UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 FIELD OBSERVATIONS 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET 
 
 FOR ALKALI. 
 
 By G. W. SHAW. 
 
 BULLETIN No. 169. 
 
 (Berkeley, Cal., May, 1905.) 
 
 SACRAMENTO: 
 w. w. shannon, ::::::: superintendent state printing. 
 
 1 905. 
 
BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER, Ph.D., LL.D., President of the University. 
 
 EXPERIMENT STATION STAFF. 
 
 E. W. HILGARD, Ph.D., LL.D., Director and Chemist. 
 
 E. J. WICKSON, M.A., Horticulturist. 
 
 W. A. SETCHELL, Ph.D., Botanist. 
 
 ELWOOD MEAD, M.S., C.E., Irrigation Engineer. 
 
 C. W. WOODWORTH, M.S., Entomologist. 
 
 R. H. LOUGHRIDGE, Ph.D., Agricultural Geologist and Soil Physicist. {Soils and Alkali.) 
 
 M. E. JAFFA, M.S., Assistant Chemist. (Foods, Nutrition.) 
 
 G. W. SHAW, M.A., Ph.D., Assistant Chemist. (Starches, Oils, Beet-Sugar.) 
 
 GEORGE E. COLBY, M.S., Assistant Chemist. (Fruits, Waters, Insecticides.) 
 
 RALPH E. SMITH, B.S., Plant Pathologist. 
 
 A. R. WARD, B.S.A., D.V.M., Veterinarian, Bacteriologist. 
 
 E. W. MAJOR, B.Agr., Animal Industry. 
 
 A. V. STUBENRAUCH, M.S., Assistant Horticulturist, in charge of Substations. 
 
 E. H. TWIGHT, B.Sc, Diploma E.A.M., Viticulturist. 
 
 F. T. BIOLETTI, M.S., Viticulturist. 
 
 WARREN T. CLARKE, B.S., Assistant Field Entomologist. 
 
 H. M. HALL, M.S., Assistant Botanist. 
 
 H. J. QUAYLE, A.B., Assistant Entomologist. 
 
 GEORGE ROBERTS, M.S., Assistant Chemist, in charge Fertilizer Control. 
 
 C. M. HARING, D.V.M., Assistant Veterinarian and Bacteriologist. 
 
 O. A. COLMORE, B.S., Clerk to the Director. 
 
 R. E. MANSELL, Foreman of Central Station Grounds. 
 
 JOHN TUOHY, Patron, ) 
 
 y Tulare Substation, Tulare. 
 JULIUS FORRER, Foreman, ) 
 
 J. E. McCOMAS, Patron, Pomona, 
 
 J. W. MILLS, Superintendent, Pomona, 
 
 In charge Cooperation Experiments of Southern California, 
 
 JOHN H. BARBER, Assistant Superintendent, Ontario, 
 
 J. W. ROPER, Patron, 
 
 HENRY WIGHTMAN, In charge 
 
 Southern California Substation. 
 
 [■ University Forestry Station, Chico. 
 
 ROY JONES, Patron, ) 
 
 V University Forestry Station, Santa Monica. 
 WM. SHUTT, Foreman, ) 
 
 H. O. WOODWORTH, M.S., Foreman of Poultry Station, Petaluma. 
 
 The Station publications (Reports and Bulletins), so long as avail- 
 able, will be sent to any citizen of the State on application. 
 
FIELD OBSERVATIONS UPON TOLERANCE OF THE 
 
 SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 By G. W. SHAW. 
 
 While acting as agricultural expert for a company interested in the 
 beet industry in Colorado, the attention of the writer was frequently 
 drawn to the effect of the soluble-salt constituents of the soil (alkali) 
 upon the sugar beet. On account of the fact that the general condi- 
 tions which obtained in the irrigated regions are especially favorable 
 to the production of high-grade beets, and since in such regions there 
 are usually to be found many acres of land upon which these sol- 
 uble salts appear in greater or less concentration and frequently have 
 killed the normal vegetation, and especially because of much apparent 
 contradiction in the action of these lands toward the sugar-beet crop, 
 the writer became interested in attempting to determine the limits of 
 tolerance of the sugar beet toward alkali, and it is as a contribution to 
 this work that this bulletin is prepared, reviewing certain work which 
 was conducted by the writer in 1900 at Grand Junction, Colorado, and 
 extended during the summer of 1904 at Oxnard, California. 
 
