216 CROPS FOR ALKALI LAND 



and yield well with 4000 to 6000 parts per million of alkali, 

 provided it consists mostly of the white type. With 

 sodium carbonate or sodium chloride composing a con- 

 siderable portion of the alkali, however, the quantity 

 endured will be less. Beets will endure considerably more 

 sodium carbonate than most of the other important crops 

 of western United States. They have been found doing 

 well on land containing from 500 to over 700 parts per 

 million of this salt. Where the soil is crusted due to the 

 action of sodium carbonate, however, or where it becomes 

 strong about the seedlings, the stand will be imperfect and 

 the yield poor. 



Sodium chloride has been found to have a deleterious 

 effect on the quality of sugar-beets and where this con- 

 stituent of alkali exceeds 400 to 500 parts per million the 

 quality is likely to be inferior, although the growth may 

 be excellent. Beets will endure sodium chloride in the 

 soil in strengths of 2000 to 4000 parts per million, but 

 they will not be fit for sugar-making when grown on such 

 soils. Neither the quality nor the quantity of beets 

 produced in the presence of 4000 to 6000 parts per million 

 of sodium sulphate is likely to suffer after the plants 

 once get a good start. 



Potatoes have not been found to do well on alkali land. 

 Their quality is usually poor, especially where part of the 

 salts consist of sodium chloride or nitrates. These salts 

 also seem to cause the skin of the potato to be poorly 

 developed so that the keeping quality of the tubers is 

 impaired. Potatoes may be apparently doing well in 

 the presence of as much as 2000 to 4000 parts per million, 

 but they are likely to be watery and of poor keeping quality 

 when even as much as 1000 parts per million is present. 

 It is best to plant crops other than potatoes on even the 

 weak alkali land. 



