The Story of Soil Conservation
* • .\ **
* By Charles W. Wilson
Soil erosion has been an actively destructive force ir.
America since the first settlers began clearing and tilling the
soil of the eastern seaboard over 300 years ago. No new
area has been developed without almost immediate effects
of erosion. Soil Conservation which is the opposing force
lo erosion is an infant in age, but in 15 years has developed
techniques to challenge the centuries old destruction.
The rate of destruction three hundred years ago was
slow for two reasons. Soil was deep with an age old accu
mulation of organic matter. Equipment, by present stand
ards, was crude and not so destructive of soil. Knowledge
was limited to a few crude fundamentals.
The destruction of soil was not deliberate. It was caused
through ignorance of what we know about the science or
growing crops and what soil needs to maintain itself. The
knowledge that millions of acres of new land'lay to the west
prevented much, if any, real concern over lost soil.
We in Alaska and in the Matanuska Valley have land
as new as the pilgrims found at Plymouth Rock in 1620, but
we have the knowledge gained by American farmers and
Agricultural Scientists for 330 years to help us avoid the
destruction they started.
We have tools and equipment that can destroy land a
Mr. Charles IV. Wilson is in charge oj all soil conservation
work in Alaska.
• hundred times faster than the ox drawn wooden plows of
the pilgrims. These tools can in a few hours destroy 1.000
years of nature’s soil building activities if improperly used.
But these tools need not be destructive, indeed they can lead
to a better way of life without the back breaking toil which
shortened the lives of those earlier pioneers.
As time is measured in the Geologic History of the world
it has been a very short while ago that the Matanuska Valley
was filled with ice. As these glaciers receded we picture the
valley as a broad expanse of gravel with here and there hills
of the same material, and many huge blocks of ice partly
buried in the silt and rock. Immense masses of ice lay over
the higher areas and the rivers periodically spread over great
areas leveling out many of the lesser gravel piles and deposit
ing fine silt and sand.
Above: The storm started when this field was covered with
18 inches of packed and frozen snow with these carrots frozen
securely in the soil. After the first 4 days the snow was gone
and before the wind had subsided 4 inches of soil had been
removed, as can be seen in this picture. If we assume the
normal weight of soil, the soil contained in the top 4 inches
of one acre would be equivalent to 65 fully loaded 10-ton
trucks.
Then there is the moisture contained in the snenv mantle
which is estimated as the equivalent of one inch of rain which
would have been released to the soil in April.
A 60-foot belt of trees left on the north and east sides of
the farmstead reduces winter fuel costs and increases the com
fort of farm families and livestock.
Individual problems warrant individual study and assist
ance is available through the Soil Conservation Districts to
valley farmers.
The cheapest and best solution to wind erosion hazards
in the Matanuska Valley is through planned development of
the farm leaznng natiz<e shcltcrbelts and organic matter rather
than by planting new trees.
Left : Picture showing cross section of Matanuska soil after
the wind of February, 1950. The blaek area is the original
soil. Over this is the 18 inches of snow which had packed to
a hard crust. Over this a deposit of 4 inches of Matanuska soil
removed from some valley farm.
Below:
Vertical znew of some Matanuska Valley farms. The Soil
Conscrz'ation Sendee and the Soil Conserz>ation Districts use
maps such as this to zvork out spacing and depth of zvind
breaks or shelter belts taking into consideration the fullest safe
utilization of the land and at the same time avoiding obstruc
tions that would cause drifting on highzvays. The maintenance
of high organic content in the soil, long stubble and perennial
grass crops make for zander spacing between shelter belts but
in no ease should more than one-eighth of a mile or 660 feet,
be left exposed in the path of prevailing winter zvinds.
i ■
-may a
Mighty winds carried great clouds of silty dust from the
river channels, and deposited it in a thin layer over the
gravel. As vegetation sprang up more and more silt was
caught and held. That is how our valley, as we know it.
was developed. As the ice fields grew smaller the size of the
rivers grew smaller and the intensity and frequency of winds
slowly diminished.
The soil brought into the valley by wind and held by
vegetation can be taken out of the valley by wind if the
vegetation is removed and destroyed. Does this mean that
clearing land for farming will destroy our valley? It can,
but this need not happen if we understand the hazards and
guard against them. We must also understand some of the
fundamentals of soils. Here is where we have a great ad
vantage over pioneers of other times.
We know how the soils were developed. We know shel
terbeits and windbreaks in addition to making life more
pleasant around farm buildings, also reduces wind velocities
near the ground. We know that crop rotation helps build
soil and adds organic matter to the soil and that organi.:
additions are a continuing need to maintain soils in a fertile
and stable condition.
