The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-06-09
FLOWING STUMBLE SOIL
Moisture Is Considered a Most
Important Factor.
Deduction OF Experiments Conducted
at Akron (Colo.) Field Station Are
Useful Throughout Entire
Great Plains Area.


crops, such as wheat, oats and corn in
the great plains area, from spring and
from fall blowing, show that the blind
following of rule prescribing any par.
ticular time of blowing might cause a
reduction as often as it does an in
crease in the yields. The great varia-
ton in the time and amount of precipi-
tation in this region must be con-
stantly kept in mind when considering
the time of blowing. No dependence
can be placed on heavy precipitation
In August and September yet 1t fire.
quently occurs. AS moisture is con-
sidered the most important factor in
area, its conservation is the primary
object in cultivation.
Stubble, weeds and uneven ground
are common means of retaining snow
and holding large part of the winter
precipitation. In deciding when
field should be plowed. the question of
whether a greater amount OF moisture
will be accumulated by holding the
snow that falls than will be dissipated
by the growth of weeds is paramount.
1t must be decided by the man on the
ground. In answering this question
several factors must be considered.
namely, the amount of moisture al
ready in the soil that may be lost
through weed growth, the probable
time before the weeds will be killed
by frost, the possibilities of increas-
ing the water in storage In the soil
by holding the snow that may come.
the danger of soil blowing If the stub
BILE and weeds are removed, and the
distribution of farm labor. The impor-
lance of these factors Is considered
In Department Bulletin No. 253, THE
Effect of Different Times of Flowing
RADIO" The major portion of the bull
letin is given to a description of the
time of blowing for spring wheat, but
is as applicable to oats and corn. The
experiments were performed at Akron
(Colo.) field station, but the deductions
are general and useful throughout tbs
great plains area.
1t was found that there was a wider
variation in the precipitation of the
fall and winter, when the moisture
should be stored, than during the
growing months. Rains in August and
early September invariably produce a
growth of weeds. which usually exhaust
the valuable moisture supply The loss
of moisture which has penetrated to a
greater depth than three inches. after
the weeds are dead In the fall and be-
fore growth starts in the spring, is
almost negligible. Either from land
fall plowed or from that covered with
stubble light precipitation evaporates
unless it falls as snow, which is blown
into drifts until a considerable guam
tity has accumulated. AS ten inches
Of light snow are equivalent to only
one inch Of rain, and one inch of rain
penetrates the soil to a depth Of six
inches, 1t will be readily seen that
SHOWS of one to two inches supply
very small amount of moisture,
greater part OF which will be lost by
evaporation. Every effort should be
made, therefore, to conserve the moist
ure which falls either while the crop
Is on the land or while the land is
lying idle
Early fall rains will be used up by
weeds unless the land is cultivated.
Heavy winter SHOWS may occur, but |
they are likely to blow off the fields
unless there is either stubble or an |
uneven surface to hold them. The |
time and method of cultivation. then, |
should be planned to prevent weed |
growth and still leave the soil or stub |
BILE in such a condition that it will hold |
the maximum snow. However, the pc
Rod when labor is available will also
be an important factor in determining
he time of blowing. When labor is
scarce, cultivation other than plow-
ng which will kill weeds and can be-
lone rapidly may be resorted to. IL
his cultivation leaves the stubble on
he surface or leaves the surface rough
enough to hold the snow it may be OF
sven greater value than blowing. Disk
ng or listing in the fall are the meth
IDS most commonly used.
The amount of moisture In the
ground in the spring is only one of
he factors in producing grain crops.
Weeds growing with the crop may use
enough water to decrease the grain
held. 1t was found that fall blowing
It the Akron station is especially ia
Torable to weeds starting with the
grain. Flowing in the spring. how
,ver. thoroughly eliminates the weeds,
md If done Immediately before seed
ng. gives the grain crop a start before
he weeds commence to grow. The
deal cultivation would prevent weed
growth in the fall, leave the land In
such condition as to retain the maxi
mum snow in the winter and retard
he termination of weed seed until the
,rop starts in the spring.