| Show LOSSES OF SOIL MOISTURE by aid of mulches dry farmer Is enabled to conserve sufficient water to produce crops aby by JAMES MARSHALL assistant professor of agronomy colorado experiment station there are three ways in which a soil loses its moisture by percolation evaporation and transpiration through the leaves ot of the plant in the form of vapor in colorado the tha greatest loss Is from evaporation and transpiration losses by evaporation may be reduced to a certain extent by mulching the soil BOIL mulches torm form a layer which la is rather impervious to the movement 0 of water generally speaking the average mulch I 1 is about three inches deep and is obtained either by using a harrow or some other form ot of cultivation it is by the aid ot of mulch that the dry farmer armer is able to conserve sufficient clent amounts of mola mois lure to produce crops this treatment is of great imbor tance in managing land in cultivated crops such as corn and sugar beets whenever a dry period comes on losses from transpiration cannot be controlled ao to any extent as they are governed largely by climatic condl tion the principal agents being heat humidity and air movement in an arid and climate losses ot of soil moisture 1 become very large because of 0 the dry aamir air and intense sunlight consequently ly larger amounts of 0 moisture fare are needed forsbe fort tor the be successful pro induction 6 sf crop crois s in xii W arid than humid tell t climate mate |
