HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-08-23, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1989. PAGE 13.
Sports
Brussels Midgets drop
first playoff series
Brussels Midgets met the wrong
team at the wrong time and their
playoff season ended abruptly
Thursday night with a loss to
Shakespeare.
Despite Andrew McCutcheon’s
nine strikeouts and Mike Alexan
der’s fourth inning home run,
Brussels dropped a 7-5 decision to
the team that last year won the
Major WOAA title and lost the
series two games to none.
Shakespeare struck early and
had the game nearly wrapped up
before Brussels could get their bats
going. Shakespeare, led by Ross
Herold’s single, double and triple,
scored once in the first, three in the
second and two in the third.
Meanwhile Tim Yantzi, who even
tually recorded 13 strikeouts on the
night, kept Brussels completely in
check until Mike Alexander’s
fourth inning homer. Then it was
two more shutout innings before
Brussels got something started
with a three run seventh.
Shakespeare scored on in the
eighth and Brussels came back
with on in the ninth but the rally
fell short.
Final bowling tournee Thurs.
You’re out!
In acloud of dust a Harriston player is tagged out at second base by a Cargill player during action in
the Walton Squirt tournament Saturday. After astrong start which saw them take a 2-0 lead, Cargill
faded and Harriston, the eventual tournament winners took a convincing 14-2 win.
Humus key to water , soil management
On August 14 at 4 o’clock in the
afternoon the ladies of the Brussels
Lawn Bowling Club bowled for the
Jack Yuill trophy. At the same time
the men of the club bowled for the
Jim Mair trophy.
Mrs. Mary Yuill presented the
trophy to the winner, Viola Kirkby
and Jane de Vries. Coming second
was Isobele Gibson and Anne
Cook. Third was Elda Coultes and
Ida Evans. Consolation went to
Laura Johnston and Nancy Tucker.
Jim Mair presented the trophy to
the winners Gerald Gibson and
George Inglis. Coming second was
Jim Bowman and Jim Mair. Third
was Jim Coultes and Peter Tucker.
Fourth, Pat Rowland and Ross
Veitch. Consolation went to Less
Douglas and George Michie.
The last tournament in Brussels
will be held August 24 bowling for
the Frank Carter trophy at 1:30
p.m. Come out and watch an
afternoon of lawn bowling.
By ROBERT TRAUT
JOINT AGRICULTURAL SOIL
AND WATER CONSERVATION
PROGRAM
Ample rainfall this spring has
again shown the importance of
organic matter and humus in the
soil because of their ability to
moderate the harmful effects of
both the heavy rains this season as
well as the drought conditions
which were experienced last sea
son.
Organic matter is decomposed
by soil organisms. Their remains
and the very slowly decomposing
portions of the organic matter
persist in the soil as a dark coloured
substance called humus.
During heavy rains, humus acts
as a glue to hold soil aggregates
together, resisting their tendency
to puddle and seal. Maintaining a
porous surface enables the rainfall
to soak into the soil which is
particularly important on sloping
fields where rainfall runs off from
puddled soils, robbing the crop of
the precious moisture which does
not fall during droughty conditions.
An open soil surface also helps to
prevent erosion during high rainfall
periods.
Organic matter and humus them
selves absorb moisture which can
be used later by crop plants.
Humus also improves soil structure
which allows roots to penetrate and
explore a larger volume of soil in
search of moisture and nutrients.
But, soil organic matter and
humus cannot be increased very
quickly. Our topsoil has taken
almost 2,000 years per inch to be
formed. It is a slow process which
essentially transforms subsoil into
topsoil by the addition of humus
over a long period of time.
This further emphasizes the
importance of maintaining soil
organic matter by preventing ero
sion. Topsoil is very difficult, if not
impossible, to regain once it is lost.
In fact, eroded areas tend to
produce less vegetation (and yield)
thus improving the soil less and
leaving it susceptible to further
erosion, leading to a vicious circle
which is difficult to break.
To prevent this process from
starting, soil organic matter should
be maintained by minimizing till
age. Tillage tends to incorporate
oxygen into the soil which stimu
lates soil organisms to break down
organic matter more quickly. Mini
mizing tillage to that which is
required to prepare a seedbed will
also help to minimize organic
* matter loss from erosion.
Soil organic matter can be im
proved by growing high residue
producing crops such as hay,
spring and fall cereals, plowdowns
like red clover and cover crops.
These crops will help prevent
erosion and add large quantities of
organic matter to maintain the soil
organic matter levels if low residue
crops are also grown in the
rotation. Organic matter levels will
increase slowly if they make up the
majority of the rotation.
The bottom line is - don’t lose the
topsoil and organic matter in the
first place. Prevent erosion and
minimize tillage. In this way, good
crop rotation and other conserva
tion practices will allow you to
maintain the organic matter levels
that you do have. Playing catch-up
with organic matter levels is a
difficult, long-term, proposition.
Don’t let this vicious circle get
started in your fields.
> o°
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