Stubble Mulch Tillage

Photograph of a close up of stubble mulch tillage of wheat stubble after harvest. Approximately 2000 pounds per acre of wheat stubble left on the soil surface to protect the land from wind and water erosion. Decomposed stubble also adds organic matter to the soil. This practice is recommended by SCS.
Date: August 9, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Terrace Construction

Photograph of Wayburn Gibson, contractor, constructing terraces with caterpillar and bulldozer. Terrace will reduce erosion by reducing runoff. Terrace system was designed by the Soil Conservation Service. Land will be planted to wheat in the fall of 1956.
Date: August 9, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Stock Water Cattle Coming in for Water

Photograph of cattle coming in for water in farm pond. This pond has been fenced into 2 sections so it may be used by cattle in both pastures of a 2 pasture grazing rotation system. In addition to native grass the cattle on this range get 5 pounds of cake per day. Steers are brought in and fed out in addition to the steers raised from the basic heard.
Date: August 10, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

King Ranch Bluestem

Photograph of King Ranch Bluestem planting in the spring of 1951. An annual average of 3000 pounds of seed are gathered from this 100 acre planting. L. C. Haskins, Jefferson County SCD Mgr. , Bob Price, and Hank Bradley inspecting grass and explaining the growth and use of grass to young Bradley. This grass was planted on old depleted cropland as a proper land use practice as recommended by SCS. For fertilizer, this 100 acre field received 45 tons of raw rock phosphate in 1949, 6 tons 33% ammonium nitrate n 1956.
Date: August 10, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Wheat Stubble Mulch Tillage

Photograph of stubble mulch tillage of wheat stubble after harvest. Approximately 2000 pounds per acre of wheat stubble left on the soil surface to protect the land from wind and water erosion. Decomposed stubble also adds organic matter to the soil. This practice is recommended by the SCS.
Date: August 9, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Range Improvement-Calves Grazing on Native Range

Photograph of freshly weaned calves grazing on native range of blue grama and side oats grama. Calves weighed 550 to 600 pounds at weaning time. Mr. Kouns has seeded over 100 acres of native grass on this 1/2 section. Seed harvested from sweet clover and native grass have more than paid for the land. Some gullies on this ranch were so bad that they could not be crossed with a truck, but now it is possible to drive over any part of the ranch in an automobile. This condition has been changed by establishing and maintaining a good grass cover which controlled the erosion and kept the top soil in the gullies. All of this ranch is under a conservation plan.
Date: August 3, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Highway Bridge Stream Bank Erosion

Photograph of stream bank at end of highway bridge at west end eroded away in spite of temporary erosion control measure of cottonwood trees cabled to bank. The west approach of the bridge was also washed out. Repair of the approach of bridge was $30,000 for 600 foot section whcih had to be replaced. Permanent control structure is being installed to reduce this type of damage in the future at a cost of $100,000.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Highway Bridge Stream Bank Erosion

Photograph of permant type control measure being installed to reduce stream bank erosion by holding this stream in its original banks so it will flow through the present bridge. In July, 1955 a temporary stream bank erosion control measure of cotton wood trees cabled to the bank was installed but the west approach of the bridge received serious damage in 1956. The cost to repair bridge approach was $30,000 and the permanent channel control structure will cost $100,000. Some permanent upstream flood control structure would reduece this flooding.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Washita River Watershed Construction Wildhorse Creek

Photograph of construction inspectors checking core trench grade at Sta. 27+95 C/L dam.
Date: August 29, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Wildhorse Creek Sub-Watershed Construction

Photograph of contractor riping rock in Core Trench across stream channel at Sta. 27+96 C/L Dam.
Date: August 29, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Wildhorse Creek Sub-Watershed Construction

Photograph of flood prevention & municipal supply dam. Dragline working in wet core Sta. 17/00 C/L Dam.
Date: August 3, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Washita River Watershed Flood Prevention & Municipal Supply Dam

