Show LOSSES OF SOIL MOISTURE iby by aid of mulches dry carmeris Far merIs enabled to conserve sufficient water to produce crops wy aby JAMES MAR MARSHALL HALL assistant professor of oc agronomy colorado experiment station there are three ways in which a soil boll loses its moisture by percolation evaporation and transpiration through the leaves of 0 the plant in the form ot of vapor in colorado the greatest loss Is irom from evaporation and transpiration losses by evaporation may be reduced to a certain extent liy by mulching the soil mulches form a layer which is rather impervious to the movement of water generally speaking the average mulch la is about three inches deep and la Is obtained either by using a harrow or some other for form in of cultivation it Is by the aid of mulch that the dry farmer Is able to conserve sufficient amounts ot of mols ithie to produce crops this treatment is of 0 great imbor stance in managing land in cultivated such buch as corn and sugar beets whenever a dry period comes on losses from transpiration cannot be control controlled leol to any extent as they are governed largely by climatic condition the principal agents being heat beat humidity and air movement in an arid climate losses ot of soil moist moisture ure 1 become very large because of 0 the dry air and intense sunlight conse fluently quenila larger amounts of moisture are needed for the ahe successful pro ot of crop sin an arid and than hunold climate |