The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1922-08-12
River Drainage
Brings Problems
The County Agent Discusses
Change in Growing Con-
ditiOns of Valley
(By Henry J. Plumb)

cent dry years, has brought a partic-
ular soil problem to the fore
ground.
The presence of alkali in the soils
of the Colville valley has long been
a matter of common knowledge but
not until the moisture supply has
been reduced to such a low point
has this problem loomed up as SER
ious. 1t is now regarded as one Of
the most pressing problems con-
fronting the farmers of Stevens
county at the present time.
The effect of alkali salts on plant
growth is a physical one. It re-
verses the osmotic action by which
plants get their moisture supply
from the ground water, causing mois-
ture to osmos from the plant in
terror outward rather than inward.
I can be readily seen that the plant
is thus robbed of it's moisture sup
ply.
A physical law controls this as os-
motto action is induced and caused by
differences in concentration of diff
ferent fluids causing them to flow
through membranes always in the
direction of the greatest concentra-
tion. In a normal soil the greatest
concentration is on the inside of the
root of the plant but in an alkali
soil this is usually reversed. Sur
rounding the roots of plants in alkali
soils is soil water carrying salts. II
the soil water is abundant the con-
centration of this soil water may be
held down and the normal osmotic
action takes place through root walls
into the plant. If, however, through
any cause, the supply of soil mois-
ture becomes restricted, it can be
readily seen that the concentration
of the soil water becomes greater
than that of the sap of the plant and
osmosis takes place from the plant
outward, causing great injury.
Thus is explained the reason why
the draining of the Colviile river has
brought this soil problem to the
front and makes it a pressing one
for solution. In former years when,
before draining of the river there
was always a superabundance of soil
water, and the moisture supply was
augmented by alleged wet seasons,
the alkali problem was not serious.
At the present time It behooves us
to apply ourselves to the solution of
this problem to the end that the Col
vile valley may be restored to its
former high standard of productive
ness, and placed permanently on the
map as one of the richest agricul-
tural regions in not only the state
of Washington but the whole north
west, and I personally would not
hesitate to include the entire United
States.
One or two suggestions can be
made at this time looking toward
the solution of this problem. The
application of sulphur in some form
to the soil will assist. This is par
ticularly true where we have the
black alkali, as sulphur reacts chemi-
cally, changing the black alkali,
which is soluble and may be leached
out of the ground with water. The
use of sweet clover as a forage and
green manure crop will help; and the
application of barnyard manure in
large quantities, where this material
is available, is a very good remedy.
An important suggestion, however,
is that in order to augment the
present moisture supply that dams
be placed in the Colville river at
regular intervals sufficient to re-
tard the flow of water and raise
the water table. Sub-irrigation can
then take place for a considerable
distance from the river, just how
far it will take place being proble-
matical. These dams should be so
constructed that they can be thrown
wide open during the winter and
spring months and the waters allow
ed to flow unretarded until all food
waters have passed off; they can
then be closed and during the dry
season the life giving water can
seep out to supply the crops grow
ing in the valley. This sub-irriga-
tion should be supplemented wherever
possible with irrigation on the high
err ground lying more remote from
the river. Numerous creeks enter
ing the valley give opportunity in
many places for such projects.
To sum up, it can be said that
the recent dry years have greatly
stimulated consideration Of the prob
lens of moisture for crop production