Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1911 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI ROTATION IN DRY AREAS Rotation means an interchange in the succession of the crops grown with a view to the better maintenance and improvement of the soil with reference to chemical and physical conditions. The nature of the interchange will depend more or less on the kinds of the crops that it is desired to grow, and on the adaptation of the natural conditions for growing them. Any interchange in the succession constitutes rotation in a sense, but such interchange does not of necessity result in either the maintenance or improvement of the conditions that govern production. Rotation in non-leguminous cereals only may tend to some extent to lessen weed production, but it does not in any way increase the plant food in the land. When cultivated crops are grown in interchange with this class of cereals, the cleaning of the land is much facilitated, but the depletion of the plant food goes on unless one or more of the crops grown is a legume. Increase in production is best secured in the absence of the use of commercial fertilizers when the rotation is of a character that will improve the tilth of the soil and its moisture-holding power, and will also increase the increment of piant food in it. To secure all of these benefits calls for the introduction of a grass or clover crop into the rotation, preferably the latter, which in itself meets all the requisites sought as stated above. Positive reasons for rotations in humid areas.--It is necessary in these for the following reasons, among others, that may be given: To maintain an equilibrium, (1) in plant food; (2) in the humus supply; (3) in the mechanical condition of the soil, and (4) in the food products grown. When one crop is grown for successive years on the same land in the...
