Show Good 00 Plant an Cover over I Prevents Erosion Field With Growing Crop Does Not Wash as Seriously Seriously Seriously Seri Seri- as Others United states Department tho the Prepared by of or Agriculture It Is welt well known that a good plant cover coyer checks erosion of the soil that thata a pasture meadow or a field well coy cov covered does oes not eyed ered with a growing in crop wash as seriously as one planted In for example to corn or cotton which the crop does docs not fully funy cover coyer the ground On the western ranges preservation of ot a good cover of herbaceous herh- herh and shrubby plants on rough rong-h ground lound used for grazing Is particularly particular particular- ly Iy necessary The forest service of the the United States Department of A Agriculture Agriculture Agri Agri- I culture has given particular attention to the time effects of plant growth In checking erosion and find the present permits Is de le- designed designed issuing grazing poll policy C of signed to insure the preservation of of or such a n cover through prevention I overgrazing Value of Grasses Clarence L. L ForslIng of the forest I Time The value of grasses service says I plants for and other low low growing growIng protecting watersheds may not he be I easily recognized reco because of the somewhat somewhat somewhat some some- what obscure manner In which such plants check surface run runoff and anti ero ero- sion slon The rhe vegetation Intercepts a n small part of the falling rain before It reaches the ground The decaying plant material adds to or at nt least maintains the humus content and consequently consequently consequently con con- I the water-holding water capacity of the soil soli The roots open up the soil to some som extent and thus help the w water water wa wa- a ater I ter to penetrate Into the ground g The rhe I stems and leaves lenes near the ground round form I ph physical obstructions to water as fiS it runs down hillsides reducing Its Itse velocity velocity ve ve- and Increasing ln the chances chanres of its bein being absorbed h by the soil The reduction reduction reduction re re- re- re of velocity and volume of off nn a fi id rd the time binding power of the roots check ched erosion Maintain Grazing Capacity Under average conditions where the covet cove has lias not already been reduced reduced reduced re re- re- re grazing practice that will maintain main tain tamn the time hi highest hest grazing capacity will also maintain the plant cover over In a n condition for satisfactory protection of the watershed |