Alkali Lands. Page: 9
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9
ciable extent locally in any one year. The conditions, therefore, are
unfavorable to a natural leaching of these soluble salts, except through
the exceedingly slow movement there may be in the slightly moist
subsoil.
HOW THE SALT DETERMINATIONS ARE MADE.
In the investigations of the conditions at Billings samples were taken
with a long extension auger, and salt determinations were made for
every foot in depth down to a depth, often, of 10 or 15 feet. The salt
was determined by the electrical method, which has been described in
previous bulletins of this division. The instruments used in this
method are exceedingly sensitive, and determinations made by them
are so very rapid that a large number of samples may be examined in
the field. Examinations were made in the different types of soil, that
is, in the sandy lands, in the stiff gumbo soils, and in the various intermediate
grades that were found. Then several lines of borings were
made above and below the irrigating canal and from the alkali flats
back to the good lands in order to get an idea of the relation of the
texture of the soil and the position of the irrigating canal to the alkali
problem. Finally a very detailed examination was made of a section
of land containing an alkali flat, and maps were constructed showing
the distribution of the seepage waters and soluble salts at various
levels under the surface of the ground. The value of such underground
maps can hardly be overestimated. It is seen just where the seepage
waters and the soluble salts are accumulating, from which direction
they are coming, and just how drainage systems should be introduced
to remove the trouble. They show which areas are safe for a number
of years, those which will need careful attention to prevent the accumulation
of salts, and those which need energetic measures for the
reclamation of lands already damaged.
THE KINDS OF SOILS IN THE VALLEY.
The following table gives the mechanical analyses of a number of soils
from Billings which indicate the difference in the texture of the soils
which has been noticed.
Mechanical analyses of soils.
C.i
Locality. Z dS 1' c- 1
No. (Miles from Description. a .3 : R
Billings.) 3o
P. ct. P. t. P. et. P. ct. P. t. P. ct. P. ct. P. Ct. P. ct. P. ct.
3756 24 N ........ Sandstone bluff 1.22 2.66 0.00 0.00 0.17 29.39 52.34 3.29 0.88 9.65
soil.
3322 11W........ Silty type, creek 2. 98 4.40 0.00 0.00 0.16 7.96 28.79 34.45 4.67 17.25
soil.
3309 5 W ........ Sandy gumbo.. .. 1.56 4.66 0.00 0.00 0.20 11.72 45.05 14.69 3.49 19.90
3308 54 W....... .... do .... 1.94 3.30 0.00 0.10 0.46 15.61 39.59 14.63 3.38 21.30
3307 54W .............do........... 2.35 3.72 0.00 0.02 0.32 21.37 38.27 8.99 3.13 22.55
3306 3W ......... Gumbo ......... 3.20 3.30 0.1 0.40 1.58 20.40 27.67 11.71 4.02 27.30
3769 5W ......... Heavy gumbo.... 3.74 4. 22 0.04 0.03 0.19 11.65 24.03 15.13 4.40 35.55
12123-Bull. 88-09 2
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United States. Department of Agriculture. Alkali Lands., book, 1909; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc6394/m1/9/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.