Apt. s8, Z933 
Toxicity and Antagonism of Alkali Salts in Soil 
337 
all. This phenomenon may be due in part at least to specific stimula¬ 
tion of plant growth by these substances rather than to any antagonistic 
action on the sodium carbonate which would lower the toxicity of that 
salt as is frequently observed in solution cultme. 
(7) Potassium nitrate and nitric acid are both distinctly stimulating 
to plant growth at 1,000 parts per million, and the addition of this 
quantity of these materials to soil containing 5,000 parts per million 
sodium carbonate or less was particularly beneficial. 
(8) Under the conditions of the experiment, barnyard mamure was an 
effective amendment for soil containing 2,600 parts per million sodium 
carbonate, but its corrective power for more toxic concentrations of 
black alkali was much less evident, probably because the optimum 
moisture content of the soil was not maintained when the larger amounts 
of manure were added. 
(9) Calcium sulphate, alone and in conjunction with sulphur and 
manure, is the most effective corrective that was tried, particularly on 
the more toxic black alkali soils. 
(10) The curious physiological effects of borax and sodium arsenite 
on the wheat plants have been noted. 
(11) While the data herein presented throw some light on the antag¬ 
onistic action of various alkali salts, it is evident that the problems of 
coping with black alkali is far from being solved. 
literature cited 
(1) Caldwbli., Joseph S. 
1914. THE EEFECT OF ANTAGONISTIC OR BALANCED SOLUTIONS CONTAINING 
SODIUM CHLORIDE TOGETHER WITH ONE OP THE CHLORIDES OP CAL¬ 
CIUM, MAGNESIUM, POTASSIUM, STRONTmM, AMMONIUM OR COPPER, 
UPON THE GROWTH OP CORN PLANTS ROOTED IN AN ARTIFICIAL SOIL. 
In Science, n. s., v. 39, p. 293. 
(2) Greaves, J. E. 
1920. THE antagonistic ACTION OF CALCIUM AND IRON SALTS TOWARD OTHER 
SALTS AS MEASURED BY AMMONIPICATION AND NITRIFICATION. In 
Soil Sci., V. 10, p. 77-102, 20 fig. References, p. 101-102. 
(3) Hansteen, B. 
1909. UBER DAS verhalten der kulturpflanze zu den bodensalzen. I. 
In Nyt Mag. Natnrvidenskabeme, Bd. 47, p. 181-194. Bibliographical 
footnotes. 
(4) Harris, Frank S. 
1915. EFFECT OF ALKALI SALTS IN SOILS ON THE GERMINATION AND GROWTH 
OF CROPS. In Jour. Agr. Research, v. 5, p. 1-53, 48 fig. Literature 
cited, p. 52-53. 
(5) -» Pittman, D. W. 
1918. SOIL FACTORS AFFECTING THE TOXICITY OF ALKALI. In Jour. Agr. 
Research, v. 15, p. 287-319, 27 fig. 
( 6 ) Kearney, Thomas H., and Cameron, Frank K. 
1902. EFFECT UPON SEEDLING PLANTS OF CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF ALKALI SOILS. 
In U. S. Dept. Agr. Rpt. 71, p. 7-60. 
(7) -> and Harter, L. L. 
1907. THE COMPARATIVE TOLERANCE OF VARIOUS PLANTS FOR THE SALTS COMMON 
IN ALKALI SOILS. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 113, 22 p. 
(8) Lipman, Charles B., and Gericke, W. F. 
1915. ANTAGONISM BETWEEN ANIONS AS AFFECTING BARLEY YIELDS ON A CLAY- 
ADOBE SOIL. In Jour. Agr. Research, v.*4, p. 201-218, pi. 29. Litera¬ 
ture cited, p. 217. 
(9) -*- 
1918. CX)PPER AND ZINC AS ANTAGONISTIC AGENTS TO THE ALK^l SALTS 
IN SOILS. In Amer. Jour. Bot., v. 5, p. 151-170, 2 fig. Bibliographical 
footnotes. 
