421—710 10m TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS l BULLETIN NO. 130 A June, 1910 lkali Soils, Irrigation Waters BY G. S. FRAPS POSTOFFI CE COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS -i>2I‘1JfLQ'\ UFJI-Kflgiltli! ‘m5’ AUSTIN, TExAs: vow BOECKMANN-JONES 00., PRINTERS, 1910. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT sTATmN GOVERNING BOARD. (Board of Directors A. and M. College.) K. K. LEGETT, President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Ab T. D. ROWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Jefi A. HAIDUSEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..La Gr JAMEs CRAvENs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ho WALTON PETEET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Fort E. R. KoNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..A f_ A. R. MoCoLLun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. P. SEBASTIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Brecken PRESIDENT OF COLLEGE. .~ R. T. MILNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Co11ege‘St£ STATION OFFICERS. H. H. HARRINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Di J. W. CARSON . . . . . . . . .Assistant to Director and State Feed Inspf’ M. FRANCIS . . . . . . . . . . .» . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..VeterinL G. S. FRAPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Chei J. C. BURNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Anima1 Hush H. NEss . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .H0rticu] =5 WILMON NEWELL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .En'tomo1? RAYMOND H. POND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..P1ant PatholC R. L. MOKNIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .* . . . .Assis’cant Agricul N. C. HAMNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Assistant Che“ J. B. RATHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Assistant Che, E. C. CARLYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Assistant Che_ C. W. CRlsLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Chief C‘ F. R. NAVAILLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Stenograh A. S. WARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Stenograp EQYERNING BOARD STIKNDE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. Hls EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR T. M. CAMPBELL . . . . . . . ..Austin, Texas. LII~IU'L‘EN.~.\L\‘T GOVERNOR A. B. DAVIDSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cuero, Texas. SoMMIssIoNER 0F Aemcurxrunu, Hon. E. R. KoNE . . . . “Austin, Texas. DIR ECTOR S OI‘ STATIONS. H. H. HARRINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..College Station, Texas. SUPERINTENDENTS OF STATIONS. A. T. POTTS, Beeville Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Beeville, Bee County. J. L. WELoH, Troupe Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Troupe, Smith County. W. S. HoTcHKIss, Lubbock Station. . . . . .Lubbock, Lubbock County. J. T. CRUSH, Fort Worth Station . . . . . . ..F0rt Worth, Tarrant County. J. H. TOM, Pecos Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pecos, Beeves County. H. C. HOLMES, Denton Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Denton, Denton County. , Temple Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Temple, Bell County. I. S. YORK, Spur Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . “Spur, Dickens County. , Angleton Station . . . . . . . . . . ..Angleton, Brazoria County. J. K. FITZGERALD, Beaumont Station. . . . .Beaumont, J efferson County. NoTE.——The Jllain Station is located on the grounds of the Agricul- tural and Jlecha-nical College, in Brazos county. The postoflice address is College Stat/ion, Texas. Reports and Bulletins are sent upon appli- cation to the Director. Samples should not be sent for arzalysis without previous corre- spondence. [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] ALKALI SOILS.——IRRIGATION WATERS. BY G. S. FRAPS. The Chemical Division of the Texas Agricultural Station has for sev- eral _vears been collecting data in regard to the occurrence, and nature of alkali soils in Texas. It appears time for us t0 give a report of progress containing information concerning alkali. Alkali is an impor- tant matter in some portions of the State: The topic of irrigation waters is closely related to the subject of alkali soils, since the suitability of water for irrigation depends upon Whether or not it contains such a quantity of salts that it is directly injurious to the land or such quantity that Will form alkali after it has been in use a short time. A number of analyses of water intended for irriga- tion purposes has been made at this Station, and some of the results have been published from time to time. The analyses presented in this Bulletin have not been published before. NATURE OF ALKALI. Alkali consists of soluble salts. y When present in the soil in excessive quantities, these salts interfere with the growth of plants, or prevent their growth entirely. i The ordinary‘ “alkali” salts are sulphate of soda, chloride of soda, and carbonate of soda. The salts first named, when crystallized in the sur- face ot the soil, appears as awhile substances, and generally form What is known as wlz/ite alkali. Carbonate of soda has a corrosive action upon vegetable matter (usually found in the soil) producing a black solution or substance, and for this