Show Soil Inventory Termed Good Management Basis Keep an Inventory of the soils soil's fertility the same as of buildings livestock and equipment advises Middle West Vest Soil Improvement committee Nearly any farmer knows how hoc many dairy cows beef cattle hogs hog hogsand hogsand and sheep he has He also keeps a record of his seed feed teed buildIngs build build- Ings machinery and fences Few farmers however have an inventory of their principal asset asset- CHECK UP UPON UPON ON YOUR SOILS TOO SOU i PLANT FOOD 45 I PHOSPHATE E lf c Q I S COOn imm Poo Poof f TJ o l L fe fethe the soil Yet a farmers farmer's earning power depends largely on whether his soils soil's fertility level is high or or low On thousands of farms a soil soU fertility inventory would show serious seri serio ous shortages has used up nitrogen phosphate and potash The organic matter supply Is scraping the bottom of the barrel Soil structure has been damaged Drainage is poor and air circulation circulation tion Is shut off ofT Crop output Is low Restocking the shelves of the soil warehouse Involves several essential es eSt es- es steps Plant food Is tant But other things also are needed particularly organic matter matterand matterand matterand and good soil structure The soil Inventory can ean be improved im tin proved faster and at lower cost 11 U leaks are arc halted by conservation measures that mat will slow down runoff run run- off ofT and save topsoil and plant foods Among such measures are contour cultivation strip cropping and terracing terracing terracing ter ter- ter- ter racing where needed |