Show farmers advised to increase fertility U with the nation demanding maximum icum production of food and fiber in 1944 farmers in the san juan soil conservation district are considering every possible means of adding organic matter to the soil during the winter and spring months C S fonte district conservationist stated today everyone knows that soil depletion and lowered yields go hand in hand he ha said why the producers produce rT of the san juan district want to build up their soils by adding organic matter the real living part of the soil the humus content can be improved he said by proper use of crop residues by turning under green manure crops by application of barnyard manure and by intelligent crop rotations soil having ample organic matter holds water and is much less subject to erosion than soil having little decayed plant matter he added when early american settlers cleared and broke the land th the soil was rich in humus supplied by decaying leaves twigs roots and grasses under cultivation however much plant food has been lost particularly on land subject to severe wind or water erosion organic matter gives the soil a better structure improves its provides food for bacteria keeps plant foods available so that the plants can use them and serves as a storehouse for nitrogen phosphorus potash and ther other necessary minerals heavy soils can be made loose and crumbly by adding organic matter just as sandy soils become more loamy if the humus content is increased furthermore water penetration the water hold ing capacity of the soil and plant growth are greatly improved by increasing the organic content of S continued on page five 0 FARMERS ARE ADVISED 0 Con continued tinned from page 1 the wise use of crop residues is particularly important in dry land areas where wind or water can erode the land wr mr fonte said farmers have learned that stubble should be left standing or cut so that it remains on the surface of the ground as a mulch until they are ready to begin cultivation for the next crop crop stubble holds soil increases moisture penetration and eventually adds to the organic content under natural conditions plant residues are always left on the surface of the ground and finally become a part of the soil with man in control these residues are often burned or wasted so that the soil is starved growing a green manure crop is another excellent way to increase the organic content of soil he stated when these there crops are disked or plowed into the soil the humus content is increased and the yield of following crops is increased another way to supply organic matter wherever livestock is kept is the old method of returning all manure to the land the manure should be handled bandied so as to prevent the loss of valuable plant foods and sometimes should be supplemented with proper crop rotation also improves soil fertility and increases the organic content he declared alfalfa clover or grasses can be used in a rotation with other crops and when turned under 4 every three to five years help to keep the soil producing at a maximum maxima m I 1 |