Farming Techniques
The Soil Conservation Service taught farmers to make improvements in the way they prepared and cultivated the land. These methods were a turning point in agriculture because they prevented soil erosion.
“We do not want a changed climate. Much of the land could still
produce crops if the farmers would only change their attitudes.”
Henry Finnell, soil scientist
produce crops if the farmers would only change their attitudes.”
Henry Finnell, soil scientist
No-Till Farming
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No-till farming is a technique that prevents the field from losing its nutrients by replanting right over the last year's stubble without tilling. This prevents the soil from being exposed to erosion.
"[No-till] is currently the row-crop production
practice that will best minimize erosion and help re-build healthy soils." Richard Ferguson, soil scientist |
Contour Plowing
Contour plowing follows the topography of the land instead of plowing directly across the fields in straight lines.
"Contour plowing was one technique that
advanced as basic to soil conservation." R. Douglas Hurt, historian |
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Terracing
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Terracing allows farmers to avoid plowing straight down hills by building a series of steps. These steps prevented soil from washing away.
"Terracing...helped reduce to runoff. For a
good conservation of the soil, you need a good cultural program [and to] have good vegetative cover." Charlie Fenster, soil scientist |
Fallow Periods
Fallow periods leave harvested fields untilled and unplanted so that the soil was not exposed to erosion.
"Much of dry land went to a wheat-fallow system, rather than a number of crops which were grown each year in a continuous cropping system. The fallow system led to conserving soil moisture..."
Charlie Fenster, soil scientist |
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Stubble Mulch
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Stubble Mulch farming leaves crop residue in the field so the roots would hold onto the soil during a fallow period.
"Tillage practices were changed as a
result of the Dust Bowl to use less intensive tillage, known as stubble mulch." Dr. Bob Stewart, professor of Agricultural Science |
Irrigation
Farmers developed new methods to irrigate their fields in order to ensure soil aggregates did not break down due to dryness.
"Normally in our semi-arid climates, we receive
18-20" of precipitation a year. Corn, potatoes, and other crops need up to 40 inches of water a year to be really productive." -Gary Hubbell, farmer, Colorado |
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"...soil blowing can be prevented by the proper use
of the right kind of implements at the right time.”
- L.C. Aicher, Curbing the Wind, 1935
of the right kind of implements at the right time.”
- L.C. Aicher, Curbing the Wind, 1935