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Page Six
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Experiment station to test
soil temp, flow depth aids
sediment pollution studies
In March 1978, the Morrow S.W.C.D., the
Soil Conservation Service, and the Oregon
State University Experiment Station began a
program of monitoring soil movement on
wheat-fallow cropland to determine terrace
effectiveness in reducing sediment pollution
of water.
Gerald O. "Jerry" George, Agriculture
Engineer, SCS, was detailed to the Pendleton
Experiment Station to do the monitoring.
During the spring of 1978, Mr. George and
Edgar Baumann, Pendleton Experiment
Station, and Gordon Fishbacker, Science and
Education Administration, Pendleton, assist
ed by the Morrow S.W.C.D. staff measured
soil movements in five fields. All of the fields
had graded terraces, on slopes between 10
and 30 per cent, and had measured soil
movement between 18 and 29 tons per aci e.
In September 1978, Mr. George installed a
recording rain gauge, three level recording
thermometer, flow measuring flume, and a
flow depth recorder at Don Peterson's near
Valby. With the recording rain gauge he will
determine duration and intensity of precipita
tion. The' three level recording thermometer
provides temperature at the soil surface,
three inches and six inches. From the
temperatures he can determine if the soil was
frozen when erosion occured. The measuring
flume and depth recorder will provide a
measurement of precipitation that runs off
the field.
This study will provide a more in depth
knowledge of the impact of terraces and
cultural operations on soil movement. A
better understanding of what is actually
occuring through this monitoring program
will enable more effective solutions to reduce
soil loss.
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The Don Peterson farm at Valby is location for new test
station to determine terrace effectiveness
Reseeding rangeland advised if several
economic questions are answered
Range reseeded with crested wheatgrass provides
for increased forage, reduces erosion.
Reseeding to improve rangeland is a good
alternative in many cases. Seeding can
increase forage production, reduce erosion,
improve the looks of an area, increase the
quality of grazing, provide wildlife habitat
and lengthen the grazing season.
Before the actual seeding can begin
however, several questions concerning the
need for seeding, possible " changes in
management,' the seeding site cost and
expected returns must be asked.
Seeding does not substitute for manage
ment. If 25 to 30 per cent of the present
vegetation is desirable, stand improvement
should come through changes in management
which allow increases of these plants. On
areas where heavy animal use or former
cultivation has completely eliminated the
important forage plants, seeding is probably
the only practical means of improving the
area. In Morrow County, seeding is not
generally done after brush spraying because
of the rapid increases that will naturally
occur if virtually any native grasses are
present in the stand before spraying. Seeding
in this county is mostly done on abandoned
farm land and on rangeland that has deeper
soils, but has been heavily overgrazed at
some time.
Two of the most common grasses seeded
in the non-forested areas of Morrow County
are "Nordan" crested wheatgrass and
intermediate wheatgrass. Crested wheat
grass is a bunchgrass adapted to very dry
conditions but does very well on virtually any
site in the county. This grass is in particularly
suited to dual season grazing; that is, it can
be grazed early in the spring then grazed
again in the fall. When crested pastures are
used in conjunction with native range, the
grazing season is effectively lengthened. On
the upland sites in the south part of the
county, intermediate wheatgrass which is a
mild sod-former, is often used. This grass
produces high quality summer feed. These
are just two of the grasses commonly used.
There are many other varieties available to
many different needs and sites.
Conf. on page 7
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