Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-12
Soil Erosion One
of Farm, Problems

Two forces that are playing upon
the soils Of scott county are 70
some extent characteristics OF all the
rolling soils OF Iowa according to a
soil survey completed By tho expert
mental station ut Amos.
Erosion is gradually tearing down
large areas OF soil In the county while
other agencies are maintaining the
productivity OF the soils despite the
depressing strains to which the soils
are subjected. In fact the soils Of the
county in the matter OF plant cham-
icais are almost inexhaustible under
ordinary conditions. according to q
| survey just received from Ames by
Scott county officials.
Erosion IN tho greatest terror as this
process carries away the top soil which
holds the productive wealth of the
soils and therefore gives them their
commercial value. Loose soils arc
| nearly all subject 20 erosion from sur-
face water under the bombardment OF
heavy rains and moving currents OF
| water.
DliltTtul fnttuOuS WV SHhpios w
under different situations 10 meet tho
varying conditions under which erosion
occurs.
In the matter Of chemicals the soils
seem TO be able to stand alone. There
are three of these chemicals which 1t
Is generally understood are essential.
without them crops are practically
| impossible.
These three chemicals correspond TO
three chief chemicals which dominate
| In the human plant or for that matter
In all animals. They are nitrogen. phoe-
phorus and potassium I'm their soluble
forms. There are other chemicals
which play In the production Of food
plants. but these arc the dominant VI
talizers and the producing qualities of
soils are enriched or impoverished by
| their lack or abundance. An overabun-
dance OF nitrogen and potassium may
also interrupt the producing qualities
of the soil by making them too rich.
There must be a normal balance OF the
chemicals or freak plants without
fruit are the result.
The potassium in the Scott county
soils Is seemingly inexhaustible.
A normal nitrogen balance is main
talned with green legumous plants
such as alfalfa. white rock phosphate
Is employed to maintain the phosphoric
balance according to experts.
Nelons reflect abnormal conditions
| very readily Soils that are too rank
and acidulous for watermelons often
have to be lined. On the other hanr
soils that have grown canteloupes for
long successive periods OF time sc that
| the nitrogen becomes exhausted pro-
duce plant monstrosities but no
melons.
The greatest worry at the present
time on many of the Iowa farms, how
ever, according to the Ames experts. Is
one Of the supreme troubles in many
parts Of scott county lands adjacent to
the river. where the topography makes
the formation OF gullies and ravines
easy and heightens the erosive process.
go The only way to successfully cope
with the trouble Is to get In touch with
Ames or the county agent. No two
troubles can be overcome In the same
| way.
On some lands tree growing along
certain lines may overcome the dill
Guilty. In other cases dams made OF dill
ferent materials according to the char
acter Of the land are necessary. while In
bottom lands. for instance the starlight
ening OF streams and thing may be all
that is required to control the diff
Guilty. on hillsides organic matter.
the spreading OF straw and stalk resi-
dues and the planting of crops Will
stop the danger.
One paramount result Is generally
observable where intelligence Is used
in handling the soils and this Is that. In
| stead Of deteriorating the soils are
constantly growing in value as they