reason is called black alkali. Carbonate of soda is especially injurious, for it causes the soil to become hard so that water will not easily penetrate it. It is also more injurious to plants than the less corrosive alkali salts. _ Other salts than those mentioned above may be present in alkali. Calcium chloride, for example, may give the soil a black color, and have the appearance of black alkali, but it is not as injurious as carbonate of soda. A sample of soil brought to us from the Brazos bottOm, near College Station, was found to contain calcium chloride. It Was also present in a soil from Anahuac. ORIGIN OF ALK ALI , Alkali comes originallv from the decomposition of rocks. In eli- mates “Yhere there is an abundance of rain, and much water passes . through the soil, the alkali salts are Washed out about as fast as they are formed and carried into streams, and thence to the sea. In arid climates, the rainfall is not suflicient to Wash out the soluble 6 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. salts, and they accumulate. As long as these salts are distributed a formly through the mass of the soil, they cause no injury but the all may ‘accumulate in the suface-foot of the soil, or it may be carried to accumulate in another field. - When water comes in contact with the soil, it dissolves the solu, constituents as far as it penetrates. If afterwards it rises and ev‘ crates, it leaves there all the alkali which it held in solution. Thus i‘ alkali originally distributed through the soil may be concentrated n‘ the surface, thereby causing injury to plants. Checking evaporation w, cultivation, mulching or shading the land by crops, will check the l1 of alkali. It sometimes happens that the alkali is concentrated in i: eleventh or twelfth foot of the soil. Under moderate irrigation, f water will not penetrate to this depth, but excessive irrigation will ca water to such depths as to dissolve the alkali in the depths of the soi and evaporation may then bring it near the surface, so as t0 cause in jury. Soils have the power to elevate water to some distance, in th small spaces between the particles. Irrigation waters, so necessary in arid regions, always contain dill solved salts. These are left behind when the water evaporates. If th water is of poor quality, only a few applications may be sufficient t, charge the soil with alkali. Even a good irrigation water may give :1}. to alkali if all the salts it contains are allowed to accumulate in the soil. Excessive irrigation, without under-drainage, gives rise to alkali. This is evident first in the low-lying lands. The excess of water flows off into them, and raises the level at which the water saturates the soil, (known as the water table), until, in some cases, the water comes to the’ surface. The alkali is washed from the higher ground, and the water? evaporates in these low places, leaving the alkali near the surface. The; land is thus converted into alkali flats. Even where the water does not come to the surface, whenever it comes within such a distance of the surface that the capillary action of the soil grains has the power to bring it to the evaporating point, alkali will accumulate. The constant‘; rise of the water containing salts and the evaporation of the water, leav-? ing the salts behind, wrill accumuates alkali even if the water in the soil does not contain much alkali. Usually, however, such water con- if tains some alkali. I g Alkali will accumulate at any point where the water constantly evap- _ orates, as on the sides of irrigation canals. - ', Whenever the water table rises, in land under irrigation in arid sec- tions, to within four or five feet of the surface, it is a sign of danger. i, Such a rise means that the water in the soil is in such a distance of f-l the surface that the salts will be constantly moving from the reservoir i, in the soil water, and accumulating in the soil. Injury will result if such an action continues. The remedy is drainage. The bulk of the alkali salts in an arid region will be usually found some distance from the surface of the soil, when the water table is many feet below the surface. The depth at which this accumulation occurs’ depends to some extent upon the depth to which the rainfall penetrates. For example, Thomas H. Means found that the alkali salts in coarse sands of a certain district were largely four to eight feet from the sur- face, while in sandy loam, in which the rain can not pentrate so deeply, ALKALI SoILs, IRRIGATION ll/Zsrnns. 7 thealkali occurs at a depth of three or four feet. The rain dissolves the alkali and carries it down into the soil. On evaporation, some of the alkali returns to the surface, but the bulk of the evaporation must take place below the surface, for otherwise the alkali which was washed down would be brought up again. Surface accumulations of alkali salts take place where the ground- water is sufficiently near the surface to cause the bulk of the evapora- tion of water to take place at or near the surface. Dissolved material from the soil, and that brought in by the ground-water, will be brought to the surface. Hence ‘basin-like depressions surrounded by sloping land usually contain alkali. EFFECT OF ALKALI ON PLANTS. Alkali usually causes injury at the base of the trunk, or the root own of the plant. The bark of green herbaceous stems is usually med to a ‘brownish color for half an. inch 0r more, and is soft and sily peeled off. The rough bark of trees is turned nearly black, and e greenllayer turns brown. The plant often dies, but, when it does t die, it is certain to become unprofitable to the grower. ~The amount of alkali which various plants will stand depends upon number of conditions, among which are the age of the plant, the jaracter of the soil, the composition of the alkali, the distribution of ‘f: alkali, and other conditions which influence the growth of the plants emselves. 