CHAPTER 8 



General Methods of Soil Management 



The art of soil management consists in so manipulating the two 

 million pounds of soil constituting the average plowed portion of each 

 acre, that it will give the largest returns without impairing the soil. The 

 best chance of attaining success in the art of soil management is in the 

 hands of the man who best understands the principles underlying it. 

 The art of soil management is the result of more than 4000 years of accumu- 

 lated experience, while the science is very much a matter of yesterday. 

 It is not to be expected that science will revolutionize the art, but it will 

 explain why many operations are performed and will also suggest improve- 

 ments in the manner of performing them. There are no definite rules 

 relative to methods of soil tillage. The best way of performing a certain 

 operation of soil tillage at any particular time and place is generally a 

 matter of judgment on the part of the farmer. Accuracy in judgment 

 on his part is greatly strengthened through knowledge of the underlying 

 principles. 



Objects of Tillage. — The chief objects of tillage are: (1) to improve 

 the physical condition of the soil; (2) to turn under plant residues that 

 have accumulated at the surface and incorporate them with the soil; (3) 

 to destroy weeds; and (4) to provide a suitable seed-bed. 



In recent years great changes have taken place in the methods of 

 tillage, due chiefly to the invention and use of labor-saving implements. 

 In this connection it is well to know the approximate duty of the cultural 

 implements that are available. In a general way the duty of a cultural 

 implement is obtained by multiplying the width in feet which it covers in 

 passing over the field by 1.4. For example, a 12-inch plow will plow, on 

 an average 1.4 acres of land per day. A harrow 6 feet in width would 

 harrow 8.4 acres. The duty will vary somewhat with conditions, such 

 as speed in process of operation, the length of day and percentage of 

 time when not in actual operation. With good fast-walking teams and 

 implements of light draft, the acreage covered per day may be somewhat 

 increased. On the other hand, if much time is lost, if the teams are slow 

 or if implements are of heavy draft, the acreage will be reduced. These 

 facts are important in connection with determining the extent of equip- 

 ment required to perform satisfactorily the operations on a farm of given 

 size. 



Plowing. — Plowing is the most expensive tillage operation in con- 

 nection with crop production. For this reason it is important to know 

 when it is necessary to plow the land and how deep it should be plowed, 



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