept
for LAYING the tile varies with the ter
ture of the soil and the distance ia
lines are apart The depth usual
varies from TWO to two and haI
feet. being laid shallow ia clay soil