11 The most injurious salts are the carbonates; the least injurious are y- sulphates. The California Experiment Station has endeavored to determine the lerance of various plants for alkali by comparing the amount of alkali soils in which the respective plants did well or ill. The depth of feet was chosen, because the strata below that depth contain little ali, and because rainfall or irrigation water ordinarily does not pene- i_.te below that depth. The total amount in this depth must be con- ered. A §The results of these California investigations are as follows: These res, as stated, are tentative and subject to change. 8 TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. HIGHEST AMOUNT OF ALKALI IN WHICH PLANTS W an FOUND l, FECTED IN POUNDS PER ACRE TO THE DEPTH OF FOUR FEET. l-V l Sulphates Carbonate Chloride ‘ (Sodium (Sodium (Sodium To Sulphate) Carbonate) Chloride) S = - 40,800 7,550 9,600 45, Olives .......................................... .. 30, 640 2 , 880 6, 640 40,._ Figs .............................................. .. 24, 4s0 1,120 s00 26; Almonds ...................................... .. 22 , 720 1 , 440 2 , 400 26, Oranges ...................................... .. 18 , 600 3 , 840 3 , 360 21 , ‘Pears .... ...................................... .. 17,800 1,760 1,360 20, Apples .......................................... .. 14, 240 640 1 , 240 16, Peaches ........................................ .. 9 , 600 680 1 , 000 11, - Prunes ........................................ .. 9,240 1,360 1,200 11, Apricots .............. ...................... .. s, 640 480 960 10, t Lemons ........................................ .. 4, 480 480 800 5, * Mulberry .................................... .. 3, 360 160 800 5, pf Salt bush .................................... .. 125 , 640 18, 560 12, 520 156 Alfalfa (old) ................................ .. 102, 4s0 2,360 5, 760 110, p Alfalfa (young) .......................... .. 11, 120 2,360 760 13, i Sorghum ...................................... .. 61 , s40 9 , s40 0, 6s0 s1, r Sugar beet .................................. .. 52 , 640 4, O00 5, 440 59, I Sunflower ................................... 52 , 640 1 , 760 5 , 440 59, i? Radish ........................................ .. 51 , sso s, 720 2, 240 62,- :» Wheat .......................................... .. 15,120 1 , 480 1,160 17, , Burr clover ................................ .. 5,700 11,300 .................. .. 17, e‘_ Hairy Vetch ................................ .. 63,720 2, 4s0 s, 160 6s, i, The Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculi divides soils into six grades, accordin ’ to a depth of six feet. g to their average of soluble s‘ Percentage Black of Total Salts Alkali, Crop Behavior in Soil Per Cent Grade 1 ................ 0 .0—0 .20 Less than 0 .05 Common crops not injured‘ f: less salt is concentratedfi first foot. " Grade 2 ................ .. 0 .20—0 .40 0.05-0.10 All crops will grow ex those most sensitive, but; the higher limit all e x c e truly resistant are distres Alfalfa grows but hard to p; a good stand. Sugar ca sorghum and barley do ’ Grade 3 ................ .. 0.40-0.60 0.10-0.20 Not suitable for c o mmh crops. Usually devoted_ pasture. "i Grade 4 ............ 0.60—1.0 0.20-0.30 Almost worthless for farmi or fruit growing. i Grade 5 ......... ..~ ..... .. 1 0-3 .0 Over 0 .30 Worthless. P’ Grade 6 ................ .. Over 3 .0 Worthless. ALKALI SOILS, IRRIGATION WATERS. 9 the above \_ M: ytities of alkali refer to the total quantity of. soluble UTILIZATION OF ALKALI SOILS. l) Growth of Resistant Crops. One method of utilizing alkali ’ is to grow crops which will resist the action of the alkali present. of the most resistant crops is salt bush, which endures drouth as as alkali, and is used for pasturage, or as a hay crop. Sorghum, and sugar beets have a high resistance for alkali, also some varie- ’=of barley, but it is difficult to secure a stand of these crops when than 0.6 per cent of total salts is present. Treatment of Black Alkali.—Black alkali, due to sodium car- Tte, may be converted into sodium sulphate by means of gypsum. lsulphate is-much less harmful to plants and the tilth of the land is edly improved. If much alkali is present, gyjpsum alone will not be ient because it does not remove the alkali, but merely changes is '1 other form. No chemical treatment is known which will counter- "? e effects of white alkali. Scraping the Surface-At the end of a dry season, when the .' has risento the surface, it may be scraped 01f and carted away. Jnethod might be used for small alkali spots. p“ Flushing the S'uirfcace.