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Show Legumes Open Soil To Air and Water System of Rotation Prevents Compaction Tight "stuffy" soils are robbing many farmers of high bushel-per-acre yields of corn and small grains each year. Loams, silt loams and clay loams need large amounts of organic matter in the plow layer and deeper to keep them open and loose for high crop production. Heavy soils that are low in organic or-ganic matter and worked with heavy tractors and machinery become TAP ROOTED LEGUMES L006EN PACKED &OIL , ..: , , & IfiW SMALL J SWEET CLOVEnJJ. jppSj GRAIN " jfes ' W PLOW LW6pg I PACKED LftVER I I TH0QOOT6 BREAK 1 ST0P6 BOOTS I COMPACTION I 0 Tap roots of alfalfa and sweet clover, as shown in sketch, break through packed soil to assure water wa-ter and plant food for growing crops. packed, especially just below the plow sole. These compactions slow down the intake of water. They cut down the amount of water and air the soil will hold for crop use. They keep the fibrous roots of corn and small grain "upstairs" away from water and plant food held deeper in the soil. Temporary relief can be had by using machines that reach below the ordinary plow layer and break up the plow sole compactions. Real relief, however, comes only through regular regu-lar use of deep-rooted legumes in the rotation. The driving tap roots of sweet clover and alfalfa force their way through the compactions and reach deep into the soil, thus opening it to air and water. The mineralized organic matter they leave there improves im-proves soil tilth and furnishes plant food for other crops. Channels of the tap roots are routes for water and air and fibrous roots to follow deep into the soil. Compaction-busting alfalfa and sweet clover need phosphate and potash pot-ash if they are to do a good job. |