The Wolf Point Herald

Soil Blowing And Its Control
By Sam Sloan, extension

Wind erosion or soil blowing has, in the last five or six years, become one of the most serious agricultural problems in this area and has increased alarmingly during the past period. We may predict with certainty that soil blowing will continue as long as the land is farmed in the present system.

Summer-fallow has been responsible for soil drifting to a great extent; therefore some modification in this practice is necessary to meet the situation.

Soil drifting is not confined to any one locality but occurs from Texas to the Pea. Fallow is limited and high winds is in a fine state of cultivation.

Soil drifting does not occur locally or affect an entire field but starts in small areas and exposed spots, spreading in a fan-shaped front until surrounding fields are "infected". It is difficult to control and more reason control measures should be taken in order to avoid loss as much as possible.

All types of soil will drift if they happen to be exposed when swept by strong winds, but some more easily than others. Heavy clays are worse? Intermediate loams. The light soils are easily and lose their good structure in a dry condition. The heavy soils have a granular structure with sufficient amount of organic matter and cultivation to permit good tilth like the loams. The intermediate tend to form clods or compact when dry. These granules are harder when dry than moist. These intensive cultivation tends to destroy granular structure and form dust to start drifting.

During the process of drifting there are several conditions involved. The worst of these is the dust cloud of fine particles which rise to great heights. Under favorable conditions may be carried long distances. Another type of drift is composed of larger particles which billow along from the source. This drift will settle quickly when wind velocity diminishes to a certain point, forming banks of drift material, and still larger particles move only a foot or two above the ground, cutting off vegetation, both creating more eligible spots for further drifts, dunes and burying area.