Reclamation of an alkali soil of the Hacienda series

Overstreet, R; Martin, J; Schulz, R; McCutcheon, O

Reclamation of an alkali soil of the Hacienda series

Authors

Roy Overstreet
J. C. Martin
R. K. Schulz
O. D. McCutcheon

Authors Affiliations

Roy Overstreet was Professor of Soil Chemistry and Soil Chemist in the Experiment Station, Berkeley; J. C. Martin was Chemist in Plant Nutrition in the Experiment Station, Berkeley; R. K. Schulz was Assistant Specialist in the Experiment Station, Berkeley; O. D. McCutcheon was Associate Agriculturist in Agricultural Extension, Hanford.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 24(3):53-68. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v24n03p053. September 1955.

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Abstract

A “swamp culture” regime in which water grass was grown for several months under very moist conditions has proved to be an important factor in the reclamation of an alkali soil of the Hacienda series.

Gypsum applications of 4.22 and 12.47 tons per acre and sulfuric acid applications of 3.59 and 6.95 tons per acre, in conjunction with the swamp-culture pretreatment, showed marked beneficial effects on the subsequent growth of alfalfa.

Statistically, the sulfuric acid applications were more effective than the gypsum applications, although there were no significant differences in yield between the high and low acid treatments nor between the high and low gypsum treatments. This suggests that lower applications than 3.59 tons of sulfuric acid and 4.22 tons of gypsum may I be equally effective.

Literature Cited

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Kelley W. P. The reclamation of alkali soils. California Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 1937. 617:1-40. (Out of print.) DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600012454 [CrossRef]

Kelley W. P. Alkali soils; their formation, properties and reclamation. 1951. New York, N. Y.: Reinhold Publishing Corporation. vi + 176p.

Overstreet Roy, Martin J. C., King H. M. Gypsum, sulfur, and sulfuric acid for reclaiming an alkali soil of the Fresno series. Hilgardia. 1951. 21:113-27. DOI: 10.3733/hilg.v21n05p113 [CrossRef]

Russell M. B. Soil aeration and plant growth. 1952. 2:253-301. Ch. 4, inJoint Committee on Soil Tilth, American Society of Agronomy and American Society of Agricultural Engineers. Soil physical conditions and plant growth. Agronomy, vol., xv + 491 p. Academic Press, Inc., New York, N. Y. (See especially p. 255.)

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