CHAPTER VI 

 SOIL MANAGEMENT 



What soil management is. We have seen that plants 

 require water, in the form of capillary water with a reserve 

 of free water below; oxygen; certain food materials; and a 

 sufficiently loose arrangement of the soil particles to permit 

 roots to push their way through easily. When soil is in good 

 condition to furnish and continue to furnish these require- 

 ments for plant growth, it is said to be in good tilth. Soil 

 in good tilth is somewhat difficult to describe. " It is porous 

 but not too loose; firm but not hard or consolidated; close- 

 grained but not run together nor adhesive." ^Securing and 

 maintaining good tilth and sufficient amounts of food materials 

 for plant growth is the object of soil management. Three 

 aspects need to be considered somewhat in detail: the means 

 employed in farm practice; the special problems presented 

 by variation in soils; the relation of systems of farming to 

 soil management. 



How GOOD TILTH is SECURED AND MAINTAINED 



In general farm practice there are several means employed 

 to secure proper soil conditions. Among the most important 

 are drainage, tillage, rotation of crops, use of barnyard and 

 green manure, and application of lime. 



Drainage. Drainage has been referred to by a soil expert 

 as " the foundation of good soil management." This state- 



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