—This method consists in flooding the with water and drawing it off after a short time. This method l, t be used for any soil in which the water sinks in rapidly, because pater will carry the alkali with it into the soil. With rather-heavy, d‘ 'ious soils, with the alkali largely at the surface, the method may successful. It is possible that alkali spots in some Texas rice w ight be removed in this way. ' Flooding W/ithout Drainager-For this method, the soil must rally well under-drained, with the water table several feet be- surface. The water used in flooding must go through the soil, to the country drainage. The method employed is to level the nd cover the soil with water to the depth of several inches, hold- e_ water on the soil by means of dikes or levees so that it must to the soil. Repeated flooding will carry the alkali down through il and into the country drainage. As already pointed out, this w can only be applied to soils which are naturally well under- r~ , and on which the flooding will 11ot raise the level of the water- ,o a dangerous extent. V any alkali land; provided, of course, that the flooding is carried n enough, and with sufficient water, and provided that the drain- sufficient. Drainage is largely a matter of engineering. The i; should be at least three feet deep, and better four or five feet. Yy soils they may be 100 to 150 feet apart; in sandy soils inter- ,’ 250 to 300 feet may answer the purpose. g n PREVENTION OF ALKALI . "li is below the root zone of the plants, it can do n0 damage. 7 Flooding and Drainage.—-Flooding togetheirxvith drainage will ‘ lmulation of an excess near the surface is most to be feared. If. 10 _ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. Plants may grow and do Well with their roots just above an accum ‘ tion of alkali, but if the alkali rises t0 the roots, or if deeper rooti crops are grown, injury "will result. * In order to prevent the rise or accumulation of alkali, the irriga must keep the main movement of the water downward through the i. and into and out in the ground-water. If the water movement is ma” tained in this direction, the alkali will not accumulate in the soil. movement need not be at all times in this direction, but the main mo ment must be this Way, or alkali will accumulate. If the main movement of the water is up through the soil, alkali i 4 accumulate. In a sub-irrigated soil, the movement of water is up, d, to evaporation of water, and to transpiration from the leaves of plan 1 Hence, sub-irrigation means an accumulation of alkali. f. Furrow-irrigation is a kind of sub-irrigation. The soil at the top i the furrow is irrigated from below, and, in this particular part of soil, the movement of the water and dissolved salts is up, so that it w' accumulate alkali. If furrow-irrigation is used in places liable to alka _ the soil should occasionallyr be leveled and fiooded—sufficiently often keep ‘the main movement of the water down through the soil. y If flooding is practiced, and hilloeks occur, which are not covered i; the Water, such spots are sub-irrigated, and alkali will accumulate ' them. The movement of water is up, within these hillocks, due if evaporation from their surface. Such hillocks should be leveled befo ’ flooding begins. Check Evaporattort-Anything which will counteract surface evap oration will aid in keeping the main movement of the water down and?‘ through the soil. The greater the extent that evaporation is prevented; the less water is needed for the irrigation. Evaporation from the sur-; face, therefore, should be prevented as much as possible. Careful andl frequent cultivation will produce a mulch which will do much towards‘; checking, evaporation. Trees or crops on the land will also shade the? surface and check evaporation. I (Tnderdravhtr-If the water table is too near the surface, flooding T, must be more frequent or the land must be underdrained. Too fre- a quent flooding may keep the ground too wet, so that underdrainage is really the practical remedy. Whenever the water table is at such a dis- tance that the capillary action of the soil can bring water from it to the’; surface, there is great danger of alkali. In such soil, the rise of water from the ground water is continuous, so that more water must be used in irrigation to cause the Imam wtovevnent of the water to be down- 1 teards. By lowering the water table, by means of drainage, the water table may be brought below the power of the soil to elevate it, thus checking the movement of water, and the alkali with it, towards the j surface. The right depth for the water table depends upon the char- acter of the soil. In moist sand, water may be raised over five feet. It appears" possible that in fine sand, so often found in alkali districts, water may be raised as much as twelve to fifteen feet. How much flooding will keep the main movement 0f the water down- ward and through the soil will depend, therefore, upon the water table and the character of the soil, and how thorough the cultivation. The ALKALI SorLs, IRRIGATION llVATERS. 