The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1901-12-10
ALKALI IN THE VALLEY.
Result Of Experiment Station Work in Kittitas
and Yakima.

issued bulletin from the department OF
chemistry on alkali soils in Kittitas and
Yakima valleys. The work was under
the care OF W. II. Heiman, assistant
chemist of the institution, who spent
some time last summer in these two dis.
tricts. What they have learned and
published about alkali and its detr-
mental effects on cultivation in these
two valleys is of gaeat interest to the peo-
pie and no one who is cultivator of the
soil should fail to read the bulletin. The
report says that the alkali deposits are
far more extensive in the Kittitas valley
than in the Yakima. The conditions
there are different and the troublesome
chemical will be hard to cope with.
There is comparatively little of this in
the Yakima valley. Only two districts
are affected with it to any extent. After
giving description Of the composition
of alkali, how it is brought to the sur
face and how it affects the cultivation of
the soil the following is said about the
lower Ahtanum alkali district:
"The Ahtanum valley contains the
largest tract OF land given to alkali in
the irrigated section Of the Yakima val
ley. This is perhaps due to the fact that
the lower end of this valley is receiving
seepage water from lands in the valley
longest under irrigation. 1t is also true
that the alkali tract of the Ahtanum is
in line of drainage from the whole west
ern part of the valley. The alkali tract
begins at the Yakima river near the
mouth Of the Ahtanum and extends up
the valley along the Ahtanum river for a
distance of over ten miles. The width
of the tract varies, being perhaps two
miles on the eastern side, and gradually
narrowing as we proceed up the valley.
"Nearly the whole Of this tract pre-
sents during the dryer season of the year
white surface appearance, due to the
salts having collected on the surface by
evaporation of the soil water. Much
evidence is also given for the presence of
black alkali because Of the great amount
of brown incrustation near the surface,
and the brown color given to the seepage
water where it collects in the surface de-
pressions.
mot many years ago much of this
salt flatl yielded bountiful harvests and
yearly the area of this alkali field is in
creasing in size through the encroach-
ment upon land at present capable of
growing crops.
1.-THE lands longest given to alkali are
at present covered with salt grass other
sections are practically barren of vege-
tation, and yet another portion is virgin
with it's growth of sage brush free from
grease-wood-the black sage brush being
perhaps present before the alkai began
accommodating.
Immediately north of the Ahtanum
alkali, and taking in part of section
OF country known as Wide Hollow, is a
tract of sub-irrigated land. For some
time it has been unnecessary to surface
irrigate this land because of the moist
ure which comes up from below being
adequate for crop production. This land
is underlaid at the depth of about three
feet with a stratum of gravel. This
gravel serves as channel for water
which seeps in from above, and since
this water does not readily find exit into
the river bed below, it naturally rises
toward the surface and is employed as a
supply for crops.
Doubtless the moisture underlying
the sub-irrigated district is annually
bringing to the surface portion OF the
alkali it has taken into solution from the
soil through which it has percolated.
This is shown by the fact that through
out the lower levels of the sub-irrigated
localities alkai spots are continually APP
pearing on the surface and yearly grow
ing in dimension.
THE same causes that have been:pre-
viously mentioned for other localities APP
ply here perhaps as adequately. 1t is
simply a question wherein unforeseen
circumstances and neglect have intro
duced serious problems. An unlimited
supply of water has been spread over a
large scope of land rich in plant food
and salts left in the soil through natural
agencies. No allowance has been made for
the elimination of the excess of seepage
water, and the fact that water dissolves
the soluble salts Of the soil and carries
them into the lower levels of the valley
surface, at all times, has not been suffi-
GENTLY understood. As aresult of this,
great quantities of soluble salt material
have been collected from the soil over
wide areas and deposited in narrow To-
calities, as determined by natural, ply
steal laws.
"The importance and gravity of the
situation would indicate that something
should be done to check these untoward
influences which threaten to become
widespread in the near future. 1t would
seem as though some adequate system of
drainage for these, as yet, limited alkali
areas could be introduced; some system
which, while it might not overcome
what now exists, would at least tend to
prevent further trouble"