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<br />INTRODUCTION ' <br /> <br />The principal objectives of the research on the poorly drained alkali, <br />soils of the San Luis Valley include the following: <br /> <br />1. To determine the optimum level, or levels, of the water table <br />for efficient irrigation and drainage. <br /> <br />2. To study the efficiency of metl;1ods for controlling SOli sali.nity <br />and exchangeable bases, including irrigation, drainace, soil <br />amendments (chemical addi ti ves), and leaching. <br /> <br />3. To detenninEi the crop management practices which will contribute <br />to improved soil and increased production. <br /> <br />4. To study the effects of irrigating with drainage water, with <br />and without amendments, on salinity, alkalini"vy, soU structure, <br />and plant growth. <br /> <br />5. To improve the techniques and standards for classifying the <br />poorly drained saline and alkali s oils of the San Luis Valley. <br /> <br />The specific objectives for 1955 and 1956 are: <br /> <br />I. To further evaluate the effects of amendments, different rates <br />of leaChing, and moisture on crop yields and soil characteristics <br />(including soluble salts and exchangeable sodium) in order to <br />learn how long these original treatments are effective. <br /> <br />2. To detennine the effects of severaJ. rates of surface-applied <br />irrigation water on the yield of barley and the yield and stand <br />of aJ.falfa growing under high and low water-table conditions, <br /> <br />3 .To continue to evaluate the adaptability, stand, and yield <br />of grass and legume varieties for the test s'ite conditions. <br /> <br />4. To apply principles of reclamation as developed to date on a <br />large field-plot basis. <br /> <br />5. To detennine the effect of deep subsoil tillage and nonnal <br />surface tillage on reclamation and on the yield and stand of <br />aUalfa on soils with and without a "pan-layer." <br /> <br />GENERAL PLAll - 1955 and 1956 <br /> <br />Field Plot Location <br /> <br />Figure 1 shows the location of the experimental plots. The studies <br />include: (1) the original main reclamation plots (drained and subbed), <br />(2) the alfaJ.fa strip tests, (3) the grass plots (tall wheatgrass strips <br />and the grass-legume nursery), and (4) the tillage-reclamation plots. <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br />\)\\~\\\)~ <br />