1. the cedar cannot re-sprout.
2. the chopped up branches
are spread out to good mulching level.
3.
the chopped up branches and stumps are low enough to the soil a
passenger car can drive over the mulch and not hang up.
4. the shredded material
is small enough to have a good mulching effect but not so small
that it will quickly decay.
5. the ratio of fine
to large particles are in balance to form a good mulch without creating
a poor c/n ratio to cause nutrient tie up.
6. the soil mulching
effects are as good or better than most other organic mulches.
7. the mulch adequately
shades the soil, keeping the soil at an even temperature, cooler
in the summer and warmer in the winter.
8. it brakes up large
falling rain drops keeping them from beating soil loose and washing
it away or packing it to a crust.
9. holds rain water in
place keeping it from running away causing erosion and flooding.
10. the mulch slows evaporation
keeping the soil surface moist for long periods allowing for grass
seeds to sprout.
11. the moist shaded
environment encourages earth worms and many other insects and microbe
activity which mellows and enriches the the soil and forms mild
organic acids that dissolve minerals from rocks that enriches the
soil still more.
12. the greatly increased
insect and microbe activity creates a soil crumb structure which
allows oxygen and rain, even heavy rains, to more quickly penetrate
into the soil.
13. rain water that is
allowed to run off the soil causes erosion and destructive floods.
flood water is lost forever, unless caught caught in lakes, but
even in lakes much needed water is lost.
14. the annual evaporation
rate in central texas is 55 inches per year. each year 55 inches
of water evaporates from area lakes.
15. water that is held
in the soil and protected by a mulch is safe from evaporation and
flood loss.
16. rain water stored
in the soil is protected from pollution.
17. rain water in the
soil will never be lost. but will go in one of two directions.
18.
the first direction is: when the soil is completely saturated beyond
its holding capacity the water will continue on down and eventually
drip into aquifers over a long period of time keeping them at a
constant level instead of going up and down with each drought and
flood. this will help springs maintain a constant flow that feeds
clear water to rivers.
19. the second direction
is: capillary action causes water to wick up, from deep, to plant
roots as they need it for growth and survival.
20. the spacing and thickness
of the mulch is excellent for seed germination and grass to sprout
through.
21. any forage grass,
native or planted, has protection from hoof or tire traffic with
the mulch cover.
23. the mulch also protects
forage grass from being pulled out or bitten off to short by animals.
24. the slow decay of
the mulch adds it's stored nutrients to the soil for healthy plant
growth.
25. with the cedar trees
removed and turned into a soil protecting mulch the stocking rate
of pasture land can be greatly increased. the ranchers would profit.
26. the "seppi"
grinder, or similar machine, mounted in front of a large, powerful
articulated loader is the most efficient and economical way of clearing
cedar and other brush and placing it as a soil and water protecting
mulch.
27.
this machine used over the edwards aquifer recharge zone could very
well make a big difference in water supply and the "panic"
conditions we now experience during drought that normally occur
in central texas.
28. well water pumpage
could also be increased. the farmers would profit.
29. all of the above
will better the economic conditions of the area. every one wins,
city dwellers, industry, farmers, ranchers, the wildlife and the
environment .
30. mulching is nature's
way of building and protecting our top soil and conserving our fresh
water.
31. nature has been mulching
the surface of the earth to build and protect our top soil since
the beginning.
32
nature has been mulching to trap and hold fresh water in the soil
for man's use since the beginning.