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Show Lack of Deep-Rooted Legumes Cuts Yields Legumes Give Organic Matter to Worn Fields "Corning" some soils year after year without restocking the organic matter via deep-rooted legumes in the rotation, will cut yields to the vanishing point even if you add fertilizer fer-tilizer and install drain tiles. Ohio soils specialists demonstrated demon-strated that in tests at the Paulding Pauld-ing experiment farm. The results of the tests are shown in the accompanying accom-panying photographs taken on adjoining ad-joining fields. Both fields had been fertilized and tile-drained. The top field was con-tmously con-tmously in corn. The lower field had a rotation of corn, small grains and two years of alfalfa. Year after year of corn crops had robbed the top field of its organic or-ganic matter. The soil became packed down and stuffy. It was so ' - -0 s I H if, -FfMH :t ' ": 1 tight that water could not get down below the surface. The middle rows of corn were drowned out by ponded pond-ed ram. In other rows the roots couldn't get sufficient nutrients, oxygen and moisture to feed the stalks, leaves and ears. The lower field shows a healthy, vigorous growth. Over the period of the tests yields averaged 30 bushels more than in the other field. The deep-probing taproots of the alfalfa kept the soil open to air and water. The mineralized organic matter left in the soil by the legumes improved soil tilth and furnished plant food for the corn and small grains. The organic matter improved the soil's drainage and water holding capacity. capac-ity. More moisture was stored for the use of the corn crop. |