 PREVIOUS WORK IN CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Certain investigators, notably Drs. Hilgard and Loughridge of this 
 Station, and Professors Buffum and Slosson of the Wyoming Station, 
 had already conducted some interesting and suggestive work upon the 
 relation of alkali to sugar beets. Dr. Loughridge,* in discussing the 
 toleration of alkali by sugar beets grown in three different localities, 
 shows it to be: 
 
 Sulfates. 
 
 Carbonates. 
 
 Chlorids. 
 
 Nitrates. 
 
 Total. 
 
 No. 1 
 
 No. 2 
 
 8,920 
 7,160 
 2,360 
 
 3,360 
 3,040 
 3,360 
 
 3,280 
 1,520 
 3,280 
 
 1,440 
 560 
 320 
 
 17,000 
 12,280 
 
 No. 3 
 
 9,320 
 
 
 From this and other data he concludes that the limit of tolerance for 
 sugar beets, so far as he has observed, is as follows. 
 
 For sulfates over 7,000 lbs. per acref 
 
 For sodium chlorid " 1,500 " " 
 
 For sodium carbonate " 3,000 " " " 
 
 For nitrates " 2,600 " " " 
 
 He considers chlorids and nitrates even more injurious than carbon- 
 ates and sulfates. He says:J "The data and observations recorded 
 * * prove beyond question that sugar beets of good and even high 
 
 * Loughridge, R. H. : California Experiment Station Report, 1895-96, p. 49. 
 
 f To depth of three feet in each case. 
 
 X Hilgard and Loughridge: California Experiment Station Report, 1894-95, p. 90. 
 
 * 
 
4 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 grade, both as to sugar and purity, may be grown on land containing 
 as much as 12,000 pounds of alkali salts per acre to the depth of three 
 feet; provided that the percentage of common salt does not exceed an 
 average of 0.04 per cent, or 1,600 pounds per acre." The above figures 
 are " not final, and good sugar beets might be grown with a higher per 
 cent of any one of the salts, all other conditions being favorable." In a 
 later report* it is stated that on soil containing from 7,000 to 12,000 
 pounds of alkali (in three feet), chiefly glauber salt, excellent sugar 
 beets were grown at the Southern California substation, but at from 
 18,000 to 20,000 pounds they failed to produce a crop. Beets grown on 
 the former soil averaged 14.1 per cent of sugar; purity, 80 per cent. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS IN COLORADO. 
 
 It is regretted that the circumstances in Colorado did not permit a 
 more thorough examination of the under soil, for in but few cases was 
 it possible to extend the work to a greater depth than the top foot — 
 the writer having removed to California before the completion of the 
 work contemplated. However, the limited number of analyses taken, 
 together with field observations and the experience of certain farmers 
 in the application of water, seems to indicate that in the virgin soil the 
 heavy per cent of alkali lies above the fourth foot, and that the shallow 
 irrigation practiced has brought the excessive amounts now in the sur- 
 face foot from that depth. This evil effect of shallow irrigation has 
 been augmented by underground seepage from the canals in the locali- 
 ties which are inclined to sandy loams, by an upward leaching of the 
 soil. 
 
 The following soluble-salt determinations made upon soils producing 
 either good or fair crops of beets indicate the condition of the top foot 
 in such fields: 
 
 TABLE I. — Soluble Salts in Colorado Soil Producing Fair Crops. 
 
 
 Locality. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 Pounds per Acre-foot. 
 
 No 
 
 Chlo- 
 rids. 
 
 Carbon-; Sul - 
 ates. fates. 
 
 Total. 
 
 Chlo- 
 rids. 
 
 Carbon- 
 ates. 
 
 Sul- 
 fates. 
 
 Total. 
 
 7 
 10 
 15 
 +20 
 1!» 
 22 
 23 
 35 
 
 Sec. 13, T. 1S..R.1 E.__. 
 Sec. 19, T. 1S..R.1 E.._. 
 Sec. 9, T. 1N.,R. 1 E.— 
 Sec. 5, T. 1N.,R. 1 E.__. 
 Sec. 5, T. IN., R. 1 E._._ 
 Sec. 16, T. 1S.,R. 1 E.___ 
 Sec. 15, T. 1 S.,R. 1 E._- 
 Sec. 11, T. 1N.,R. 2 W. .. 
 
