380 FARMING IN REGIONS OF LIMITED RAINFALL 



DRY-FARMING PRACTICES 



Cultural Methods. — On fourteen different Experiment Station 

 farms within the Great Plains area, experiments have been con- 

 ducted, some extending over eight years, in determining the com- 

 parative value of fall plowing, spring plowing, disking corn stubble, 

 subsoiling, green manuring and summer tillage^ in preparation 

 of the soil for wheat, oats, barley, corn, milo and kafir.^ Listing 

 was also tried.^ 



The following general conclusions were reached* (a) When 

 the climatic conditions are as favorable as those often experienced 

 in all parts of the Great Plains area on all the types of soil repre- 

 sented, profitable crops can be produced by any one of the several 

 different cultural methods such as are in common use; (6) when 

 the climatic conditions are unfavorable, no profitable crop of any 

 kind tested can be produced by any of the cultural methods 

 under investigation. 



Plows and Depth of Plowing. — Disk plows are commonly 

 used. Evidence so far obtained goes to show that nothing is 

 gained by stirring the soil to a depth greater than is done by ordi- 

 nary plowing, eight inches or less in depth. Whether plowed or 

 not, it is important to leave the ground in a condition which 

 will retain the maximum quantity of snow during winter. Fall 

 plowing is usually best. 



Depth, Rate and Time of Seeding. — Depth of seeding seems 

 to be of less importance than the proper time of seeding, which, 

 of course, varies in different sections. Results seem to show that 

 thin seeding is more favorable than when ordinary amounts of 

 seed are sown per acre in humid regions, though in some sections 

 where the rainfall is more favorable, ordinary rate of seeding is 

 better. The grain drill is better than the broadcast sower. On 

 the lighter soils the press-wheel drills give excellent results 

 (p. 156). 



Moisture Conservation. — ^Difference in depth of plowing seems 

 to have no effect on moisture conservation. In some sections 

 it has been found necessary to leave the soil uncropped but culti- 

 vated during each alternate year in order to save up enough mois- 

 ture for a crop. Cultivation is an important operation in dry- 



^ Summer tillage means the tillage of an imcropped fallow field durmg an 

 entire season. 



^ Milo and Icafir are two varieties of kafir corn, one of the classes of sorghum. 

 8 U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin 268- 



