The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1910-09-01

IN soluble SdltS ana IN places tneSe
accumulate to such an extent that they
destroy productiveness. The alkali
salts are dissolved by water, and
where there is not good drainage be-
low, this water evaporating again from
the surface, leaves the alkali behind
as a white incrustation where it is
most detrimental to plants. In nearly
all cases the alkali accumulation is
the result of bad management, gener-
ally of over-irrigation or of continue
ously leaving the water running on
the soil In many parts of the west
where the native sod is irrigated for
the production of hay, the water is
allowed to run for weeks or months
over the same land, and such irriga-
ton is apt to produce bad results.
Some irrigation waters contain large
amounts of alkali salts which are de-
posted with the water applied.
There are two kinds of alkali which
are found in different sections of the
arid region. In the mountain states
where the climate is cool, the white
alkali predominates. White alkali is
a mixture of the sulphates and chlor-
ides of soda and magnesia. In the
warmer regions the alhaii is composed
of carbonate of soda and S called
black alkali. One-tenth of one per
cent of black alkali will prevent the
growth of useful plants on the soil,
while some crops will stand as much
as one per cent of white alkali salts in
the surface soil. These alkali salts in
small amounts are important aids in
the fertility of the land. They make
plants grow faster and better than
where they are not present. The
black alkali destroys the soil filth,
pudding it and making it dark in
color. The principal detrimental eff
feet of white alkali seems to be that
it retards or prevents the termination
of seed. If the salt can be diluted or
washed out before planting and good
stand of plants obtained from the seed,
the crop may grow to maturity and
make good yield.
The black alkalies of California have
been corrected by changing them into
white alkali which is less detrimental.
This is done by adding considerable
quantities of gypsum or land plaster.
Land plaster is sulphate of lime. When
this comes in contact with carbonate
of soda there is a chemical change and
the carbonate of soda becomes sui
phate of soda, and the sulphate of lime
becomes carbonate of lime or common
limestone. The remedy for white al
kali is to provide proper drainage
and wash the salts out of the soil with
irrigation water. The worst alkali
soils may be made productive in this
way.
There are a few crops which will
thrive in the presence of much white
alkali The principal one is the sugar
beet. If the salts can be diluted by
irrigation before the seed is planted
so there is no serious retardation of
termination, sugar beets will make
good crops on strong alkali soil An
other useful plant to grow in places
which would otherwise be wastes. is
the English or Dwarf Rape for soiling
and pasture. One of the best plants
to grow in such places either for for
age or to improve the soil in vegetable
mold is the white sweet clover There
is no need of leaving the alkali places
as unproductive and unsightly wastes.
Different crops and each kind of
soil require particular treatment and
general rules are only of value in so
far as they throw light on the under
lying principles which may be made
use of by the individual farmer who