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<br />SUMMARY AND CONCWSIONS <br /> <br />1. Reclamation is necessary to obtain satisfactory crop yields from <br />the saline-alkali soUs of the San Luis Valley. <br /> <br />2. The 1955 results indicate that yields of barley are increased by <br />the addition of amendments and by water management consisting of <br />sub-irrigation or a combinstion of sub-irrigation and Surface <br />irrigation on the reclaimed saline-alkali soils. <br /> <br />3. Alfalfa yields i"rom the first cutting of alfalfa in the :1.956 <br />season were influenced by poor stands obtained from plots which <br />received fewer surface irrigations in 1955. <br /> <br />4. After reclamation is accomplished, it appears that water manage- <br />ment is the most important factor in obtaining satisfactory crop <br />yields. The sub-irrigated plots with high water tables have had <br />consistently higher yields than plots with a lower water table <br />since cropping began in 1952. <br /> <br />5. The addition of chemical amendments is effective in increasing <br />crop yields 5 years after the original applications, particularly <br />under the higher water table (sub-irrigated) condition. <br /> <br />6. Gypsum still appears to be the most effective and also the most <br />economical amendment. <br /> <br />7. Amendments have aided and hastened reclamation of the saline- <br />~11""li soils but it appears from chemical anslyses, that reclama- . <br />tion can be accomplished at a much slower rate by means of leach- <br />ing alone. <br /> <br />8. The 2l acre-inch and 30 acre-inch originsl leachingsare approod.- <br />mately equally effective on the 1955 barley yields. Higher first- <br />cutting alfalfa yields were obtained from the 30 acre-inch <br />leaching under sub-irrigated conditions. <br /> <br />9. The 1955 yield results show that some surface irrigation will in- <br />crease yields of barley even under sub-irrigation. Except for the <br />necessity for a late fall surface irrigation of established stands <br />of alfalfa, suri"ace water applied during the growing season <br />appears to be of little benefit to alfalfa when sub-irrigation is <br />practiced. <br /> <br />r. ,- r\ 1->0" ., <br />l; '., ~'w'::;.... J <br /> <br />-l8- <br />