Show Good Plant Cover I Prevents Erosion Field With Growing Crop Seriously SeriA Seri Seri- Does Not Wash as A 0 as Others Prepared b by r t tio o United states State Department of or Agriculture It is well known that a good plant cover checks erosion of ot the soil that thata a pasture meadow or a fic field d well covered covered covered cov cov- ered with a n growing crop does not wash as seriously as one one planted for example to corn com or cotton In which the the crop crop d does es n not t fully tully cover the ground On the western ranges preservation of a good cover of at herbaceous herbaceous herb herb- a and shrubby plants ants on rough ground used for grazing Is particularly particular particular- ly lq necessary The forest service of n the e United States Department of Agriculture Agri- Agri culture has given particular attention to the effects of ot plant growth in checking erosion and the present policy polley of Issuing grazing permits Is designed designed designed de de- signed to Insure the preservation of of such B a cover through prevention overgrazing zing J Value of Grasses Clarence L. L Foisting Forsling of the forest service says The value of grasses and other low-growing low plants for protecting watersheds may not be easily recognized because of the somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what obscure manner In which such plants check surface run off and ero ero- sl sion n. n The vegetation Intercepts a n small part part-of the falling rain before it reaches the ground The decaying plant plant- material adds to or or at least maintains the humus content and consequently consequently con con- the Ule wa water holding hol er-hol ing capacity of the soil The roots open up the soil to some extent and thus UIUS help the water vater wa wa- ter ter to penetrate Into the ground The stems and leaves near the ground form physical obstructions to water as It runs down hillsides reducing Its velocity velocity velocity ve ve- and Increasing the chances of L soil 11 Th h re Its being absorbed by oy uy the me i sim VU j- j LU a in induction of velocity and volume of sun run ort olT and the binding power of the roots check erosion M Maintain aln Grazing Capacity Under average conditions where the covet cover has not already been reduced reduced reduced re re- re- re grazing practice that will maintain main maln tain the highest grazing capacity will also maintain the plant cover rover In a condition for satisfactory protection of the watershed |