 Average .. - 
 
 .023 
 .070 
 .028 
 .036 
 .046 
 .036 
 .019 
 .034 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 .007 
 .014 
 .005 
 .007 
 .003 
 .004 
 
 .139 
 .114 
 .032 
 .172 
 .113 
 .159 
 .042 
 .006 
 
 .162 
 .184 
 .067 
 .222 
 .164 
 .202 
 .064 
 .044 
 
 i 
 
 920 
 2,800 
 1,120 
 1,440 
 1,840 
 1,440 
 
 760 
 1,360 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 280 
 560 
 200 
 280 
 120 
 160 
 
 5,560 
 4,560 
 1,280 
 6,880 
 4,520 
 6,360 
 1,680 
 240 
 
 6,480 
 7,360 
 2,680 
 8,880 
 6,560 
 
 S.O.SII 
 
 2,560 
 1,760 
 
 
 .036 
 
 .004 .087 
 
 .127 
 
 1,440 160 
 
 3,480 
 
 5,080 
 
 * Hilgard, E. W. : California Experiment Station Report, 1897-98, pp. 129, 142. 
 + An uncultivated soil. Not included in the average. 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
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6 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 While the yield in these fields is not high when considered independ- 
 ently, yet, as compared with the remainder of the section and in con- 
 nection with the seasonal yield of the region, it was above the average, 
 being 8.45 tons per acre, and ranging from 7.76 tons to 20.98 tons, with 
 an average sugar-content of 16.03 per cent and purity of 81.8 per cent. 
 
 The indication here is that while the soluble-salt content of these 
 soils is high, yet fair and even good beets can be produced even when 
 the total alkali-content reaches as high as 5,000 pounds in the top foot, 
 and may perhaps even reach 7,000 pounds, other conditions being 
 favorable. 
 
 In other localities, however, the conditions were quite different, as 
 will be seen in Table II, showing results from fields failing to produce 
 crops, although the conditions of cultivation, etc., were as good as in 
 the former cases. 
 
 Comparing, now, the figures in Table II with the limits indicated 
 above, estimating that the Grand Junction soil carries three fourths of 
 the alkali in the top foot, we find that on the ground where beets failed, 
 fifteen out of sixteen samples carried in the top foot much more chlorid 
 than the total amount named above for three feet, and that the average 
 was ten times the figure given above. In the single case where the 
 chlorids were low the sulfates alone surpassed the 9,000-pound limit 
 for the top foot. 
 
 A just consideration of these facts leaves little doubt as to the pri- 
 mary causes of many of the failures with the beet crop on these soils, 
 although it is but just to say that large areas in the locality are well 
 adapted to the beet, and that by a proper discrimination as to soils 
 these difficulties may be obviated. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AT OXNARD. 
 
 Opportunity offered during the season of 1904 to extend observations 
 along the same line, at Oxnard, California. It may be said at this 
 point that the general conditions in this locality for the production of 
 sugar beets, both as to quality and quantity, are exceptionally good, 
 and the conditions here presented are for special fields and are not 
 presented as representing widespread conditions. 
 
 After a preliminary examination, certain fields were selected for 
 study, mainly because the appearance of the beets, the general condi- 
 tion of their crop, and the appearance of the soil, so closely resembled 
 those observed at Grand Junction, Colorado. 
 
 Appearance of Alkalied Beets. — As to the crop in the affected fields, 
 the condition which -would first attract attention was the "patchy' 
 appearance of these fields. This was due to a very uneven stand, and 
 to a considerable irregularity in the size of the plants in the various 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 parts of the fields. Almost equally striking was the prevalence of 
 chlorosis of the older leaves and a sprangling tap-root, in some cases 
 entire fields being thus affected, but more often only portions of certain 
 fields. 
 
 The beets of these fields had a distinctly different appearance from 
 the so-called "blighted" beets, and were not characterized by such an 
 abnormal development of side roots as usually accompanies the former 
 conditions. Nor was there the characteristic darkening of the outer 
 layer of cells of the crown and basal portion of the petioles. 
 
 The reader will better perceive the difference in the appearance of a 
 typical "alkalied" beet and one 
 affected with the so-called ( , 
 
 "blight," by contrasting the fol- 
 lowing illustrations: 
 
 Fig. 1. Beets stunted by alkali. 
 
 Fig. 2. Beet affected by "blight. 
 
 This may be due to several causes: (a) The alkali may retard, or 
 even prevent the germination of the seed; (6) it may destroy the plants 
 after germination, either on account of its concentration as a whole, or 
 of some one of its ingredients. 
 
 Difficulty in Securing a Good Stand in Alkali Soil. — Often the greatest 
 difficulty is experienced, in localities subject to alkali, in securing a 
 good stand of beet plants. This usually is more true of clay than of 
 sandy soils. An examination of ground destitute of plants will nearly 
 always reveal either the presence of an alkali-content on the surface of 
 such spots, or the peculiar fine dust mulch so common in such regions. 
 Even though the beets are caused to germinate by irrigation in such 
 cases, the stand is invariably uneven. 
 
