26 



apparently well adapted to growing in seeps where agricultural plants 



have failed, and any proposals for control of this plant and replacement 



by others should be seriously examined. Fertilizer applications are 



known to enhance plant growth in some situations and thereby aid in 



soil water reduction. Only as much fertilizer as the plants can use should 



be applied; otherwise excess nutrients might contaminate surface 



and ground waters. 



Farmers need to recognize that successful cropping in seep 

 areas must include soil moisture and water table management. A 

 simple soil auger should become standard equipment to help farmers 

 decide whether to plant and what to plant depending on soil moisture 

 content and depth to groundwater. Farmers will need to consider the 

 penetration and character of root systems as well as above-ground 

 plant production; they may need to diversity- -to call on any one of a 

 number of crops depending on moisture use and needs. Water tables 

 should not be allowed to rise any further, yet adequate soil moisture 

 in the root zone is a prerequisite to profitable cropping. Some way, 

 a moisture balance must be maintained, neither too little nor too much 

 can be tolerated. 



For convenience and economy, farming has traditionally been 

 practiced on geometric land patterns, usually rectangles or squares. 

 Within the last half-century the average size of these units has greatly 



