Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-03-12
SOIL AND SOIL FERTILITY.
No. 4. Farm Drainage.

~ No. 4. Farm Drainage.
HBy De F. Hungerford, Assistant Ag-
!; 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. 1t is not so we'll known,
however, that the yield on thousands
fOf 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-
sduce as 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 to
penetrate into the soil. The plant
roots will not penetrate soil that is
saturated with water, SO il the sub
soil is too wet all the plant food that
it contains is unavailable. When
crops are planted on poorly drained
land the root systems are shallow.
When drought comes the surface
dries out quickly and the crop suffers
In well-drained soil, on the other
hand the roots go down deeper into
the sub-soil which dries out more
slowly and the crop is able to resist
temporary drought.
A 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 in a region OF
summer droughts. Where land is
well drained it is possible to cultivate
quickly after every rain thereby de-
stroying weeds while they are young.
The physical condition of soils is
much improved by drainage. This Is
due partly to the fact that the surface
dries out rapidly thus promoting gran
ulation and partly to the deep roofing
Drainage induces better aeration be-
cause as the water drains down into
the sub-soil air is drawn down to take
its place. The air thus drawn into
the soil helps make plant food availa-
BILE, promotes the growth of beneficial
bacteria, assists in the formation Of
nunius and destroys toxic substances
or poisons that may exist there.
Drainage With Open bitches.
Open bitches provide the best means
of drainage where large volumes Of
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 small
depression. Open bitches can be con-
structed more .cheaply than under
ground drainage systems, but are less
permanent and must be frequently re-
paired. They are unsightly occupy
land that could otherwise be used for
growing crops, and, as usually con-
structed, provide a place for weeds.
When it is necessary to use open
bitches for financial and other rea-
sons, they should be constructed with
wide sloping banks gotten into sod
so they can be moved for hay and to
keep down the weeds A good form
of open ditch is the dead" furrow.
This is adapted to land that is nearly
fiat. The field is plowed in narrow
beds with a deep dead" furrow be.
tween the higher intervening spaces.
Tile Drainage.
The drainage of farm land can be
obtained most efficiently and perma-
nently by means of tile laid under
ground. Two kinds of tile are in use
clay and concrete. Clay tile is used
more extensively, being usually
cheaper and more easily handled.
Concrete tile is satisfactory, however,
IL it can be obtained as cheaply For
making concrete tile rich proportion
Of cement and good sand should be
used and they should be mixed as wet
as is. practicable. The proper depth
for laying the tile varies with the tex
ture of the soil and the distance the
Tines are apart The depth usually
varies from two to two and half
feet, being laid shallow in clay soils
and deeper In sandy land.