OCR Text |
Show TREES CONSERVE SOIL WATEF Windbreaks Prevent Excessive Evaporation Evapo-ration in Dry Land Areas Good on the Plains. A hedge fifteen to eighteen feet high will lessen the evsporatlon of soli moisture In Its vicinity. On the leeward lee-ward aide the evaporation of moisture Is lessened to a considerable distance from the hedge and clou up to the windbreak on the windward side. The Influence of the hedge on the evaporation evapora-tion of soil moisture depends upon the humidity, temperature, velocity of the wind, and kind and condition of the soil. At a distance of 200 feet from the leeward side of the hedge this Influence In-fluence falls off, but not rspldly. On the wlndwsrd side the loss from evsporatlon evsp-oratlon Is less at 60 feet than at 200 or 300 feet and lowest at 100 fet, probably prob-ably due to the checking of the wind on approaching the hedge. The hedge haa a greater Influence In retaining aoll moisture In fine, sandy loam than In silt loam, but not at such a great distance from tho hedge. These facta were brought out In an experiment carried on in 1910 by Wilbur Zacharlas, a senior In the Kansas Agricultural college. This experiment was continued from October Octo-ber 11 to November 22. or a period of 41 daya. Observations were taken and cylinders of soil weighed every 24 hours. The wlndbn.ak In tills experiment was an Osage orange hedge on the college farm. Mr. Zacharlaa, who did the work for hla thesis, gave the moat careful attention to the teat. The physics department of the college took temperature and wind velocity readings. From this experiment and other ob-serrations ob-serrations mnde by F. II. King of Wisconsin and R. A. Kmerson of the University of Nebraska. It Is to be Inferred In-ferred that hedgea would be of great Importance In the level plulna region, where the hot, dry winds of the summer sum-mer sweep across the pralrlea with a high wind velocity, and the evaporation evapora-tion of moisture Is excessive. This Is not ao necessary In moist, humid climates, but hedges or any forest trees of sufficient height and planted thick enough seem to be an effective means of bringing about a solution of the conservation of soil moisture la the gtvnt plains region. |