Section HT, 1919 [233] Trans. R.S.C. 



The "Alkali ' Content of Soils as Related to Crop Growth 



(A Report of Progress) 

 By Frank T. Shutt, M.A., D.Sc, and E. A. Smith, M.A. 



(Read May Meeting, 1919.) 



In a paper presented to this Society last year, the writers outlined 

 the work being carried on by the Division of Chemistry of the Do- 

 minion Experimental Farms for, the Reclamation Service of the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, towards the classification of certain areas in 

 Southern Alberta into irrigable and non-irrigable lands. ^ The chief 

 feature in the analytical work involved is the determination of the 

 so-called alkali, its nature and amount, on soil samples collected in 

 suspected areas, at depths as follows: A = 0'-0 — 0'-5, B = 0'-5 — l'-5, 

 C=l'.5-3'-0 andD = 3'-0-5'0. 



In the interpretation of the data so obtained and their appli- 

 cation to the lands in question, certain standards or limits of toxicity 

 as proposed by American investigators in alkali problems have been 

 largely used. Since, however, in a large number of instances the nature 

 of the "alkali" found in Canadian territory difïers markedly from that 

 which has formed the basis of the American standards, it is obvious 

 that the latter are not in all cases strictly applicable to the soils 

 now being classified. The results and examples presented in our 

 paper last year constituted the first contribution towards the estab- 

 lishment of standards more particularly adapted to Canadian con- 

 ditions. The present paper will give the results of the second years 

 work on this problem and may be considered as a report of progress 

 in this important matter. 



The previous paper recorded the results of the analysis of five 

 series of soil groups, each series consisting of three groups repre- 

 sentative of land upon which (1) there was a fair or good crop, the 

 concentration of the alkali 'beiug apparently and for practical pur- 

 poses, negligible; (2) upon which there was poor growth, the crop 

 evidently being distressed by alkali, and; (3) upon which there was 

 no growth due to excess of alkali. Each series represented a separate 

 tract of land or field, the three groups being collected within a com- 

 paratively short distance of one another in the same field or area. 

 The same plan and procedure have been followed in the collection of 



' The Alkali Content of Soils as related to Crop Growth, by Frank T. Shutt, 

 D.Sc, and E. A. Smith, M.A., Transactions of Royal Society of Canada, 1918, 

 pp. 8.3-97. 



Sec. III. Sig. 16 



