L62 



The presence of soluble aluminum instead of soluble iron is ;i condition 

 similar to thai round in the acid soil of the Wanalali experimenl li<'ld in 

 Laporte county (as reported by Abbott, Conner and Smalley in Bui. L70 

 of the Ind. Exp. Station). 



There is little danger of soluble salts of iron being present in well-drained 

 and aerated soils or in irrigation water which has been exposed to the air 

 for any length of time. This is due to the Fact that soluble sails of iron 

 readily oxidize and are precipitated on exposure to air. Soluble sails of 

 aluminum are not readily precipitated and there is danger of these being 

 present in injurious amount in acid soils either drained or undrained and in 

 mine waters. 



On the Wanatah field it was necessary to apply some form of lime to 

 neutralize the acidity before crops could be grown. It was also found that 

 aluminum nitrate was just as injurious to corn grown in water cultures as 

 was an equivalent amount of nitric acid. It would undoubtedly be necessary 

 to neutralize the acidity of the coal mine water with some form of lime before 

 it could be utilized for irrigation purposes. 



