WSP03905

• File Number: 8276.855
• Description: Grand Valley Unit-Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 10/1/1972
• Title: Salinity Control Activities in Grand Valley
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Each plot will have an individual drain across each of

(~' the lower sides of the plot. The site will be selected so

that shale is approximately 10 feet Velow the surface. A

trench will be laid a sheet of polyethylene film which will

extend vertically a distance of about 5 feet. The purpose of

this film is to stop unsaturated flow aoross the drains.
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Small plastic drain pipes will be laid in the trench and

covered with a gravel filter.

Pipes conveying dra~nage effluent from all of these

plots will be laid in the trenches and will carry the water

out of the plot area to a water measuring station. After

both the quantity and quality of effluent from each drain

are measured, they will be dumped into a common drain which

will be used for disposing of the effluent.

Soil samples will be collected throughout the root zone

and below the root zone to shale. The first purpose of the

sampling will be to determine the type of ions present at

all levels in the soil profile and to determine their

concentration. This will provide a reference point for

comparing future measurements. Another purpose of this
sampling will be to determine soil fertility. From the

analysis of the soil samples, the amount arid types of
fertilizers need~d to bring the soil up to optimum
balanced fertility levels will be determined.

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Three different crops will be used in the tests. They

are alfalfa, barley and corn. Each will be irrigated with

a variety of irrigation treatments. In addition, two levels

of nitrogen fertilizer wil~ be applied to the corn. This