VOA慢速英语20060124a
时间：2018-12-07 作者：英语课 分类：2006年慢速英语（一）月
AGRICULTURE REPORT - Don't Know Much About Mulch?By George Grow
Broadcast: Tuesday, January 24, 2006
I'm Faith Lapidus with the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
Mulch is important to farmers. Mulch is a protective 1 cover of material that is spread on top of soil. It is usually made out of organic 2 material, like crop waste. Farmers may keep the remains 3 of maize 4 or other crops on top of the soil. This creates mulch on the soil surface. The plant remains help protect the soil against wind and water damage. This is called conservation tillage.
Making mulch from old orchard 5 trees
Mulching is one of the best things people can do for their plants. Mulch not only protects the soil against wind and water damage. It also helps keep the soil from getting too dry, and reduces the need for watering plants. It also limits temperature changes in the soil. And it stops unwanted plants, or weeds, from growing.
Organic mulch improves the condition of soil. As the mulch breaks down, it provides material which keeps the soil from getting hard. This improves the growth of roots and increases the movement of water through the soil. It also improves the ability of the soil to hold water. Organic mulch contains nutrients 6 for plants. It also provides a good environment for earthworms and other helpful organisms 7 in the soil.
The United States Department of Agriculture says it is easy to find organic mulch materials. Cut-up leaves and small pieces of tree bark can be used. Grass cuttings are also a good mulch for plants. Mulch from newspapers works 8 well in controlling weeds.
The best time to add mulch depends on your goal. Mulch provides a thick barrier between the soil and the air. This helps to reduce temperature changes in the soil. As a result, mulched soil will be cooler than other soil in the summer. Mulched areas usually warm up more slowly in the spring and cool down slowly in autumn. In winter, the mulched soil may not freeze as deeply as other soil.
Mulch used to help moderate 9 the effects of winter weather can be added late in autumn. The best time is after the ground has frozen 10, but before the coldest weather arrives. Spreading mulch before the ground has frozen may attract small animals searching for a warm place to spend the winter. Delaying the spreading should prevent this problem. The animals will probably find another place to live.
This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by George Grow. Read and listen to our reports online at www.unsv.com. I'm Faith Lapidus.
- A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
- We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。
- Organic farming is expanding everywhere.有机农业正在各地迅速发展起来。
- The organic fertilizer shall keep the soil in good heart.这有机肥一定会使土壤保持肥沃。
- He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
- The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
- There's a field planted with maize behind the house.房子后面有一块玉米地。
- We can grow sorghum or maize on this plot.这块地可以种高粱或玉米。
- My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
- Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。
- a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
- Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The organisms can be divided into discrete categories. 有机体可分为许多互不相联的种类。
- The cell is the unit of which all living organisms are composed. 细胞是构成一切生物的单位。
- We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
- The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。