11 composition of the ground-ivater, and the composition of the irrigation- water, will also be of effect. The alkali question i.s, in many localities, largely a qU/GSHOH of proper drainage. i QUALITY or IRRIGATION WATER. . The quality of the irrigation water which can be used upon soils without injury depends upon the kind of soil, the character of. the un- éderdrainage, the rainfall of the area, and the manner in which the gwatei- is used. If the soil is easily penetrated by water, and Well drained, water of comparatively high mineral content can be used, pro- vided that it is used in such a manner as to keep the main movement of the water through the soil and into the country drainage. In humid f regions, a water containing more salts may be used than in arid regions, since less water is used, and the natural rainfall will aid in washing the alkali out of the soils. With a heavv clay soil, however, and especially if alkali carbonates are contained in the ivater, there is always danger. ~ The limit of concentration of irrigation water has been placed by some authorities at 2000 or 3000 parts per million. With these con- entrations, however, injury will result if the alkali is allowed to ac- cumulate, and is not washed from the soil. Even comparatively small i mounts of mineral matter may give rise to alkali in time, if the solu- p salts are allowed to accumulate. a Thomas H. Means found water containing as much as 8000 parts er million of soluble salts used in the Desert of Sahara, many of the drops grown being quite sensitive to alkali.’ The Arab gardens are aiVidGXl into plots about twenty feet square, with drainage ditches about hree feet deep between them. A large quantity of water is applied at fast once a week, more often, twice, using the check method of irriga- 'on. Thus a continuous downward movement of water is maintained, ‘ d, since the soils are light and sandy, they are well drained, and there a little opportunity for the soil water to become more concentrated than ,5. water applied. l It is evident that the more salts contained in the water, the better ould be the underdrainage, and the more freely the water must be peed. On clay soils, the matter is more difficult. Alkali is so hard f remove from some of these soils, even if underdrained, that it is vubtful if any except Wdtél‘ of very high quality should be used on "3: soils. OCCURRENCE OF ALKALI 1N TEXAS. CThe occurrence of alkali is related to the rainfall. The rainfall in xas varies from rather large quantities in the eastern part of the I ate, to small amounts in the west. The distribution of the rainfall, well as the total quantity’ which falls, must be taken into considera- f» in decidingwhether or not a section has an arid or semi-arid cli- ' fqte. In general, a rainfall of less than twenty inches marks a climate being arid. i .he State may be divided into'three parts: (1) the eastern part, the rainfall is ample- for crops; (2) a large portion of the cen- j ~and southern parts, where irrigation is a decided aid, though not 12 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. albsolrltelyi necessary, and the western 0r arid or semi-arid pa where irrigation is almost a necessity. Rainfall is very uncertain in i distribution; long periods of dry Weather sometimes alternate with ve. Wet periods, and, in regions of ample rainfall, irrigation may incre crops in good years, and prevent failure in bad years. In gener, alkali soils are more likely to occur in arid sections. I We have secured samples of alkali soils from almost all sections h; the State, even from. the relatively humid eastern part. Discussion 1,. these analyses is found on succeeding pages. ’llhe alkali question in this State is not at all serious at presenti Most of the alkali soils which we have examined are from small spots which. While troublesome and injurious to the looks of the field ' A which they occur, are comparatively small, and might be removed running a few lines of tile drains. There are sections, however, in Whiclf alkali will be of considerable importance. As the area under irrigation becomes larger, the matter ‘will become more serious. The alkali probj lem is important in all arid regions, or becomes so when these sections‘, are settled for a little time. if SOILS WHERE FRUIT TREES DIED. A sample Was taken from the la11d where trees were planted and died}; which seems to be sub-irrigated. Another sample was taken from a1 dry lake bed_,-about 400 acres in size, with nothing growing on it. A third sample was taken from high land. These samples came from a. piece of land near Pecos, in Reeves county; annual rainfall, 10-15 inches. A large number of fruit trees were set out on this soil. The trees began putting out leaves about five or six days after being set out, and promised to grow all right. About two Weeks later the leaves be-g? gan burning 01f around the edges and then dropped off. Then the trees died. Cotton seed rotted Without sprouting; kattir corn and nlilo maize in the soil, in a box, died likewise. 'l."he soil is light and porous. "L, l1 My a4 5 uéymiiimiiéasa.‘ ‘ SOILS “THERE TREES DIED.-——SOIlUFBIll? SALTS IN SOIL IN PARTS PER .1, 3.1111; i»! ' A . l‘ . i 3g Sulphate Sulphate Chloride ' Chlorlde g of 0f of t of 4035f Lime Magnesia Magnesia I Soda ,_] f l 1373i Surface soil 0-12" Where treesI J d‘ d ........................................ -~i, 25,450 600 1,563 l t u l6 , 1 53,670 1374 Surface soil 0-12" high eleva-f V I tion ........................................ 17,725 ~ ................ .. 3,975 l 0,610 1375 Surface soil 0-12", dry lake; t bed ........................................ it 14,225 4,500 2,715 10,770 1376 Subsoil 12-24" of No. 1373......, 11,355 _ 2,370 ................ l 3,020 1379 Subsoil 24-36" of No. 1373 .... .. 12,700 750 1,616 t 3,125 1332 Subsoil 36-43" of No. 1373 .... 11,355 1,500 424 f 5,230 ALKALI SorLs, IRRIGATION WATERs. 13 These soils are highly charged ivith alkali salts. A feature of the analysis is the large amount of sulphate of lime found with the soluble salts. OTHER ALKAL-I SPOTS FROM NEAR PECOS. The following are the analyses of samples collected from spots near Pecos, tllexas. Some of these soils are well known to be alkali soils. 