The Secrets of a High-Yield Orchard
A century ago, Benton County’s agricultural expert shared the hard-won wisdom on which cover crops would save the local soil—and which would kill the trees.
County Agriculturalist Lee Lampson conducted a farm-to-farm study in 1914 to standardize soil management in Benton County. The study concluded that cereal crops like wheat and oats were poor choices because they only added bulk without nitrogen. Instead, Lampson championed legumes. Red clover was found to be problematic, often crowding out trees and requiring excessive water. Hairy vetch was identified as the premier soil builder, capable of reseeding itself and creating a natural mulch to conserve moisture. Alfalfa was recommended only for orchardists who could balance the water requirements, suggesting a rotation of cutting two crops for livestock feed and tilling the next two back into the earth to restore nitrogen to the arid landscape.
“For arid sage brush land is low in nitrogen.”
This horticultural advice highlights the perennial struggle of farming in the arid Columbia Basin. Today’s growers in Kennewick continue to balance nitrogen management and water efficiency, proving that the basic challenges of desert agriculture remain largely unchanged despite a century of technological advancement.
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