| dc.description | In 1954, almost 41/2 million acres of land in North Dakota were summer fallowed. This represented 11 % of the total
acreage and 16 % of the crop land. Many farmers considered
the practice an essential part of their cropping system from the
standpoint of moisture storage, control of weeds and stabilization of yields. Fallow favors the release of available forms of nitrogen from soil organic matter and allows
their accumulation in soil. More soil moisture, fewer weeds and the increased supply of available nitrogen usually result in moderate yield increases of the next crop. The increased yield is obtained at the expense of one season's operations with no crop. In 1958, several developments reduced the need for summer fallowing. These included selective herbicides and improved
short-season row crops which help in weed control, increased supply
of commercial nitrogen fertilizer and an increased knowledge concerning the use of fertilizer and the needs of plants for water. This article presents both the benefits and detriments of fallow and the practices which
may be used in its place. | |