 In such cases it is undoubtedly true that the density of the soil solu- 
 
8 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 tion has been too great, thus destroying the vitality of the seed, or, in the 
 case of germination, the plants died very shortly from a constantly 
 increasing density of the soil solution. This would soon reach such a 
 degree of density as to so nearly equal that of the plant that passage of 
 water from the soil into the plant was checked, and starvation from a 
 lack of water results. 
 
 In an investigation as to the strength of the soil solution in the 
 Colorado analyses, the writer found, for the top foot of the soil, the 
 following results: 
 
 Percentage in Soil Water. 
 
 Depth, 
 
 Sulfates. 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Carbonate). 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium Chlorid). 
 
 Total Alkali. 
 
 For 20% water 
 For 10% water 
 
 1.86 
 3.66 
 
 .14 
 
 .27 
 
 .97 
 1.93 
 
 2.97 
 5.86 
 
 The calculation was made for 10 per cent and 20 per cent because of 
 an investigation of the amount of water present in a field with heavy 
 soil and made at the time when the plants were growing and when they 
 were not. Two days after irrigation there was found to be from 18 to 20 
 per cent of water in a heavy adobe soil on the side of the plant next to 
 the water furrow. 
 
 The soil in the same field, when it had not been irrigated for several 
 days, contained but 8 to 12 per cent. In the latter case the plants 
 had not ceased growing, but were suffering from lack of water. This 
 concentration of solution, beyond question, had a bearing upon the 
 retardation or prevention of germination. 
 
 EXPERIMENTS IN WYOMING. 
 
 At the Wyoming Experiment Station, Prof. E. E. Slosson* experi- 
 mented with solutions of magnesium and sodium sulfate, sodium chlo- 
 rid, and sodium carbonate, using seeds of corn, sunflower, peas, wheat, 
 rye, buckwheat, alfalfa, rape, and scirpus. The effect of sodium car- 
 bonate was to corrode , disintegrate, and destroy the seed, if more than 
 small amounts were used; as a result, only the neutral salts were used 
 throughout the experimentation, since sodium carbonate entirely pre- 
 vents germination. In summing up the results of a long series of 
 experiments, he concludes that in all cases the presence of salts in solu- 
 tion hinders the absorption of water in a ratio increasing with the 
 osmotic pressure of the solution. Dilute solutions of alkali retard 
 germination, stronger solutions prevent it entirely. He used solutions 
 
 * Slosson, E. E.: Alkali Studies IV, pp. 1-29, July, 1899: Wyoming Agricultural 
 Experiment Station Report f or 1899. 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 9 
 
 varying from to 9 per cent. The retarding effect was greatest when 
 sodium carbonate or sodium chlorid was used. There was a wide differ- 
 ence shown in the deleterious effects of alkali upon the seeds of different 
 species. 
 
 Prof. B. C. Buffum conducted a series of experiments quite like those 
 by Professor Slosson. His conclusions are similar, and are as follows: 
 
 (1) "The presence of very small amounts of sodium sulfate, sodium 
 chlorid, magnesium sulfate, or sodium carbonate undoubtedly has a 
 beneficial effect on the germination of seeds and the growth of plants. 
 
 (2) "Of the salts most abundant in the alkali of the arid regions, 
 those that have the greatest detrimental effects on germination, in order, 
 are: sodium carbonate, sodium chlorid, sodium sulfate, and magnesium 
 sulfate. 
 
 (3) "The retarding effect of a salt solution on the germination of 
 seeds is in direct proportion to its osmotic pressure, except where other 
 factors enter in, such as the caustic effect of sodium carbonate, or where 
 solutions are very dilute." * 
 
 . The presence of over one per cent of sodium carbonate, and over nine 
 per cent of sodium chlorid effectually prevented the germination of 
 wheat and rye seeds. In a still later joint report by Messrs. Buffum 
 and Slosson f are given the results of experiments conducted with the 
 growth of wheat and alfalfa in sand containing, in addition to a nutrient 
 solution, amounts of sodium and potassium chlorids and sulfates of 
 known osmotic pressure. The greatest osmotic pressure used was 7.1 
 atmospheres — about equal to that of a sodium chlorid solution of one 
 per cent. This not only retarded the germination of the seeds, but 
 checked the development of the plants after germination, producing 
 stunted plants of minimuiri size as compared with the check plants 
 grown in a nutrient solution. 
 