1859——Soil from around three dead grape vines; Barstow, Texas. 179S—Alkali soil, called gyp soil, taken from a railroad cut in west part of city of Pecos. Grass grows where irrigated; otherwise, almost bare, 5 inches. Water does not penetrate this soil, but flows off on other soils and injures them. 1799—Soil from near Pecos and partly washed from gyp hills and not regarded as good agricultural soil. Weeds and grass grow but die late in the summer; one and one-half miles north of Pecos, Texas. 1800~Salt lake bed which is wet part of the year. Soil grows noth- ing, 6 inches. Near Pecos; Texas. 1801——Subsoil to 1800; 6 inches to 1O inches. MISCELLANIYOUS ALKALT SOILS.——\\KATER SOLUBLE SALTS IN SOILS IN PARTS PER MILLION. l Number Carbonate of 488 .............................. ..i .............................. .. Sulphate of lime ................ ..... 45o 13,140 12,632 13,895 14,580 Sulphate of magnesia ................ 390 2,946 7,461 3,963 3,363 Chloride of magnesia ................ ............. .. 2 , 994 1,889 1 , 830 2, 938 Chloride of soda ........................ H‘ 936 6, 518 28, 420 22 , 780 25 , 160 Sulphate of soda ......................... .1 687 .............................. .............................. .. 1 i l Soil sample No. 1859 was taken from around the roots of grapevines that died. Grapevines are said to be very resistant to alkali, and it is very doubtful if the small amount of alkali. found around the roots of these vines caused their death. The other analyses are of interest as showing the composition of the xvater-soluble salts found in the alkali soils of the Pecos district. ALKALI‘ SOIL DESTRUCTIVE TO BEETS. Soil and water from near Comfort, Texas. Sugar beets died on this spot. They were watered twice with the water. Other vegetables also died. Iiendall county; annual rainfall, 20-30 inches. Soil No. 736—-Chlorine as sodium chloride equal 2598 parts per million; alkalinity as sodium carbonate equal 318 parts per million. Sirlphates not determined. Water No. '735——Chlorine, 185 parts per million; sulphur trioxide, 180 parts per million; lime, 185 parts per million; magnesia, 95 parts per million. 14. TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. The death of the beets was evidently due to the alkali present in the soil, and not to the Water, which is irrigation water of good quality SPOTS WHERE COWPEAS TURN YELLOW. Spots on which cowpeas turned yrelloxv. Samples 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 are from the yellow spots, while '7 to 9 are taken a short distance from the yellow spots and from land a little more sandy and higher. This is alluvial soil from the Rio Grande river. It has only been in cultivation a little over two months, and the crop is cowpeas. The plants grew very well the first month, then yellow spots appeared, which did not kill them but seemed to weaken them. The continued drouth caused almost the whole field to turn yellow, so that it was hard to locate the spots. Mercedes, Texas, Hidalgo county; average annual rainfall, 20-30 inches. 15 ALKALI SOILS, IRRIGATION WTATERS. s a .............................. I IIIIIIIIIIIIII .............................. .. a a I@ .................................... 1E E a? .............. .. , 22.3“ Eofiwocwefiu fi¢%£q@x§.=..w @@ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . .. k % . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . I . I . I . . . . . . . . . . . . aoa; as; @0522“. 22m d Haas Ea @@ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . .. N. . I . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................................. , . _ ass» 59C oonapwflw 50mm a fiwxap Sow wmz H II... .... ..MM.. m? 3N S m3 3 w .................... s2; Em iii E3 mfim .............................. m3 SN wfi N3 wm Ea 5.5% E3 wfivm .............................. 1v m» wmm mo ow ¢...........:.........@oo- p3 Q55?» 9S5 36m mm? .............................. ma“ M: . N; 3. om vs ésa» 9H5 wfim IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII s E I s 2 NHHHHMMHHZMHM.....;@2 E go? as éa _ mm J fi . 2: m» mum fl . . . . . . . . . £08 p2 .8029» 9:5 waum g5 I W ill fiwg Amman wfifi _ i snow saws N WI -932 $2 Q55 we 4 25w Ho avom -w.m2 35A n m. E 8,23 E wwi we wwi “Sana Mo wwfl fi @223 Mo 3m Mo 00d Mo 3a m m éw _ -25 -25 -15 -25 A ém aonao -5920 éoéso m m X AZOHQAHS 5E @513 z: flow 225$ mqmcqow mmiss ca m>oo mo wzbsoqqmw mo zoEfimm 16 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. This is an interesting series of analyses. Although the quantity of soluble salts -is not large where the cowpeas turned yellow, yet some alkali i.s present, and the salts are quite difiereazt in character where the cow/peas did not become green. Practically no salts of soda or potash are present Where the cowpeas do not turn yellow’. li-‘rom 200 to 700 parts per million are present Where they do turn yellow. I am of the opinion that the yellow spots are due to alkali. zXLKALI CAUSES SMALL IXLFIXIJFA. Two series of soil samples were sent us from Canyon City, Randall county; average annual rainfall, 10-20 inches. Two samples were taken from center of a spot where alfalfa remained small. Two other samples were taken from the edge of the same spot, where the alfalfa. did well. Practically no alkali is present where the alfalfa does well. Where it does not db well, alkali is present, as carbonate of soda, sulphate of soda, and chloride of soda. EFFECT OF SOLUBLE SALTS ON ALFALFA, SALTS IN PARTS PER MILLION. Alfalfa Small Alfalfa GOOd 3093 3094 3095 3096 Surface Subsoil Surface Subsoil Carbonate of lime ...................................... .. 