The grain sorghums Volume 101-115

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1914 Excerpt: ... to three inches in depth in the eastern part to three or four inches in the extreme western. Considering all factors affecting the depth of mulches it is seen thatI after seedingI as deep a mulch as possible should be maintained without interfering with the root development. Mulches made before planting or after the crop is harvested should be from two to four inches in depthI depending upon local soil and climatic conditions_ Frequency of Renewing the Mulch.--The value of a mulch depends not only upon its depthI but also on how often it is renewed. _Iust how often a mulch should be renewed depends upon the type of soil and the frequency of rain. The mulch should be renewed oftener on clay soils than on loam or sandy soils. Rainfall. even though lightI destroys a mulchI and it is necessary to renew the mulch after every rainI just as soon as the surface becomes dry and a crust begins to form. On sandy or other loose soils the mulch can be renewed much sooner after a rain without injury than on clay or other compact soils. The latter types must be fairly dry before any cultivation is done in order to avoid injury from puddling. Whether rains occur or notI the mulch should be renewed as often as necessary to maintain a looseI well pulverizedI dry layer. Once every two weeks is considered a good average for nearly all soils in this belt. ' In making a dirt mulch it is desirable to develop a fineI granular structure. A fine "dust" mulch is not the object sought and should be avoided if possible. Methods Used for Maintaining Soil Mulches.--Any implement or device which will' serve to pulverize the soil to the depth desired may be used for establishing a mulch. Many specially constructed tools have been placed upon the market for this purpose. ...