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Distribution Of Alkali

Categories: Soils, Fertilizers and Irrigation

I am told by all the ranchers on the east and south sides of the valley

that their wells are excellent. But they all say that on the west side -

they are bringing up alkali. One also said that the water level was

rising throughout all the valley. Is it safe to depend on this in part,

or will the alkali spread over all the valley and the foothills?



It is not unusual to find people who predict the rise of alkali almost<
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anywhere except on their own premises. No one can exactly tell where

alkali will go, because no one has complete knowledge of the water

movement in underlying strata. Wherever the ground water rises on lower

levels because of irrigation on higher levels there is danger of the

rising of the alkali, for which the only cure is underdrainage with tile

so that this rising water is carried to an outflow and not allowed to

approach within three or four feet of the surface. If you have such an

outflow and desire to undertake the expense of tiling, you can insure

yourself against a serious rise of alkali indefinitely. We do not see,

however, how alkali can rise to the higher lands of the valley. Its

first effect would be to make lakes or ponds in the lowest parts of the

valley, and even then the surrounding mesa lands would not be injured.



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