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The Role of Bluegrass in the Conservation of the Soil and its Fertility
Author(s) -
Whitt D. M.
Publication year - 1942
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1942.036159950006000c0055x
Subject(s) - soil conservation , acknowledgement , agriculture , agricultural experiment station , cover crop , soil fertility , service (business) , conservation agriculture , soil water , agricultural science , library science , political science , agronomy , agroforestry , environmental science , geography , business , computer science , archaeology , biology , soil science , marketing , computer security
THE soil conservationist and others are well aware of the value of bluegrass in reducing runoff and soil loss. At Bethany, Mo., under similar conditions of soil and slope, bluegrass land lost an average of 8% of the annual rainfall and 0.16 ton of soil per acre; whereas corn land lost 2J% of the annual precipitation and 51 tons of soil per acre (3). However, we are less aware of bluegrass sod as a force for conservation of organic matter, nitrogen, and calcium in available form within the soil. Little thought has been given to the possibility that such sod crops might increase the available nutrients within the surface soil. A study of some plots at the Bethany Soil Conservation Experiment Station reveals that bluegrass plays a role in conserving and improving soil fertility as well as in preventing erosion. Some aspects of this service by bluegrass are presented herein.