CHAPTER XVIII 



CROPPING SYSTEMS, MANURES AND FER- 

 TILIZERS FOR CORN 



ANY system of corn production must ultimately fail 

 unless it maintains the producing power of the land. 

 Successful cropping systems are based upon an accurate 

 knowledge of the reasons for doing things. The ultimate 

 effect of each agricultural practice upon the producing 

 power of the soil must be kept constantly in mind. 



In only exceptional cases have the cropping systems 

 employed by southern farmers throughout the cotton- 

 belt maintained the productiveness of the land. This has 

 led to exceptionally low average crop yields. The soil 

 problem, therefore, of the southern farmer is not merely 

 the maintenance of soil fertility. He must adopt systems 

 of soil management under which the land becomes better 

 rather than poorer. The solution of this problem lies in 

 the adoption of well-planned cropping systems, supple- 

 mented by the judicious use of manures and fertilizers. 



CROPPING SYSTEMS FOR CORN 



The advantages of a well-ordered cropping system in 

 maintaining soil fertility are discussed in connection with 

 rotations for cotton, page 96. 



266. Continuous com culture impoverishes soil. 

 That the continuous growth of corn on the same land 

 will ultimately lead to decreased yields is common knowl- 

 edge. The Illinois Experiment Station has compared 



217 



