Slope 



Although not so directly related to the internal make-up of the soil 

 as texture, the slope of the land surface has important effects on land use 

 and treatment. The steepness of the slope affects the safe use of machinery. 

 The short steep slopes influence the rate at which water runs off, and 

 therefore has an effect on the amount of water which seeps into the soil. 

 For the same reason, the steepness and length of slope influence the possible 

 hazard of soil erosion. 



On well-drained soils, the steeper the land the less it is used for 

 cultivated crops. This means that there is a higher proportion of cultivated 

 land on the level or nearly level areas than there is on the steeper slopes. 

 On the soils with poor natural drainage, the situation is reversed and there 

 is more cropland on the sloping areas where excess water can run off than 

 there is on the level areas where water may stand for some time. Most 

 farmers in the State do not try to plow or to harvest crops on land that is 

 steeper than 20 percent. ^ For frequent tillage, they usually select fields with 

 a grade of less than 8 percent. 



Stoniness 



Probably the condition which has the greatest effect on the use of 

 land in New Hampshire is stoniness. The presence on the surface and 

 throughout the soil mass of many stones larger than eight inches in di- 

 ameter limits or prevents cultivation. When such stone fragments make up 

 most of the total soil, the space for holding moisture and the space in which 

 roots can develop are limited. Some of the less stony land may be cleared 

 and used for crop production. The size of the boulders and the number 

 which would have to be moved are factors which must be considered in 

 deciding if stone removal is economically sound. 



1 A 20 per cent slope represents a vertical rise or fall of 20 feet in 100 feet of 

 horizontal distance. 



jgim ._ 



..tural Conservation I'rojirani Service 



This farmer decided that the removal of the boulders was econoinically sound. 



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