Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], February 15, 1952, Image 1

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
*NTORlOAL SOOiÉT*
MONTANA
Feb. 1MWSNA
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Top photo show* soil
drifting from fallow on
a «trip cropped field
near Gildford. This
photo taken Dec. 2. 1949.
illustrates that strip
cropping alone is not
By TORLIEF S. AASHEIM
Superintendent, Huntley Branch
Montana Experiment Station
TRIP cropping plus stubble mulch is
whipping wind erosion in Montana. Strip
cropping is now the common practice on
most of the cultivated dry land in the state,
and each year an increasing amount of land
is protected by a stubble mulch.
Less than 10 years ago most of the fallow
in the state was black at the end of the
fallow season because the tillage implements
most generally used were the moldboard
plow' and the oneway disc. Driving through
the state today one-still sees a lot of black
fallow, but there is also a lot of fallow that
has a greyish tinge. This greyish tinge is
caused by stubble lying on the surface of
the land. Fallow protected by a stubble
mulch is most generally referred to as stub
ble mulch fallow, and it is doing a good job
of helping field stripping control wind ero
sion.
s
Strip cropping and stubble mulch tillage
are excellent partners for controlling wind
erosion. The stubble mulch reduces the
velocity of the wind near the surface of the
ground and traps moving soil particles.
Strips of crop or stubble between fallow
strips prevent soil drifting from spreading
over the entire field in case it gets started
in certain spots on the fallow strips. Strip
cropping does not prevent wind erosion from
getting started. Its chief value is in confining
the soil drifting to a small area.
This change in farming practice has been
due in part to the initiative of farmers, but
the change has (Please turn to page 19)
ERS MONTANA AND NORTHERN WYOMING
i
always sufficient to con
trol wind erosion.
A view of wind strip
ping in Montana. This
practice helps control
wind erosion by its lo
calizing effect.
A contour stripped field
in eastern Montana
showing fallow strips
protected by a stubble
mulch. In addition to
being almost immune
from wind erosion this
field is also well- pro
tected from erosion by
water. (Montana experi
ment station photos)
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