 Since the sugar-tjeet seeds in the fields at Grand Junction must have 
 been subjected at times to soil solutions very much more dense than 
 those used by Professors Slosson and Buffum, what they found to have 
 taken place in pots used in experimentation must have occurred to a 
 greater degree in the field. The per cent of sodium carbonate in some 
 fields was sufficient during periods of minimum moisture to injure those 
 plants fortunate enough to get through when the soil contained its 
 maximum moisture. The average of 16 to 31 per cent of soluble salts 
 in the soil solution, even of sulfates, is sufficient to greatly retard germi- 
 nation, if not to entirely prevent it. The sodium chlorid, on account 
 of its higher osmotic pressure, has a greater effect than the sulfates. 
 
 * Buffum, B. C. : Alkali Studies 111 : Wyoming Agricultural Station Report for 1899. 
 t Buffum, B. C, and Slosson, E. E. : Alkali Studies V: Wyoming Agricultural Experi- 
 ment Station Report for 1900. 
 
10 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 The osmotic pressure exerted by the salts mentioned are estimated by 
 Professor Slosson as follows: 
 
 Salt Per Pressures, in 
 
 Cent. Atmospheres. 
 
 Sodium chlorid 1 7.4 
 
 Sodium carbonate 1 4.3 
 
 Sodium sulfate 1 3.9 
 
 Magnesium sulfate 1 2.8 
 
 Sugar... 1 0.7 
 
 OBSERVATIONS AT OXNARD, CALIFORNIA. 
 
 At Oxnard this unevenness of stand was marked in many fields, 
 typical cases being seen in the illustrations referring to fields IX, XI 
 and XII. 
 
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 Fig. 3. Field IX, showing both good and poor beets. 
 
 The conditions in these fields were especially favorable for observations 
 upon the tolerance of the sugar beet for alkali. 
 
 FIELD IX, OXNARD. 
 
 Field IX consisted of 33 acres, all planted to beets. The previous 
 crops grown on this land had been — in 1902, hay, and in 1903, beets, 
 which yielded 9 tons per acre, and in this portion of the field the esti- 
 mated tonnage was 3 to 4 tons only. The field was exceedingly spotted in 
 appearance, not only on account of the uneven bearing spots, which 
 occurred in larger or smaller places all over the field, but also on 
 account of the apparently uneven ripening of the beets. Wherever the 
 beet leaves still appeared green, examination showed the soil to be 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 11 
 
 moist, even to the top of the ground; but where the beets appeared ripe 
 the ground was dry and hard. The field was winter plowed to a depth 
 of 12 inches, and seeded on March 5th in rows 18 inches apart; thinned 
 April 16th, and harvest began August 22d. On the north and east of the 
 field are irrigation ditches, built in 1902. While previous to that time 
 alkali was known to exist in the locality, yet it did not show in excess 
 until after the ditches had been constructed, which suggests the possi- 
 bility of seepage from that source, although that was not positively 
 established. 
 
 Alkali shows generally over the field, appearing in apparently larger 
 
 Fig. 4. Field IX, showing a spot of beets growing in strong alkali. 
 
 quantities in the spots where no beets were growing. One of the bare 
 spots (see Fig. 4) surrounded an island of slightly higher ground on which 
 were growing beets of poor form, showing the short, stubby and branch- 
 ing characteristics of strongly alkali soils generally. This beet island, 
 surrounded by the perfectly bare ground on which there was an efflo- 
 rescence of alkali, is well shown in Fig. 4. By cross-sectioning the field 
 at this point, both as to soil samples and beets, we were able to pass 
 successively through fair beets, poor beets, no beets, and to also reverse 
 the order on the other side of the spot of beets. This, as well as the 
 general shape of the alkali spots, is shown in Fig. 5, the location of 
 good and poor beets, and the point at which the soil samples were taken. 
 
12 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 Analyses showing the distribution of the soluble salts are here pre- 
 sented: 
 
 TABLE III.— Soluble Salts in Field IX, Oxnanl. 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 
 Pounds 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 
 Depth. 
 
 CO 
 P 
 
 CO 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 c 
 
 r*- 
 P 
 
 > 
 P 
 
 CO 
 
 p 
 
 - 1 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 H 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 No. IX— 9. 
 
 First foot _ ... - . - 
 
 .2416 
 
 .4328 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 .0552 
 .1104 
 
 .2968 
 .5432 
 
 9,680 
 17,320 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 2,200 
 4J400 
 
 11,880 
 
 Second foot 
 
 21,720 
 
 
 
 Average and total.-. 
 