382 389 500 600 Carbonate of magnesia..................._......._.... 210 185 .............. .- Carbonate of soda ...................................... .. 71 733 ------------------------------ .- Sulphate of soda ........................................ .. 1s 1,323 .............. H! .............. .. Chloride of soda ........................................ .. 1,849 1 415 ------------- ..' .............. .- Calcium chloride ........................................................ ..< .............. .. 26 40 Magnesium chloride .................................................................. .. 48 53 Sulphate of .............................. .. 8 16 ALKALI SOILS—-COLORADO COLINTY SPOT. These samples came from a spot near Grarivoocl ; average annual rain- fall. 40-50 inches. The amount of alkali in these soils is small, except- ing in the surface after two days blowing of a “norther.” This evi- (lently* caused rise of alkali. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS. 1092——Surface soil, Series A. 1093—Sample taken at 12 inches 1094—~Sample taken from subsoil, 1095—-Surface soil, Series B. 1096—-Sample taken from subsoil, from surface. 20 inches. 20 inches. 1097——-Sample taken from surface after two days blowing of hard, dry norther. ALKALI SorLs, IRRIGATION ‘lVATERs. 17 ALKALI SOIT.S——PAR'I‘S PER MILLION OF SOLUBLE SALTS. Laboratory Number l 1092 . 1093 1094 1095 l 1096 i 1097 Carbonate of lime.................. 90 55 65 45 70 55 Sulphate of lime .................... .. 46 95 31 921 172 242 Sulphate of magnesia .......... .. 8 ........................................ .. 286 ............ .. Chloride 0f soda .................... .. 322 ........................................ .. 98 I 2,275 Chloride of magnesia ............ .. 156 100 160 150 ' ............ ..l 645 Sulphate of soda ................................ II‘ ........................................ .., 68 l ............ .. Chloride of lime .................... ....... ..l ....................................... . .. ........... 1,943 l . l SOILS WHERE ORANGE TREES DIED. These samples came from a field in which orange trees died. The place is located near Hitchcock, in Galveston county, and the average rainfall is 11-0-50 inches per year. The samples represent the "first, second and third foot of the soil. , The surface foot of this soil contains little alkali, but it is present in the second and third feet. The second foot contains over 3000 pounds of chloride of soda to the acre, which quantity may be sufiicient to cause the death of. orange trees even when distributed through several feet of soil. (See table giving the resistance of plants to alkali.) The salt may come from the sea in this locality. SOILS FROM HITCHCOCK, TEXAS--—SOI.LIBLIQ SALTS IN PARTS PER MILLION. Laboratory Number 3214 3215 3216 Second Third v Surface Foot Foot Carbonate of lime ........................................................ .. 200 i 336 332 Sulphate of lime .......................................................... 159 5 ............................. .. Carbonate of magnesia..... ..... ................................................. ..l 165 183 Sulphate of magnesia .......... ..................................... .. 57 .............. .. 54 Chloride of magnesia .............. ................................. .. 145 .............................. .. Carbonate of soda ...................... ............................................. .. _ 19 .............. .. Sulphate of soda .......................................................................... .. 345 281 Chloride of soda .......................................................... .. 98 1 ,015 1 ,062 ALKALI SPOTS IN RICE FIELD, GALVESTON COUNTY. Soils from a rice farm at La Marque, Texas. These are spots vary- ing from one-tenth to one-half acre in size. Around these spots the 18 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. soil is productive. The No. 1 is boggy, sticky, and whitish. No. 2 a loose black soil but not boggy. The plants grow for a while, and th quickly die. The spots were present before the soil was put in cultiv Ation, and are level with the remainder of the field. In soil No. 2 t plants do not grow at all. SOLUBLE SALTS IN SOIL IN PARTS PER MILLION. N0. 1 N0. 2 Calcium chloride .......................................................................... .............. .. 71, Magnesium sulphate .................................................................... .. 72 ....... ..' Magnesium chloride .................................................................... .. 95 5 I J Sodium chloride ......... .._. .............................................................. .. 893 1,84r_ Total alkali .......................................................... .............. .. I 1 , 060 3,111 These analyses accord with the behavior of the soils. On No. 15 which contains the smaller amount of alkali, the plants grow for while, then die. On No. 2, which contains more alkali, the plants fail} to grow entirely. Rainfall of this county is on an average of 1-10 to 50 inches. ALKALI SPOTS 1N RICE FIELD. Anahuac, Chambers county; average annual rainfall, 50-60 inches. i, Spots varying from a rod to several rods in area, of irregular shape, where the ground remained perfectly bare. These were termed locally I “xvhite alkali” and “black alkali.” The white spots appear to come i‘ from a series of small knolls, some rising several feet above the surface, " and some of scarcely appreciable elevation. The white spots have the appearance of being left by the leveling off of the knolls. ' The black spots are on a level area. For analysis, see Nos. 3185 and 3186 in the following table. These soils are highly charged with alkali. The accumulation of alkali in 1 such soils where the rainfall is 50-60 inches is no doubt due to their g heavy, impervious character. MISCELLANEOUS SAMPLES. 