Millard County Chronicle | 1949-03-10 | Page 9 | Plowing under Organic Matter Aids Oxidization

Plowinq Under Organic Matter Aids Oxidization Plowing under some organic matter In the field or garden is a good way of disposing of crop residues resi-dues because the microbes "burn" or oxidize them. They do this slowly, yet the process pro-cess of microbial combustion of such materials may have disastrous effects on a crop planted soon after plowing, in which case it is said the crop was "burned out." Microbes need more than energy "go" foods. They need the "grow" foods, too, just as humans do. They do not demand that the nitrogen be given them in the complete proteini or the more complex compounds of this element as humans do; nevertheless, never-theless, they are just as exacting in their needs for nitrogen, at least. In its simpler forms. Dr. William A. Albrecht, chairman of the department of soils, University Univer-sity of Missouri college of agriculture, agricul-ture, in discussing how soil microbes get their food, points out that they get it before growing crops get theirs.