SOIL WATER 



MANURES AND SOIL WATER 



'59 



Humus, as we learned in Chapter IV, has a very 

 great and therefore important influence over the 

 water-absorbing and water-holding powers of soils. 

 Therefore, any of the farm practices that tend to in- 

 crease or diminish the amount of humus in the soil 

 are to be seriously considered because of the effect 

 on the water content of the soil. For this reason the 

 application of barn manures and green crops turned 

 under tend to improve the water conditions of most 

 soils. 



The mixing of heavy applications of coarse man- 

 ures or organic matter with light sandy soils may 

 make them so loose and open that they will lose 

 moisture rapidly. When this practice is necessary 

 the land should be rolled after the application of the 

 manure. 



METHODS OF CROPPING AND SOIL WATER 



Constant tillage hastens the decay of organic mat- 

 ter in the soil. Hence any method or system of 

 cropping which does not occasionally return to the 

 soil a new supply of humus tends to weaken the 

 powers of the soil toward water. 



All of the operations and practices which influ- 

 ence soil water also affect the other conditions nec- 

 essary to root growth ; namely, texture, ventilation, 

 heat, and plant food, and those operations and prac- 



