Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-02-01
CURING ALKALl SOILS.


| II has frequently been observed In
the IRRIGATED region that soils which
| Showed no signs or only occasional
small spots of alkali when first brought
under cultivation, have after the lapse
Of a comparatively few years become
80 widely impregnated with alkali as
10 render them completely or In large
! part unfit for the growth OF the ordin-
airy farm crops. The California ex-
pertinent station has for number of
years devoted especial attention to the
subject OF the rise Of alkali In the soils,
and recently the division OF soils of the
United States department of vgricul-
ture has undertaken study OF the
causes and conditions favorng the rise
OF alkali in irrigated soils and the
means Of preventing or overcoming the
Injury resulting from II. A recent bull
letlr of the division gives an account
OF such investigations In the Yellow
stone Valley near Billings Montana.
These Investigations indicate that the
trouble In that locality al least Is due
largely, II not entirely, to iniudclous
or excessive irrigation Before irril
CATION was introduced the salts were
VOL distributed throughout the soil.
and lot In such large quantities as 70
be Injurious TO crops With the In
troductio Of irrigation. however water
was applied I'm excessive amounts 10
the higher land, and seeping through
to the lower soils carried with 1t the
soluble. salts, which accumulated In
excessive amounts In the latter, espe-
xtI In
similar conditions have been reported
by the California station as existing in
the san Joaquin valley California aud
are known to occur In Salt Lake coun-
ty and In many other regions.
The balletln OF the division OF soils
above referred to states that the open
sandy lands. having better underdrain-
age, are not likely to be injured by a
rise Of salts except from an excessive
application OF water, or In the low
places IN the path OF the drainage sys-
tenn, especially when these are under
laid. as they are liable 20 be. by the
heavy gumbo soils Ii thus appears
that the injury may not be due 90 the
lOCsl application Of water, hut TO the
iuiudicious use Of large quantities OF
water on ntighbOring farms or in places
stu farther away.
These Investigations point clearly 10
the necessity OF great care In
the application of water In irrigation.
This care must be exercised not only
for the land which ia being irrigated.
but for the adjoining lands on lower
levels.
Where the damage has been done, or
where the conditions are so Imminent
"a mi H.. . ~
lohical method OF reclamation Is IN pro-
viding adequate systems Of drainage
to carry OF the excess OF water and
the accumulated salts.
IL must not be assumed however,
that thorough system OF underdraln-
age relieves one from exercising care
and Judgment In applying water to
the land. There is less immediate
danger ef running the land. 70 be sure
but there are two things 10 he consd.
cred namely that an excessive use Of
water means just so much loss to irri-
cation and so much less land which can
be brought under the ditch. and also
that IN the removal OF these salts By
tho flow OF the sAepage waters out
through the drainage system. large
Quantities of really valuable plant food
AhN lthtit w ht AfiiiNNfu iIUilt lilf Bull
By 0verirrigation and under
drainage We may remove In a few
years the very conditions which contri-
butte TO the wealth of the country In the
fertility OF the soil
on this point a California station
bulletin states that while underdraln-
age Is q ready and complete corrective
OF alkali 1t does not follow that the
indisoriminate use OF undcrdrainage Is
to be recommended since enormous
amounts OF valuable soil ingredients
v ould thus run 10 waste II therefore
strongly urges that other remedial
measures be given due consideration.
Amnng the latter are deep and loose
nth o. soil to check surface evapora-
ton and the culture OF hoed crops and
deep-rooted plants. which exert an in
tuCnce in the same direction. Com
densed from Farmers Bulletin 1903
United states Department OF Agricul-