MOISTURE IN THE SOIL.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43372, 12 September 1908, Page 4

MOISTURE IN THE SOIL.

.* A 'it Xl .'* •; $ y ‘: l■■*;i * < hpw >,' t : t * . ' { i** j\ M' isture is ohe' of ' the essential elements of plant life,’ and no cultivated crop can grow and-"flourish unlets there is 'sufficient moisture in the soil to render food constituents to the roots of the plant. have lleeh made, to allow i the connection betn-.eeui moisture, the? eflect of fertilisers, and the crop: • tfaults. Comparing seasons with:an| ample rainfall with dry seasons, it? was found that the dry seasons lead? to.a reduction in cereal crops, grown’ ,iu. fully manured land of 2001 b of grain Bnd a corresponding decrease ini 4 tHe straw, while in. unmanured land, the decrease was 1041 bof grain.; The point here is that in dry seasons; fertilisers are not able to work, therefore the necessity for cultivating! the soil in such a rranneb as toj retain in the soil the winter moisture.; Surface ploughing, harrowing, and horse hoeing aie the means to be? employed. The capillary action of a ; s ul left undisturbed is incrcasod, and; the moisture is drawn up ;r from lower* layers of soil and evaporated. Cultivation of the surface soil, however,! break up this capillary action, and? the needful moisture is retained in thei subsoil,. ’ ' t ;. • "