172 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., ( A. 1912 



THE MOISTURE-CONTENT OF PACKED AND UNPACKED SOILS. 



In our report last year we drew attention to certain results obtained at Lethbridge 

 and Lacombe, Alta., relative to sub-surface packing as a means for conserving soil- 

 moisture.* This work has been continued and we now present data from packed and 

 unpacked areas under experiment last year at Lethbridge. 



The land under examination was summer-fallowed in 1909, being ploughed in the 

 early part of July. Part of it was immediately packed and the whole seeded in August 

 with winter wheat. The samples for analysis were taken to a depth of fourteen inches, 

 the first collection being made May 25, and the last on July 18, 1910, a few days pre- 

 vious to the harvesting of the wheat. 



Moisture-content of Packed and Unpacked Soils, Lethbridge, Alta. 



Date. 



May 25, 1910 



June 11, 1910 



.. 21, 1910 



July 4, 1910 



m 13, 1910 



i. 18, 1910 



Erom the results of the two first sets of samples, we may, I think, conclude that 

 the packed land starts the season with the more moisture, though the difference in its 

 'favour is not a large one. 



From the third week in June until the date of harvesting, however, the moisture- 

 content of the packed plot was either the same as, or lower than, that of the unpacked 

 plot. The explanation for this may be in the larger moisture requirements of the 

 crop on the packed area, for we may well suppose, other conditions begin equal, a more 

 leafy development on the land which contained the more moisture during the earlier 

 weeks of growth. 



The results obtained in 1909 showed no very great advantage from the use of the 

 subsurface packer, the determinations being made on plots under fallow and in crop. 

 The conclusions from the trials of 1910, the plots carrying a crop of winter wheat, are 

 much of the same character, though somewhat more favourable to the view that this 

 operation is conducive to moisture conservation. As indicated in our previous article 

 on this subject, the physical character of the soil determines in a measure the benefit 

 derived from this operation, the lighter loams receiving the greater advantage. 



Keport of Dominion Chemist 1910, pp. 214r5. 



