Abstract A method and apparatus is provided to conserve moisture for growing crops. An over-the-field carrier is provided with harvesting means for severing a prior year''s crop stubble from a field. The leaf and stalk material are separated and the leaf material is retained for feed while the stalk material is returned to the field for building up the organic matter in the soil and also controlling erosion. Cultivating means may be incorporated on the carrier to work the soil and enhance the effectiveness of the recycled stalk material. In areas where sufficient moisture is a major concern slotting apparatus is incorporated onto the carrier to form a longitudinally and vertically extending slot through the field. This slot is then filled with the separated stalk material which is effective in retaining water entering the slot. An inclined and compacted watershed area is formed on either side of the slot by grader blades and rollers. This serves to direct runoff water into the slot where it will be retained for use by growing plants.
An agricultural implement for use in a field comprising: a carrier adapted for over the field travel; means depending from said carrier for first shearing the soil at spaced apart locations to form the sides of a slot at the carrier is advanced in the field; means coupled with said carrier for lifting the soil sheared by said shearing means from the area between said spaced apart locations to thereby form said slot; opposed blade means coupled with said carrier and disposed on either side of said slot in laterally extending intersecting planes for forming opposed watershed areas inclined inwardly toward the slot; and means carried by the carrier for placing a mulch material in the slot, whereby water will run down said areas into the slot and said material will retard evaporation in the slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An agricultural implement for use in a field comprising: a carrier adapted for over the field travel; means depending from said carrier for first shearing the soil at spaced apart locations to form the sides of a slot at the carrier is advanced in the field; means coupled with said carrier for lifting the soil sheared by said shearing means from the area between said spaced apart locations to thereby form said slot; opposed blade means coupled with said carrier and disposed on either side of said slot in laterally extending intersecting planes for forming opposed watershed areas inclined inwardly toward the slot; and means carried by the carrier for placing a mulch material in the slot, whereby water will run down said areas into the slot and said material will retard evaporation in the slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein is included means for forcing said mulch material into said slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein is included a mulch holding area on the carrier; and delivery structure for passing a desired quantity of said material from the holding area to the mulch placing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein is included a surface working member disposed forwardly of the soil shearing means and adapted to remove an initial quantity of the soil along a line disposed in alignment with the slot to be formed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein is included roller means disposed in trailing relationship to said blade means for compacting said areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the soil lifting means comprises shoe means disposed in a plane generally in alignment with said area for directing loosened soil upwardly, and first and second spaced apart plates rigidly coupled with said carrier rearwardly of said shoe means and extending longitudinally to maintain the walls of the slot prior to placement of said mulch material in the slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein is included means for cultivating the soil ahead of the surface working means and carried by said carrier.