722 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



fall than any of the other soils. Land continuously cropped to wheat was 

 almost as efhcieut in this respect as sod land, but lost considerable soil when 

 the land was first broken. Land having rotations of corn, wheat, and clover 

 lost very little soil except during the time it was growing corn. Land contin- 

 uously cropped to corn lost about the same amount of soil as uncultivated laud 

 and less than half as much as that plowed to the same depth and having no crop. 



Two years' studies on nitrate production in soil by Albrecht showed that the 

 most significant influence of crops was that of removing the nitrates. Plowing 

 had a very significant elTect toward increasing nitrates, although cultivation 

 of the surface soil reduced the nitrate content in the upper 7 in. of soil. Mulch- 

 ing had a marked depressing effect upon nitrate accumulation. The moisture 

 and nitrate contents were negatively con-elated. Long-continued rains removed 

 the nitrates, especially in tilled soils, while downpours did not have as serious 

 effects. High concentrations of nitrates were reached in fallow soil. 



Experiments conducted by IMiller and Duley to determine the best systems of 

 soil management for the most important soil types in Missouri showed that the 

 three materials giving most consistent and economical returns are manure, 

 soluble phosphates, and limestone. On certain thin Ozark soils bone meal 

 showed a decided advantage over acid phosphate in its residual effect upon 

 clover. Raw rock phosphate scarcely paid the cost of application. 



Relation between fertilization and soil compression on the one hand and 

 germination in soil on the other, W. Kosterz {Nachr. Dent. Landw. Gesell. 

 Osterr., n. scr., 3 {1919), No. 28, pp. 231-235). — Experiments on fertilization, 

 soil cultivation, and crop rotation on some of the more arid soils of Turkey are 

 reported and discussed, particular attention being paid to the action of barn- 

 yard manure and rolling of the soil on soil moisture. 



It was found that on such soils barnyard manure and rolling to compact the 

 soil had a marked effect in increasing the soil moisture content. The disadvan- 

 tage of extensive soil preparation in the spring was also brought out. The use 

 of barnyard manure and rolling of the soil also had similar stimulating elTects 

 on the germination of certain crops, especially corn. 



Soil moistnre studies, F. J. Sievers {Washington Sta. Bui. 155 {1020), pp. 

 39, J/O). — Studies of soil moisture in soils under wheat and in fallow showed 

 that in the fallowed soils there were decided variations in moisture and nitrate 

 content as affected by different times and methods of tillage. The greatest 

 quantity of available nitrogen was developed under those conditions where the 

 tillage practiced retained the highest percentage of moisture in the surface foot 

 of soil for the greatest length of time during the warm portion of the year. 



Evidence was obtained that nitrogen is one of the chief limiting factors in 

 wheat production. The best results on spring wheat were obtained when the 

 fertilizer was applied to the soil in the fall, while on winter wheat the best 

 results were obtained when the application was made in the spring. The 

 depressing effect of straw applications was in part overcome by supplementing 

 with a nitrogen fertilizer. ' 



Data on the elTect of moisture and nitrate on the wheat plant are also sum- 

 marized. It was found that nitrification takes place very slowly in Palouse 

 silt loam soil when the moisture content is below 15 per cent. 



Capillary movement of soil moisture, W. W. McLaughlin {V. S. Dept. 

 Agr. But. 835; pp. 70, figs. 10). — pjxperiments are reported, the purpose of which 

 was to obtain specific data as to the capillary movement of moisture in arid 

 soils. The experiments embodied a study of the rate and extent of capillary 

 movement of moisture in columns of various types of soil where capillarity was 

 assisted by gravity, where it acted against gravity, and where gravity as a 



