Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-10-21
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ak ALI SOILS.


Newspaper Bulletin No. Is
The name oT -alkali soils" is usually
applied almost unfortunately to all
coils containing an unusual amount of
soluble mineral salt, whose presence
IL frequently made apparent by the
-cifcrvescencc' or appearing on the
surface Of II white powder or crust,
soluble in water. This -alkdii- be.
comes more apparent IN dry weather
following upon rains or irrigation
Later III the season il may become
iinperccptiblc from intcrmiX;urc with
dust. The first rain or irrigation dis.
solves the encrustatiOn and carries it
partly into the drains. thence away,
but mostly back into the soils, whence
weather. The immediate source of
this 4alkah" is usually To be found i'll
the soil water, which, rising from be-
low and cooperating AT the surface
deposits there whatever of dissolved
matters il may have in solution.
Such water when reached by dig
ging Is by 10 means always percepti-
lily salty or alkaline, and the same il
mostly true of the sol! Il few inches
beneath the surface. For, as the soil
acting like Il wick, draws up the soil
water and allows it to- cyapuratc at
the surface, il is there, Of couisc, that
all the Dissolved matters accumulate.
until the solution becomes sostrong MS
to Injurc or kill vegetation. Tho in.
jury is usually found to be most Sc
we're just at or near the crown of the
root where tho stem energies from
the soil.
One obvious and practically i'm.
portunt conclusion to he drawn from
the above consideration is. that the
more water cvapnrates from the sur.
face OF the soil within Il given season
the more alkHli salt will he brought
to the surface. Hence, within Ger.
tain limits II greater rainfall will bring
up Il greater amount of nlkali, or sur.
face irrigation will produce the same
effect. always providing that tho rain.
fall does not 20 So fur ns W wnsh u
portion Of the salts beyond the
reach Of surfacc evaporation, into
lower struta, from which springs or
sccpagrs will carry them into the coun
try drainage. Tho measure OF tho
rainfall or the amount Of irrigation
water that will accomplish one or the
other Of these opposite results do.
ponds, in II largo measure upon the
nuturc Of the sol ny well M the I'M.
DERIVING strata. II IL far more diff.
cult to get the soluble salis out OF a
clay soil than ont nf Il sandy ao.l, and
the moisture and accompanying salts
will keep ris ing through the former
md from greater depths and for n
greater length OF time after the ccssa.
ton Of rain or irrigation.
II in the intention q. tho Station 10
study the characteristics Of the alkdlt
soils Of Nevada. and To this end We
would nsk the ruLclcrs ovcr the State
to scrd us samylcs ol tho cncrusta
ton appearing on the surface, ant
also oi the uulcflI ing soil for Il dcptl
Of six inches. and II sample Of the
subsoil to u depth Of say two feet. II
taking the famplc Of the cncrustuii"i
rl,n,c get II ms rec as possible IRON
adhcIing soil.
We nrc willing TO give II time t.
this woTk, and SIMPLY ask Of tlIos
Interested that tho samples be taken
plainly marked with name OF con
Rignor, place. and date which may b
Of use. such M extent of irrigation
what crops are injured or what vii
grow IN soil, oct.
A ready response will be fully al
prcciatcd.
NATuAairL II. WILSON.
Station Cicmis
Agricultural Experiment station
Reno, New, October IL, 1891.