66 The Sugar-Beet in America 



SOIL ALKALI 



In many of the sugar-beet areas of America, a condi- 

 tion known as alkali in the soil is met. This condition is 

 found in practically all arid regions and results from the 

 presence of large quantities of soluble material in the soil, 

 which is rendered valueless by these salts if they are 

 present in quantities that inhibit crop gro^^-th. jNIany 

 soils containing considerable alkali will raise good crops 

 until stronger concentrations are brought near the sur- 

 face by evaporation of large quantities of water. In fact, 

 some farmers contend that sugar-beets do better if a small 

 amount of alkali is present. It is well known that after 

 beets get a good start they are able to endure more alkali 

 than many other common field crops. Experiments,^ 

 however, have shown that young beet seedlings are rather 

 tender, and if much alkali is present near the surface 

 when the seed is planted, germination will be poor. 



In considering a tract of land for sugar-beet production, 

 a careful survej' of alkali conditions should be made, since 

 new land is not likely to show the salt so much as is old, 

 particularly when careless methods of irrigation are used. 

 In the management of soils containing rather large quan- 

 tities of soluble salts, even though toxic limits have not 

 been reached, the farmer should know how to prevent 

 accumulation at the surface. He should also make pro- 

 vision to reclaim the land when such a step becomes 

 necessary. 



1 Harris, F. S. " Effect of Alkali Salts in Soils on the Ger- 

 mination and Growth of Crops.'.' Jour. Agr. Research. Vol. V, 

 pp. 1-52 (Oct. 4, 1915). 



