JOHN RAISLER

TO USE WATER EFFICIENTLY FOR CROP PRODUCTION TAKES FIRST A CHANGE IN THINKING. FOURTEEN INCHES OF MOISTURE IN ONE YEAR DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN THAT WE LIVE IN A DESERT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME 25 INCHES OF MOISTURE A YEAR DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN THAT WE LIVE IN A RAIN FOREST. NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION WE CAN LOOK AT THE SOIL WE FARM OR GRAZE AS A SPONGE THAT HOLDS ALL THE BASIC INGREDIENTS FOR THE GROWTH OF WHATEVER PLANT WE ARE GROWING ON IT. OUR JOB AS RESOURCE MANAGERS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT SPONGE IS ALWAYS IN A FAVORABLE POSITION TO TAKE IN THE INGREDIENTS TO GROW THESE PLANTS.

FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INDEED HAVE A SPONGE AND NOT TARMAC AT OUR FAVOURITE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REMEMBER THAT WITH EVERY FIELD OPERATION WE ARE MAKING OUR LAND MORE SUITABLE FOR LANDING A 747 THAN GROWING A CROP EFFICIENTLY. THE ONLY SOIL CONTACTING OPERATION THAT CAN BE MADE TO MAINTAIN THIS SPONGE IS THE SEEDING OPERATION AND THAT OPERATION SHOULD BE MADE KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE SEED SHOULD BE PUT IN THE GROUND WITH A ABSOLUTE MINIMUM OF DISTURBANCE. THE MISTAKE THAT IS OFTEN MADE WHEN SEEDING IS THINKING THAT AS LONG AS YOU CAN GET THROUGH THE TRASH WITH A SEEDING IMPLEMENT THAT YOU ARE SAVING MOISTURE AND PROMOTING INFILTRATION.

IN MY OPINION A SEEDING SYSTEM THAT CUTS A SLOT IN THE GROUND JUST WIDE ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE SEED AND FERTILIZER INTO THE SOIL IS THE BEST FOR MAINTAINING THAT SOIL STRUCTURE. IN MY SITUATION OF LOW ANNUAL RAIN FALL MOISTURE USE EFFICIENCY MEANS CONSERVING EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT FALLS FOR USE LATER. ONE SIMPLE THING IS TO CUT THE STUBBLE AS HIGH AT HARVEST AS YOU CAN, THIS ALLOWS THE GROUND TO CATCH WINTER SNOW AND INSULATE THE GROUND TO MAKE INFILTRATION EASIER IN THE SPRING. WE ALSO TRY TO USE A MORE DIVERSE CROPPING SYSTEM SO AS NOT TO ALWAYS USE WATER FROM THE SAME LEVEL ALLOWING THE SUBSOIL IN THE YEARS WHEN SHALLOW ROOTED CROPS ARE USED TO BUILD UP.

BY THINKING OF MY LAND AS A SPONGE HAS MADE IT A LOT EASIER FOR ME TO THINK OF WAYS OF CONSERVING MOISTURE.