OcL 4, 1915 
Effect of Alkali Salts in Soils on Crops 
35 
up, which in this case were only those in low concentrations. At the same 
time there might be considerable germination in the high concentrations 
of less toxic salts, but the time of germination was increased. Thus, the 
average time of germination might appear to be longer in the less toxic 
salt, when in reality this would not be the case. 
Figure 36 shows the time required for wheat to come up in Greenville 
loam, College loam, and sand containing salts in concentrations up to 
10,000 p. p. m. The results are the average for 13 different salts. The 
time required to germinate where no salt was present varied from about 
to 6 % days with no salt and from to 15 days with 10,000 p. p. m. 
Sugar beets Wheat Com Field peas Oats Barley Alfalfa 
Fig. 35.—Curve showing the effect of sodium chlorid, sodium carbonate, and sodium sulphate on the dry 
weight from seeds of various kinds. Average for concentrations from 1,000 to 10,000 p. p. m. 
of salt. The time was doubled by the presence of from 6,000 to 8,000 
p. p. m. of salt. 
Figure 37 shows the effect of individual salts on time of germination 
in the three kinds of soil. Calcium chlorid, magnesium chlorid, and 
sodium chlorid retarded germination most in Greenville soil, while sodium 
nitrate came next. 
In sand the salts did not retard germination as much as in loam. 
This is because there was no germination whatever in sand with the 
highest concentration. There was no germination in sand when ammo¬ 
nium carbonate was added, even in as low concentrations as 1,000 p. p. m. 
The results where three salts were used together are shown in figure 
38. The average time of germination with potassium chlorid, calcium 
