File:Soil physics and management (1917) (14761572586).jpg

Identifier: soilphysicsmanag00mosi (find matches)
Title: Soil physics and management
Year: 1917 (1910s)
Authors: Mosier, J. G. (Jeremiah George), 1862-1922 Gustafson, A. F. (Axel Ferdinand), 1880-1942, joint author
Subjects: Agricultural physics
Publisher: Philadelphia London, J.B. Lippincott company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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ase insize until much of the land is affected. The rise of alkali hasruined large amounts of land because of the excessive use of irriga-tion water. The desire of farmers to get their moneys worth ofwater has hastened their ruin. Effect of Alkali on Plants.—A few plants have become adaptedto growing where large amounts of alkali are present and are in-jured only when the soil becomes very strongly alkaline. There aresmall local areas where the alkali is sufficient to kill all vegetation.As a general rule, these alkali-resistant plants are not of much eco-nomic importance. As a result of this poisoning, cultivated plants are injured tovarying degrees (Fig. 129). Where the alkali is very strong theplants show a sickly growth and finally die without fruiting. Ifless in amount they may become dwarfed and produce ratherscantily. Affected trees show a scanty leafage with small fruiting. The external injury done to plants is confined to a narrow zone ALKALI LANDS AND THEIR RECLAIMATIOX 283
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284 SOILS PHYSICS AND MANAGEMENT at the surface of the soil or near the root erowu. The bark isturned to a brown or bhick color for about a half inch and mayeasily be peeled oft. In other words, the plant has been girdled.If the plant does not die it becomes unprofitable. The roots are not injured perceptibly to any depth, as a generalrule, but it is very likely that the entire plant is poisoned more orless. It is only where common salt is very abundant in the subsoilthat the deeper roots are injured. Limit for Germination and Growth.—Germinating plants aremost sensitive to alkali, hence a comparatively small amount in the Highest Amount of Alkali in Which Plants Were Found Unaffected*—Arrangedfrom Highest to Lowest. Pounds Per Acre Four Feet Deep Sulfates(Glauberssalt) Carbonate(sal soda) Chloride(common salt) Totalalkali Saltgrass Saltbush ....Alfalfa, old. . . Sorehiim Radish Sugar beet Grapes Onions Potatoes Barley Gluten wheat. Oranges Wheat Apples Celery Alfalfa, young. Rye

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