16 



MISC. PUBLICATION 6 5 6, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



The data presented in table 2 show that no significant differences 

 were reflected in either yield or value of tobacco grown on these grades. 



Table 2. — Comparison of yield, price per pound, and value of -flue-cured 

 tobacco on row grades ranging from contour to 2% percent, Raleigh, 

 N. C, 1941-43 



Percent grade 



Yield per 

 acre 



Price per 

 pound 



■ 



Value per 

 acre 



0.0 -__ -_ 



Pounds 



867 

 810 

 838 

 830 

 837 

 882 



Cents 



37. 7 

 39. 8 

 39. 6 



38. 8 



39. 1 

 38. 7 



Dollars 



327 



0.5 



322 



1.0 - 



332 



1.5 _ - 



322 



2.0 - - - 



327 



2.5 --- 



341 







While soil losses increased steadily with each increase in row grade 

 as shown in figure 7, the maximum amount of 45 tons of soil lost 

 during the 3-year period had no immediate effect on crop yield. This 

 is highly significant since it indicates that serious damage from sheet 

 erosion may occur before the signs are noticeable either in crop yields 

 or on the soil surface. 



Since ridge-row culture was not in use in the Maryland tobacco belt 

 it was important to determine by the Beltsville studies if ridge-row 

 culture would give satisfactory crop yields under Maryland condi- 

 tions. The areas had been in unplowed weeds and grass for at least 6 

 years. This old sod was plowed for the first tobacco crop, and each 

 succeeding tobacco crop followed a winter cover of wheat and vetch, 

 planted as soon as possible after tobacco harvest. The land was ferti- 

 lized for each tobacco crop with 1,000 pounds of 4—8-12 fertilizer per 

 acre applied in the row. Crop yields and values are shown in table 3. 



Table 3. — Comparison of yield, price per pound, and value of tobacco 

 produced on 1-percent grade ridge roics with that of tobacco produced 

 on up-and-down-hill flat rows on 8- to 14-percent slopes, Beltsville, 

 Md„ 1940-46 



Treatment and increase 



Yield per acre 



Price per Value per 

 pound acre 



1 -percent grade ridge row 



Pounds 

 1, 053 

 928 



125 



Cents 

 42. 4 

 39. 9 



2. 5 



Dollars 



446 



Up-and-down-hill rows 



Increase in favor of 1-percent grade 

 ridge 



371 

 75 







Both yield and value of the crop were increased by ridge rows on a 

 1-percent grade compared with flat rows run up-and-down-hill. The 



