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Reclamation of a Saline-Alkali Soil in the Upper Colorado River Basin¹

ABSTRACT

An experiment to determine the feasibility of reclaiming an unproductive saline-alkali calcareous soil (Billings silty clay loam) in the Upper Colorado River Basin was established near Grand Junction, Colo. The effects of leaching and gypsum on the reclamation of this soil, which is typical of the soils of the Upper Colorado River Basin, were followed by periodic soil analysis and by measuring the yield of alfalfa.

The amounts of soluble salts and exchangeable sodium in the soil were materially decreased by the leaching treatments. This decrease was a function of the amount of water used to leach the soil. From 4 to 6 feet of water were required to reclaim such soils to a depth of 50 inches. Gypsum application in combination with leaching had little or no effect on reducing exchangeable sodium.

After cropping with alfalfa for 1 year, soluble salts and exchangeable sodium adversely affected the yield of alfalfa where only 2 feet of water were used to reclaim. There are indications that salts and exchangeable sodium may be re-accumulating in the profile.

Soil differences attributable to different reclamation treatments significantly affected the yield of alfalfa. Plots leached with 6 feet of water yielded 5.15 tons of hay per acre, as compared with 4.37 tons per acre obtained from plots leached with only 2 feet of water. Yield differences were attributed to differences in the chemical and physical properties of the soil which resulted from the reclamation treatments.

¹ Joint contribution of the Colorado Agr. Exp. Sta. and Western Soil and Water Management Section, S.W.C.R.B., A.R.S., U.S.D.A. This report is based on research conducted as a part of the Western Regional Research Project W-29 (formerly W-9). Authorized by the Director of the Colorado Agr. Exp. Sta. as Scientific Journal Series No. 463. Received Aug. 24, 1955. Presented before Div. II, Soil Science Society of America, Davis, Calif. Aug. 18, 1955.

² Assoc. Agronomist (Soils), Colo. Agr. Exp. Sta. and Soil Scientist, S.W.C.R.B., A.R.S., U.S.D.A.; Assist. Agronomist (Soils), Colo. Agr. Exp. Sta.; and formerly Irrig. Engineer, S.W.C.R.B., A.R.S., U.S.D.A., now State Conservation Engineer for State of Washington, S.C.S., U.S.D.A., respectively. The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance provided during the course of the studies by R. Gardner, R. S. Whitney, O. J. Kelley, R. C. Reeve, M. Fireman, D. F. Peterson, and G. D. Clyde. The cooperation and support rendered by the Colorado Agr. Ext. Service, the S.C.S., and local groups is also acknowledged.