1915] Lipman-Sharp : Neic Experiments on Alkali Soil Treatment 277 



Since the first-named principle is supported by numerous experi- 

 ments demonstrating the efficacy of some salts in preventing the 

 toxicity of others to plants and to soil bacteria, we have at- 

 tempted to approach the production of a more balanced soil 

 solution by treating the affected soil with certain salts. Since 

 likewise the experiments of one of us above cited have demon- 

 strated the harmful effects on the soil colloids of the washing 

 out of salts as well as on the removal of necessary elements in 

 the soil, we have attempted to prevent such harmful effects or 

 to neutralize them by the methods of acid and manure treatment 

 which we have employed. The details of our experiments follow 

 below. 



The Method of the Experiments 

 A large quantity of alkali soil was shipped to the greenhouse 

 from a field south of Kerman in the San Joaquin Valley. This 

 soil, which had been previously analyzed for alkali, was found 

 to contain 0.64 per cent of water-soluble salts which was composed 

 as follows: 0.459 per cent Nad. 0.098 per cent Na.SO,, 0.083 

 per cent NaXO,,. It is understood, of course, that the determina- 

 tions just given are according to conventional analytical methods 

 made referable to sodium as the base, whereas of course other 

 bases must usually occur as above intimated along with the acids 

 determined. In this case, however, only traces of calcium and 

 magnesium were found. The soil just described has never been 

 cropped and has borne only a sparse vegetation of plants resistant 

 to alkali and drouth. It was distributed in eight-inch earthen- 

 ware pots in portions of six kilograms each and the pots received 

 the following treatments : 



Nos. 1, 2 and 3 — Untreated. 



Nos. 4 and o — 30.42 gr. each of actual H2S04 c.p. 



Nos. 6 and 7 — 41.76 gr. of actual H^^SOi c.p. 



Nos. 8 and 9 — 11.02 gr. each of actual H2SO4 c.p. 



Nos. 10 and 11— 62.08 gr. each of actual CaSo, 2H„0 c.p. 



Nos. 12 and 13^- 6.00 gr. each of actual CuSO, c.p. calculated as 



anhydrous salt. 

 Nos. 14 and 1.5 — 30.00 gr. each of actual FeS04 c.p. calculated as 



anhydrous salt. 

 Nos. 16 and 17 — 12.00 gr. each of actual Na.SOi c.p. (anhydrous). 

 Nos. 18 and 19 — 300.00 gr. each of actual air-dry barnyard manure. 