We know that each combination of soil and slope has a
limited capability for use. Some can be used indefinitely
only very minor precautions. Some need extreme measures
with no more normal good farming practices, some require
to prevent their destruction, while ithers can only stand occa
sional cultivation and still athers that should never be culti
vated. These later are useful for grass and timber produc
tion. Then there are, of course, our steep mountain areas
where the Dahl sheep, and mountain goats make their home,
and where the moose and caribou spend the summer months.
Each class of land has a use and each kind of use fits in
with the needs of man and, when put to this use, provides a
stable continuing and highly desirable valley in which to live.
The more stable classes can he used safely a major part
of the time to grow all types of climatically adapted vegetable
crops. The less stable classes are adapted to hay and culti -
vated grasses needed for cattle and sheep. The unstable areas
can produce good range grasses and timber. The wild, steep
areas can perpetuate the wild game and feed the streams and
lakes, thereby providing the natural habitat for fish.
Each class of land has a safe use capacity and each use
provides for one or more of the needs of man.
These are some of the things that earlier settlers did
not know or consider important.
The soils of the valley have been classified as to capa
bility by the Soil Conservation Service, and this information
is available to farmers of the valley.
The new settler in Alaska has infinite advantages over
the earlier pioneers. He has available Agricultural Special
ists, who determine the needs of the soil and test plants for
adaptability. Breeds of livestock and their feeding needs, and
also suitable kinds of buildings are determined. This used
to be a trial and error procedure, with each farmer finding
things out for himself. Here the Agricultural Research Ad
ministration gets the answers to these and many other ques
tions in this new country. A very modern Research Station
is located in the valley.
Farm information used to pass from farmer to farmer
and sometimes take years to travel a relatively short distance.
Here we have the Agricultural Extension Service to carry
information throughout the valley and the Territory so that
in a matter of a short time any new' material is available to
all farmers. We have an Extension agent serving farmers
of the valley.
Soil Conservation Districts have been organized in most
of the more important farming areas, including the Palmer,
Wasilla and Chugiak Districts in the Matanuska Valley.
These districts are headed b<- farmer Supervisors electee?
by their neighbors to manage the affairs of the district. The,
Supervisors, with assistance of specialists from Federal and>
Territorial Agricultural Agencies, have developed a program
and plan of approach to the solution of problems of the val
ley. They are now engaged in carrying out these plans for
permanent protection of our farm land, and the water supply,
which are equally necessary to our prosperity and well being.
The problems of wind erosion and water supply are not
individual farm problems, but rather community or group
problems which can only be solved by the group.
One individual may clear all vegetation from 40 to tfO
acres with no appreciable damage resulting. A second and a
third adjoining him, may do the same thing and the result is
severe damage from wind erosion.
One small swamp may he drained with benefit to the
individual, but when this is multiplied many times this source
of ground water is effected and the habitat of migratory
water fowls is destroyed.
We know by the experience of other areas all over
America that these things have happened and they can happen
here.
Millions of dollars are being spent all over America to
reestablish forests, lakes and swamps to renew the natural
balance.
Group planning and cooperation in the Matanuska \ al
ley, as elsewhere in Alaska, can prevent the original destruc
tion. The plans have been developed and the will to accom -
plish a sound development of our valley is much in evidence
among our people.
The districts propose a complete study of ground water
source, supply and purity before recommending drainage or
irrigation. They propose a study of the effect of cold water,
and increases in yield of crops from irrigation, before recom
mending large scale irrigation projects.
Studies have been initiated on land clearing to determine
the best methods of clearing to preserve organic matter and
the greatest utilization of timber.
Due to the slow growth of timber the district recom
mends that shelterbelts be left between fields rather thao^
planting windbreaks. These shelterbelts should be protected
from grazing and from fire. Reinforcement plantings to
thicken the natural stand should be made.
Fall plowing is very dangerous in the Matanuska \ alley.
Grain stubble holds snow and soil. At least six inches
of stubble should be left standing during the winter and in
corporated into the surface soil in the spring.
Crop rotations increase yields, maintain good soil con
dition and helps to stabilize the soil against wind and water
erosion.
The Soil Conservation Service has furnished technically
trained Soil Conservationists to all the districts in the Mata
nuska Valley. These trained men are available through the
districts to all farmers who make application for on sife
individual assistance.
We have a beautiful valley capable of supporting a per
manently healthy agricultural community. We have the most
modern knowledge of what to do and how to do it. W e know
how our valley was made and we know how to develop it
without losing it.
We are free to build here in the Matanuska \ alley with
out first having to repair old damage.
W7e are indeed fortunate with a new world and all
mpdern science to help.