18 BULLETIN 135, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



within 2 to 3 feet of the surface. This ground water contains about 

 1 .7 per cent of salts in solution. 



(4) The reclamation of the land depends on the opening up of the 

 surface soil, so as to make possible the leaching out of the salts by the 

 application of water, and on the drainage of the land to lower perma- 

 nently the ground-water level. 



(5) Experiments to determine a satisfactory method of opening up 

 the surface soil and leaching out the salts have been conducted since 

 1910. Three methods have been tried: 



1. Green manuring with rye, followed by the cultivation necessary to maintain a 

 soil mulch. 



2. Green manuring with rye in 1911, followed by frequent irrigation and cultivation 

 in 1911 and throughout the season of 1912. 



3. Green manuring with rye in 1911 and barnyard manuring in 1911 and 1912, 

 combined with frequent irrigation and cultivation in 1911 and 1912. 



(6) All three methods have been decidedly beneficial. The greatest 

 reduction in the salt content resulted from the first method, the next 

 greatest from the third method, and the least from the second method. 



(7) In 1913 satisfactory crops of wheat, oats, beets, and alfalfa were 

 produced on land which had received treatment, indicating that in so 

 far as the surface soil is concerned the land has been fairly well 

 reclaimed. Whether the reclamation is to be permanent will depend 

 on future conditions, of which drainage is probably the most impor- 

 tant. 



(8) The cost of the first method was $24.30 per acre, that of the sec- 

 ond method $40.15 per acre, and that of the third method $59.95 

 per acre. 



(9) Considering both effectiveness and cost, the first method ap- 

 pears to be the best of the three. 



PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. 



Cultural directions for green manuring with rye. — Rye may be 

 planted on this soil immediately after breaking, as was done on this 

 tract in 1910, although it is generally difficult at first to obtain a good 

 seed bed. It is likely that breaking earlier in the season — in June or 

 July — and keeping the ground thoroughly cultivated with the disk and 

 harrow after rains, would leave it in better condition at seeding time. 

 In any case it is necessary to work the soil thoroughly with the disk 

 and harrow before seeding. To insure a good stand it is advisable to 

 s eed rather heavily. From 1^ to 2 bushels of seed to the acre should 

 be used. Seeding should be done, if possible, in early September, 

 although it might be possible to secure a good stand by planting as 

 late as October. The effect of time of seeding depends very much on 

 the season. 