 .3372 
 
 none 
 
 .0828 
 
 .4200 
 
 27.000 
 
 none 
 
 6,600 
 
 33,600 
 
 No. IX— 10. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .5277 
 .3154 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 .2227 
 .1574 
 
 .7504 
 
 .4728 
 
 21,108 
 12,600 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 8,908 
 6,280 
 
 30,016 
 
 Second foot _ . 
 
 18,880 
 
 
 
 Average and total ... 
 
 .4215 
 
 none 
 
 .1901 
 
 .6116 
 
 33,708 
 
 none 
 
 15,188 
 
 18,896 
 
 No. IX— 11. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .4814 
 .4213 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 • 
 
 .1778 
 .2227 
 
 .6592 
 .6440 
 
 .6515 
 
 19,240 
 16,840 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 none 
 
 7,120 
 8,920 
 
 26,360 
 
 Second foot _. 
 
 25,760 
 
 
 
 Average and total. ._ 
 
 .4513 
 
 none 
 
 .2002 
 
 36,080 
 
 16,040 
 
 52,120 
 
 No. IX— 12. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .2532 
 .4672 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 .1196 
 
 .0288 
 
 .3728 
 .4960 
 
 10,128 
 18,680 
 
 none 
 none 
 
 4,784 
 1,160 
 
 14,912 
 
 Second foot . . .. . 
 
 19,840 
 
 
 
 Average and total... 
 
 .3602 
 
 none 
 
 .0712 
 
 .4344 
 
 28,808 
 
 none 
 
 5,944 
 
 34,752 
 
 No. IX— 13. 
 
 First foot . _.. . 
 
 .1789 
 .2715 
 
 .010 
 .010 
 
 .1211 
 .1957 
 
 .3100 
 .4772 
 
 7,160 
 
 10,880 
 
 400 
 400 
 
 4,840 
 7,840 
 
 12,400 
 
 Second foot . 
 
 19,120 
 
 
 
 Average and total. .. 
 
 .2252 
 
 .010 
 
 .1584 
 
 .3936 
 
 is. o-lo 
 
 800 
 
 12,680 
 
 31,520 
 
 No. IX— 14. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .1891 
 .2257 
 
 .0067 
 .0067 
 
 .0562 
 .0652 
 
 .2520 
 .2976 
 
 7,560 
 9,040 
 
 280 
 280 
 
 2,240 
 2,600 
 
 10,080 
 
 Second foot 
 
 11,920 
 
 
 
 Average and total. ._ 
 
 .2074 
 
 .0067 
 
 .0607 
 
 .2748 
 
 16,600 
 
 560 
 
 4,840 
 
 22,000 
 
 No. IX— 15. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .0825 
 .1284 
 
 .0033 
 .0050 
 
 .0562 
 .0746 
 
 .1420 
 
 .2080 
 
 3,320 
 5,120 
 
 120 
 200 
 
 2,240 
 3,000 
 
 5,680 
 
 Second foot . 
 
 8,320 
 
 
 
 Average and total... 
 
 .1054 
 
 .0041 
 
 .0654 
 
 .1699 
 
 8,440 
 
 320 
 
 5,240 
 
 14,000 
 
 Discussion. — In Fig. 7, showing the beets from the respective points of 
 sampling, may be seen the characteristic appearance of "alkalied beets." 
 In position 9 the beets in most cases were fair in size, yet now and then 
 would be shown the " scraggly " tendency of beets growing in strong 
 alkali soils, which in positions 10 and 14 is shown to the greatest degree. 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 13 
 
 In position 15 the beets were apparently about the same as those at 9, 
 which is also shown in the illustration. At 12 the beets were better 
 than at either 10 or 14, but distinctly poorer than at 9 and 15. It will 
 be noted that the beets at 12 presented more fully the alkali character- 
 
 Fig. 5. Locations in Field IX where samples were taken. 
 
 Fig. 6. Alkali curves for Field IX. 
 
 istics than do either 9 or 15. This appearance and condition are par- 
 ticularly interesting when taken in connection with the curves showing 
 the alkali conditions which obtained at the points of sampling (see 
 Fig. 6). 
 It will be noted from the curves that as the chlorid content of the 
 
14 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 <HV 
 
 /Vo JBeets 
 
 A/o Beets. 
 