1075——Virgin soil; never been cultivated. San Benito, Cameron county; average annual rainfall, 30-110 inches. 1076——Subsoil to No. 1075, depth 12 inches. l9'?6-—Surface soil, 1 foot; from spot where everything dies. 197'7—Subsoil to No. 1976, 2 feet. McKinney, Collin county. Alkali spots, lllcKinney, Collin county; average annual rainfall, 30-40 inches. Corn, cotton, oats and peas die almost as soon as they come up. 998—Scrapings from irrigation ditch, Riviera, Nueces county; aver- age annual rainfall, 30-40 inches. 2235—--“White spots,” which occupy about one-half of a private ex- ALKALI SOIL-S, IRRIGATION WATERS. 19 {rimcntal farm at Midfields, Matagorda county; average annual rain- all, 40-50 inches. Taken to a depth of 6-8 inches. - ‘2-208-—Alkali spot, Wheelock, Robertson county; average annual rain- 11, 40-50 inches. 2362—-Surfa.ce deposit,‘ Beckville, Panola county; average annual infall, 50-60 inches. 1006 and. 1008——Samples from Brownsville, Cameron county; average ual rainfall, 30-40 inches. 3585——Ground Where vegetation does not grow. Many of these spots a cur near Asherton, Dimmit county; rainfall, 20-30 inches. 3431—Soil from a salt fiat near Falfurrias, Starr county; average ual rainfall, 20-30 inches. A coarse salt grass grows on these flats. _. en put under cultivation, they may produce excellent crops of iions, corn and sweet potatoes (when drained). Some crops do not well after a rain. Salt deposits that have a dark brown or black _ or when wet cover the ground. ‘The amount of alkali in some of these samples is small, as, for ex- ple, those from San Benito, and No. 1008 from Brownsville. 20 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 25m Mo ow? -030 ....m._.m._.@.RmmwHHHHHHH HRH , mfifi HNQ ............... ; “Raw gsnm .... immmfi ~@~.@H ¢@¢.H Rww R .............. : wmm RN .............. .. mam awow we 3a LHOQHQU .............. fiwwn -932 m0 QUE 5E0 .232 |ww2 mo 3a nflOfladU .............. 1 ~51 fi 2K wwcaaam "five WEE“ 89c mom. .............................. .. Em . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. mém ~@ .02 30w ~0z@>mqgchm . 4 . , . . . . . . . . . . R . R . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . , . R . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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SN Q2 N2........ N3 o3 3N _ , \ 1 lwvl| [Iii l; i; q P~H®8~¢u®@ ;_ dwmowfiwwdg .®@w®.m%fi2 ogwwh _ a 4 _ 1 , QENQEO wfififirsm W @2520 Npairsm N Nwcozo @2225 TENQQQNNO NW y w W m. ZOHQAHE MHM mHMQNM Zw wagfilwqqHizBomm H4 HQZ<fiU OUH hO wmmefis 24. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. TOYAH VALLEY AND PECOS nrsrnrcr. 1952—W ater from Well 125 ifeet deep, Billingslefs land, near Section 1.08, Block 13, Reeves county. 1953——Water from Toyah creek, near middle of Toyah Valley, Reeves county. _ 2-15S—Water from deep Well (flowing), 250 feet deep, at Pecos. 2162——W’ater from Well on Section 1.51, Block 113, 30 feet deep, Pecos. 2163——Water from Martin Spring, Section 2415, Block 13, Reeves county. 2164—~Water from HalPs Well, Section 301, Block 13, 130 feet deep, Reeves county. ‘ 2165—-Water from Phantom Lake, Ralmorhea, Reeves county. 2166-—~Water from Toyahvale, Reeves county. 2167——Water from Alexandefis Well, 6 miles north of Pecos. 25’?2—Water from Pecos river at very‘ low stage, Pecos. 25’?7---VVate.r from artesian Well, 670 feet deep, for irrigating alfalfa, fruit and vegetables, Toyah, TPexas. 35‘2~0——-Well at Barstoxv, 8'7 feet deep. Ward county. 3521——Well at Rarstovv, 20 feet deep. Ward county. 35SO—-Well, Toyah, Texas. 3581—~Well, Saragosa, Texas. Reeves county. NOTE HY THE ])IRECTOR—-l\Iost of these Waters are suitable for irrigation on soils that are not already poisoned with alkali. 25 ALKALI Sou-s, IRRIGATION WATERS. §@xa .% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5m; Mam .................. .. N? mg 3N .................... 526a .2 5m 5i 8w wgnmm 3mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ ‘ ‘ . . . .. .% . . . . . ‘ ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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EOPHHQQ@ gm ...................................... .. I» E3 mmm omm .......................................................... 1:9,» 92mm film _ % . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . 4 . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . 4 . . . ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . ‘ . . ‘ . . . . . , . . ‘ . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ilmoowm Q .% . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ . . . . . . I .....\&Qé§..®> .%Q PQQHH KgQQHO K % Q . . . . . ‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 4 . . . . . 1 mwom 35m afiwcwafi Ewwcwaz smwmnmmi, BEA BBQ doszfi Em 3.8m Wm. Mo E Mo F “o Ho we m m owioiO opmnfizw wwioio wfifiirsw wpmconfimO. wpanmiflw wfiwnonpaO mm K wwzfiznommow Q24 mWHQQ<> H