B32—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 10,1982 Soil “air vents” reduce UNIVERSITY PARK - Bury pipe m fields to bleed off air’ Sounds crazy. But venting soil air promotes water retention and reduced erosion, increases local groundwater recharge, and boosts crop growth, says agricultural engineer Albert R. Jarrett, who explores with J.R. Hoover of the USDA’s Northeast Watershed Research Center the interaction of rainfall and soil air pressure. In Jarrett’s laboratory, tended by graduate student Jeffiey Suhr, five trays about 3 feet long and 12 inches wide and deep grow lush with grass. All trays have small plastic dram tubes in the soil bottom; several have plugged tubes. When water pours over the slightly sloping turf, three to nine tunes as much soil erodes from the surface of the plugged-tube box as from the open-tube one. Grass one the plugged-tube tray is thinner and less healthy m appearance, air pressure keeps water from the roots. Jarrett and Suhr await analysis of the final data, but they expect it to bear our their theories of soil air pressure as a factor in erosion and crop growth. “In the Northeast, only about two to four hard rams each year would cause the kinds of soil air pressures and runoff that Jead to SADDLE UP! TO BETTER EQUIPMENT Find It In Lmntmaimr Farming 's Classified Pagan. CASE 2290 TRACTOR SPECIAL! | t 128 hp (95kW) Tractor has long life 504-cu. Case-built diesel engine; all new hydraulics; big quiet cab and dozens of features for your comfort and field productivity! SPECIAL PRICE*** $ 31.000 Stop or Call Now Only One (Serial #09906435) At This Special Price! erosion heavy erosion,” says Jarrett. “Whenever water ponds on the surface, soil air pressure works against seepage. Our figures show that soil might absorb a half inch of water in a slow, steady ram where soil air won t be trapped, but only about a quarter inch in a thun derstorm.” Former graduate student Bill Elliott and Jarrett looked at 14 methods of soil air venting. Ver tical mulching, by a chisel plow tilling a Ift-mch-deep slot propped open with corn fodder, worked best. “Few tillage venting methods work well,” explains Jarrett, “and they aren’t permanent. Pipe drilled full of holes and set ver tically in the soil works best, but that’s not practical. We’re trying to determine the optimum depth and patterns for buried pipe." Jarrett, Hoover, and their students have examined soil air venting for the past six years. Some of Jarrett’s theories are extensions of the work of Wisch meier of Purdue, and he mentions Dixon at Arizona State who has studied soil air movements in flooded fields. “We routinely bury pipe to dram water from swampy fields,” says Jarrett. “Maybe pipe installations to vent air and retain water will someday be as useful.” REBATE As High As qX *5,000 ZIMMERMAN'S FARM SERVICE Bethel, PA. Ph. 717-933-4114 10/15 Financing Available ■ ■ stills: Coolers® ATTENTION DAIRYMEN: ISUlitMl' I SfHt i V- < ' ’T'" .. .Why settle for less! FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT; RUFUS BRUBAKER REFRIGERATION 614 Penryn Rd. • Established in 1946 • Authorized Mueller Dealer Since 1967 • Dependable 24 Hr. Service • Mojonnier Parts Available • 300 Gal. Mojonnier • 400 Gal. Mojonnier • 600 Gal. Mojonnier If you will be needing a cooler within the next 6 months, now is the time to purchase that cooler. A small down payment will hold cooler and allow you to get it FREIGHT FREE! One dairyman who took advantage of this offer is SAVING $875... only From MUELLER! 717-665-3525 USED TANKS AVAILABLE: • 400,500,800,1,250,1,500 Gal. Mueller Tanks • 500 Gal. DeLaval • 600 Gal. Girton D 4 • 1500 Gal. Zero Manheim, PA 17545 dE
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