Show strip cropping bans brans and other plantings planting planting af f beans in banow strips of four to eight row between i similar strips of erosion I 1 r resistant s 11 t crops such as grain sorghum t agta or sudan grats grass provides ahe most effective means for checking both wind and water erosion and insuring better crop production product in in the san juan joan soil conservation district according to horace andrews unit conservationist during recent war years the planting of beans in large solid blocks has tended to increase soil sol glowing because the crop dors docs not afford protection against the cutting force of the wind mr andrews pointed out some farmers have adopted strip cropping but have found it ineffective because they have made the strips too w ds de or have not alternated erosion resistant crops with the beans he suggested that the strips be not more than eight rows wide and as small as four rows for the best results ra I 1 mere there is any danger of loss of moisture through lunoff lun tun off the crop should be planted on them the contour and terraced where necessary to prevent the movement of ater w ter down the slope andrews said contour aws and terraces not only prevent water erosion but also hold most of the available I 1 moisture where it falls and put it to use in producing crops mr andrews pointed out that on I 1 fields where wind erosion control ismore is more important than water conservation the strips of beans alternating terna ting with forage crops should be planted at right angles to the direction of the prevailing wind in order that the cutting force may be reduced farmers in the san juan soil district which is inting s Nt ing with the soil conservation service are being urged to leave a stubble 12 to 14 inches in height when they harvest forage crops this stubble when properly protected from grazing byline by live stock will afford protection against both both wind and water erosion mr andrews concluded |