 9-u 
 
 <?-/Q 
 
 Fig. 7. Beets growing on 
 the stations indicated 
 in Fig. 6. 
 
 soil approaches .20 per cent, the beets inva- 
 riably become either very much stunted in 
 size or have been entirely destroyed from the 
 effects of the alkali. This is especially noticed 
 at points 10, 11, and 13, Avhile at 12 the beets 
 become measurably better in size, but on ac- 
 count of their poor form must still be classed 
 as poor beets. Here also the chlorid content 
 of the soil has decidedly decreased. This is 
 also true of station 14. If we are to draw any 
 lesson from the data here presented it would 
 be the comparatively limited effect which the 
 sulfates have upon the beets, and the great 
 sensitiveness of the beet to the soluble chlorids. 
 These results are verified by results secured 
 by sampling at right angles to the former cross- 
 section and including samples 18* 12, 16, and 
 19. The results of which analyses show the 
 following percentage : 
 
 Station . . ______ 
 
 18. 
 
 No 
 
 beets. 
 
 12. 
 Poor 
 
 beets. 
 
 16. 
 
 Fair 
 beets. 
 
 19. 
 
 Condition of beets. . .. - 
 
 Good 
 beets. 
 
 Sulfates 
 
 Carbonates 
 
 .4063 
 .0092 
 .1957 
 
 .3602 
 0000 
 .0742 
 
 .2010 
 .0044 
 .0746 
 
 .2629 
 .0101 
 
 Chlorids __ . 
 
 .0419 
 
 Total 
 
 .6112 
 
 .4344 
 
 .2800 
 
 .3149 
 
 
 
 While the time at which the work here re- 
 ported was necessarily done rendered it general- 
 ly impossible to secure extended data as to the 
 sugar-content on the several tracts, it may be 
 said that the beets on plat IX ranged from 17 
 to 22 per cent sugar in the beet. 
 
 FIELD XI, OXNARD. 
 
 In Field XI the conditions w 7 ere much the 
 same as in the former case, although, owing 
 to some subirrigation, the beets, wherever grow- 
 ing, were of much better size. The field had 
 been in beets for the two years preceding 
 and had produced good crops each year. This 
 field lies alongside the waste ditch from the 
 factorv, and is somewhat lower than the ditch, 
 which fact has apparently affected the field by 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 15 
 
 an upward leaching of the soil, bringing much alkali to the top. While 
 there were 19 acres of beets originally planted in this field, but 5 acres 
 were actually harvested, the beets carrying a sugar-content of 14.7 per 
 
 Fig. 8. General view of Field XI. 
 
 Fig. 9. Field XI, looking in opposite direction. 
 
 cent, and a purity of 78.1. In taking the soil samples water was found 
 at points 1 and 2 at a depth of about 12 inches, while at point 1 the 
 soil auger could be easily pressed to a depth of 8 feet, on account of the 
 large amount of water in the soil. 
 
16 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 The illustrations on page 15 show the appearance of Field XI at 
 the time of sampling, Fig. 8 looking away from the waste ditch from 
 point 6 in the line drawing (Fig. 10), while Fig. 9 reverses the view. 
 
 Fig. 10 indicates the distribution of the beets in the field, showing, 
 the stations at which the soil and beet samples were selected, and in 
 the tables herewith presented are stated the alkali determinations for 
 the several indicated stations. 
 
 Fig. 10. Location of samples for analysis. 
 
 TABLE IV.— Soluble Salts in Field XI, Oxnard. 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 Depth. 
 
 W 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 -3 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 : 
 
 GO 
 
 <r+ 
 .-D 
 CD 
 
 ; 
 ; 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 o 
 
 3" 
 
 > 
 
 CO 
 
 No. XI— 1. 
 
 First foot _ . 
 
 .4764 
 .0990 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 .0276 
 .0186 
 
 .02131 
 
 .5040 
 .1176 
 
 19,040 
 3,960 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 1,120 
 
 760 
 
 20,160 
 
 Second foot .. 
 
 4,720 
 
 
 
 Average and total... 
 
 .2877 
 
 trace 
 
 .3108 
 
 23,000 
 
 trace 
 
 1,880 
 
 24,880 
 
 No. XI-2. 
 
 First foot 
 
 Second foot J 
 
 .1976 
 .2152 
 
 traee 
 trace 
 
 .0552 
 .0552 
 
 .2528 
 .2704 
 
 .2616 
 
 7,920 
 8,600 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 2,200 
 2,200 
 
 10,120 
 10,800 
 
 Average and total ... 
 
 .2064 
 
 trace 
 
 .0552 
 
 16,520 
 
 trace 
 
 4,400 
 
 20,920 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 17 
 
 TABLE IV.— Soluble Salts in Field XI, Oxnard— Continued. 
 
