TALL WHEATGRASS BARRIERS 

 A New Tool for Moisture Conservation and Wind Erosion 

 Clayton Ogle, State Resource Conservationist 



li' 



Wind erosion remains a problem on 

 millions of acres of sandy soils on the 

 plains of Montana. 



Agricultural research scientists 

 at USOA's Northern Plains Soil and Wat- 

 er Conservation Center at Sidney, since 

 1964, have experimentally used a double 

 row tall wheatgrass barrier to reduce 

 erosion and conserve moisture, A. R. 

 Black, Research Soil Scientist, found 

 the barriers effectively reduced wind 

 speeds for a distance of 8 to 12 barr- 

 ier heights. The barrier system com- 

 bined with stubbie mulch tillage and 

 annual cropping could eliminate wind 

 erosion. At seeding time each spring 

 a continuous cropped area with grass 

 barriers stored almost as much water 

 as the crop fallow area without barr- 

 iers with 30 foot barriers spacing. 



The Tunis area of Chouteau Coun- 

 ty has about 12,000.* acres of highly 

 erodible sandy loam soils. Soils 

 have eroded under alternate crop fal- 

 low forming ridges of wind blown soil 

 up to six feet deep. 



Chouteau County Conservation Dis- 

 trict supervisors worthing with District 

 Conservationist Oscar Pederson organ- 

 ized an intensive information program 

 last winter. Agricultural Research 

 Service, Soil Conservat.Ion Service 

 and Agricultural Stabilization and 

 Conservation Service informed land 

 owners in problem areas of research 

 results, establishment, techniques, 

 and farm program relationships. Dis- 

 trict supervisors pooled orders for 

 over 3000 pounds of tal I wheatgrass 

 seed from the Eiseman Seed Company. 

 The Company made the seed available 

 at wholesale prices as their input 

 to the erosion control effort. 



Over 4000 acres of the problem 

 soils were seeded to barriers this 

 spring. Farmers plan to seed In ex- 

 cess of 1000 additional acres this 

 fa 11. 



Martin Molinaric was elected chair- 

 man of the community erosion control or- 

 ganization. Molinaric, worthing with Ag- 

 ricultural f^search Service, Montana Ex- 

 periment Station, and Soil Conservation 

 Service scientists has worked out a four 

 year management plan on sixty acres. 

 Various treatments and rotations will be 

 evaluated. 



Another 3000 acres of grass row barr- 

 iers have been planted In the HIghwood 

 bench area. The HIghwood area has a sal- 

 ine seep problem. Improved moisture con- 

 servation will allow the farm operators 

 to use more Intensive cropping systems to 

 avoid deep percolation of water during 

 fal low periods. 



Large field application of the dou- 

 ble row barriers provides a study area to 

 help establish additional management 

 guidelines. Application of the practice 

 will hopefully provide more alternatives 

 for cropping systems while controlling 

 erosion on problem soils. 



Grass Barriers Catch Snow 

 Prevent Soil Blowing 



