Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-08-31
Method of Reclaim
Ing AIkaIi Soils
/. counteraotIng Evaporation.

itranslocation and accumulation q
salts in the upper soils will suggest
lone OF the best and first methods At
Treatment The alkali is carried 70 the
surface in solution in water. and - the
Iwater eyaporates Is left on the surface.
The greater the evaporation, the more
rapidly will the salts accumulate. 20
that the best treatment will bo to pre-.
went this as much as possible. Good
isurface cultivation viii do much In
Iseeping 1t in sub-soil. and lower down.
where little harm results. Tilage
should begin early In the season be-
lcause at that time considerable
Iamount OF the salts have been carried
into the subsoil by the spring rains.
If the crop has been started early. Aud
tgood cultivation is practiced. It may be
brought to maturity before harm or
injury Is wrought.
Mulching has been recognized In ir-
jF,gated sections as very effective
remedy. In orchards where alkali 70
lapt to be brought to the surface, shAd.
'ing the ground may even be sufficient
ito prevent great injury. Litter Of ali
kinds has been successfully used.
However, 1t involves more or lees or.
lpense and trouble than the simple till
iage Of the surface to prevent evaporA-
tion throughout the season. We should
remember that the deep preparation
and thorough surface cultivation must
be regarded as the prime factor In
maintaining and improving our alkall
soils.
z. Applying Gypsum or catslum ovt
phate.
An application Of gypsum vim not
be Of special benefit in changing the
small amount of sodium carbonate "a
sodium sulphate. We know that 20
dium sulphate is the least injurious
OF the sodium salts and that plants ara
able to withstand large amount a
Il According to Hilgard and Lough
ridge. barley IL capable Of resisting
about Ave times more Of the sulphaGl
than any Of the carbonate. and a4 ieas(
twice as much as Of common salt
3. Drainage. Very Beneficial
The remedial measures so far pro
posed are only temporary and do moi
remove the excess of salts. MulchtnG
or cultivation prevents the eyapora'
tion Of water and the accumulation
near the surface, while the reversion
of the harmful carbonate to the sui
iphate of sodium also does not Efford
permanent relief However, sinc<
many OF these soils are found In de
hressions where there is an excess oi
water in certain periods Of the year
land since the salts are very soluble
1t necessarily follows that they may
leasily be carried away In solution
Tile drainage will. therefore, afford
permanent relief. Flooding an irrt
gated section will wash the salts deep
:ier into subsoil. where It loses It's harm
(fui effects. Analysis Of drainage va.
,kers In various sections have shown
ihkat they carried large quantities Of
.Esalts in solution. OF course surfaces
lEdrainage will also greatly aid, ~ n
Me not as immediate as thing. s
With the data at hand tt seems feast.
slbls that where slkali salts have socu.
llnufated it's due In measure 70 IL.
i|complete dfAtnate and poor cultural
3imefhods. Crop yields in nearly svery
shnstAnce mentioned by farmers With
| fEUhdm Tits cooperation wss carried
sl6A 9hows that sxcesstve moisture xaa
{. .iEh8 ma30f cause of injury.