CHAPTER XVI 

 JUDGING ALKALI LAND 



A KNOWLEDGE of the physical phases of alkali is not 

 sufficient; the economic questions in connection with it 

 must also be given consideration. Alkali has no special 

 practical interest except in its relation to the soil, which 

 it may render entirely worthless if present in certain forms 

 and in sufficient concentration. In its less injurious forms 

 and at low concentrations it may reduce the value of the 

 land but slightly. It is important, therefore, to be able 

 to judge the extent of reduction in value of land due to the 

 presence of alkali. Many tracts have been settled, and, 

 after the expenditure of large sums of money, abandoned. 

 This loss might have been saved had a proper examina- 

 tion of the soil been made. 



Geology of Region. In regions free from alkali no 

 particular attention need be given to it in judging land, 

 but in regions where alkali is known to exist, it must be 

 kept constantly in mind by prospective purchasers of land. 

 Since practically all of the arid parts of the world have 

 more or less alkali, the ability to judge alkali land is very 

 important. One of the first steps is to look into the origin 

 of the soil to see if it came from geological formations 

 that are high in soluble salts. Soils derived from sand- 

 stones and shales of certain formations are practically 

 always so highly charged with salts that crop production 

 is difficult until the salts are leached out. A soil coming 

 from a formation of this kind, even though it has a salt 



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