Photograph of flood prevention & municipal supply dam. Core trench after excvation, from sta. 12/00 C/L Dam, looking northeast.
Date: August 3, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Washita River Watershed Flood Prevention & Municipal Supply Dam

Photograph of flood prevention & municipal supply dam. Foundation drain excavation on 60' bend at Sta 27+00. Note water in trench and bank sloughing.
Date: August 16, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Washita River Watershed Construction

Photograph of core trench cut to finished grade, looking southwest from Sta. 29+00 C/L dam.
Date: August 29, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Washita River Watershed Construction

Photograph of flood prevention & municipal supply dam. Camp area, shows SCS construction trailer and contractor trailer.
Date: August 15, 1956
Creator: Cornforth, Kenneth
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Irrigation

Photograph of Frank Boykin-drilling 6 small wells fitted with 5.5" casing and gravel packed. Wells will be pumped with central pumping unit and farmer hopes to irrigate 80 acres of land. Each well has been tested with 2" centrifugal pump.
Date: August 6, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Land Leveling

Photograph of a float for leveling land which will be used for irrigating farming. This float is 12 feet wide and 30 feet long and is constucted with 3x12 inch lumber. The grader blade in the center is adjustable. Ralph Mitchell, owner, using float. This float was costructed in farmers shop at the cost of 40 to 50 dollars.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Guar

Photograph of Guar being grown on soil unit 12 where it had been very difficlut to secure a stand of any crop. Guar is grown as a soil improving crop. Cooperators rotation on this land is guar and cotton. Farmer estimates cotton yeilds have increased 30% since he has been using Guar in his rotation.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of Pasture planting. William H. Tompkins, Soil Conservation Service Aid, holding runners of Bermuda grass on heavily fertilized side of the field. Notice difference in the stand of grass due to the fertilization. OK-350-2.
Date: August 22, 1956
Creator: Clark, Floyd W.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Grass, Legume and Forb Cultivation

Photograph of trial grass plantings. Chiseled area, 12 inches deep, in native grass pasture which was reseeded to native grasses: blue grama, buffalo and side oats grama. The native pasture grasses were 80% dead as the result of drought conditions. The field trial was made to determine the effects of seedbed preparations. The broom weed in the chiseled area was killed while the native grasses left showed signs of recovery. This planting was made in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service [SCS]. OK-360-3.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Land Clearance, Cultivation & Brush and Weed Control

Photograph of bindweed control. A close-up of bindweed area in a wheat field sprayed with 2,4,5-T herbicide in the spring of 1956 only partially killed. This weed spreads very rapidly and can cover large areas in a short amount of time if not controlled. It is resistant to poisons and needs constant tillage. It will kill out other vegetation as it increases. OK-353-12.
Date: August 2, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Watershed Treatment

Photograph of Roland Lee, UWC, in 1951 developing a plan between the City of Shawnee and the Shawnee SCD to treat the City Lake Watershed to control erosion and reduce the silt load of streams feeding the lake. M.D. Gamble, Agronomist, SCS, checks conservation treatment of this large, once active gully. Water was diverted from gully and it was making a good seed crop, controlling erosion and furnishing food and cover for wildlife. This area is also protected from fire and grazing. The application of this Soil Conservation District Plan is now saving the City of Shawnee many dollars on water filtration and guarantees storage capacity of this water system for many years to come.
Date: August 8, 1956
Creator: Lee, Roland E.
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Stubble Mulch Tillage (2)

Photograph of stubble mulch tillage on the contour with impounding type terraces. The wheat stubble was left on the ground to control wind erosion, increase water intake of the soil and to add organic matter to the surface soil.
Date: August 2, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

Stubble Mulch Tillage

Photograph of a close-up of stubble mulch tillage on the contour with impounding type terraces. The wheat stubble was left on the ground to control wind erosion, increase water intake of the soil and to add organic matter to the surface of the soil.
Date: August 2, 1956
Creator: McConnell, John
System: The Gateway to Oklahoma History