 Depth. 
 
 No. XI- 3. 
 
 Firstfoot 
 
 Second foot 
 
 Average and total... 
 
 No. XI— 4. 
 
 Firstfoot 
 
 Second foot 
 
 Average and total... 
 
 No. XI— 5. 
 
 Average and total, 2 ft. 
 
 No. XI— 6. 
 
 Firstfoot 
 
 Second foot 
 
 Average and total.. _ 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 CO 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 creep 
 
 i — i 
 
 n O *-i. 
 
 
 bon 
 diu 
 mat 
 
 CO 
 
 £2£. 
 
 
 
 i a> 
 
 
 ! 0»> 
 
 
 P O 
 
 
 J-j P 
 
 
 ■ CO 
 
 o 
 
 £3 
 
 H 
 
 o 
 
 p 
 
 b 
 p 
 
 .1364 
 .1684 
 
 .1524 
 
 .2820 
 .2960 
 
 .2890 
 
 .013 
 
 .3108 
 .5608 
 
 .4358 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 .0828 
 .0644 
 
 .0736 
 
 .1012 
 .4640 
 
 .2820 
 
 .041 
 
 .1676 
 
 .2784 
 
 .2230 
 
 .2192 
 
 .2328 
 
 .2260 
 
 .3832 
 .7600 
 
 .5710 
 
 .054 
 
 .4784 
 .8392 
 
 .6588 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 
 5,440 
 6,720 
 
 12,160 
 
 11,280 
 11,840 
 
 o 
 
 creep 
 
 W P c-t- 
 
 ; Ore 
 
 ; Sp 
 
 ' co 
 
 m G 
 
 H 
 
 oee=r 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 O r - "-! 
 
 
 
 ► 
 
 w 
 
 1 CD 
 
 X 
 
 23,120 
 
 1,040 
 
 12,432 
 22,440 
 
 34,872 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 3,320 
 2,560 
 
 trace 
 
 5,880 
 
 trace 4,040 
 trace I 18,560 
 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 22,600 
 
 3,280 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 trace 
 
 6,704 
 11,120 
 
 17,824 
 
 8,760 
 9,320 
 
 18,080 
 
 15,320 
 30,400 
 
 45,720 
 
 4,320 
 
 19,136 
 33,560 
 
 52,61)6 
 
 Discussion. — Collecting the averages from the tables and developing 
 the curve for the purpose of comparison, we have the following: 
 
 Fig. 11. Alkali curve, Field XL 
 
18 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 Mo .Beds. 
 
 No JZeets 
 U=± 
 
 J 
 
 Fig. 12. Beets from stations 
 indicated in Fig. 10. 
 
 In this location it will be noted that good 
 beets alternate with no beets. As in the former 
 case, there appears to be no connection which 
 one can trace between the relation of good 
 beets to the percentage of either total alkali 
 or sulfate within the limits here shown, except 
 as influenced by the chlorids. The fact that 
 good beets occurred at station 1 with compara- 
 tively high total alkali, while at station 2 no 
 beets were growing, is doubtless because of the 
 increase in the chlorids as shown in the curve. 
 
 Further, the distribution of the alkali was 
 far different at the two stations, which un- 
 doubtedly had much to do with the occur- 
 rence of beets at the one and their failure at 
 the other station. By referring to the tabular 
 presentation of analyses it will be observed 
 that at station 1 practically all the alkali was 
 contained in the top foot, and thus largely 
 removed from the more delicate feeding roots 
 of the beet, which extend very deep into the 
 soil, as will be seen in Fig. 13. 
 
 Influence of Distribution of Salts. — At station 
 2, however, the concentration was essentially 
 the same in the second foot as in the first, thus 
 bringing the salts within the immediate reach 
 of these delicate feeders of the plant, a fact 
 which indicates that not only is the total quan- 
 tity of an alkali constituent a factor, but also, 
 a ud perhaps even more than this, the distribu- 
 tion of salt in the soil* which also may explain 
 why one may often find perfectly bare spots in 
 a field known to be tainted with alkali, even 
 though there is but little if any alkali appear- 
 ing near the surface. Such an occurrence may 
 also explain the loss of a crop in a similar 
 field, even though the seed may have germi- 
 nated well and a good stand of beets have been 
 obtained. Whereas with a concentration of 
 the bulk of alkali near the surface the germina- 
 tion of the seed would be poorer from the 
 destruction of the germ. 
 
 *See also Report of California Experiment Station, 
 1894, p. 81. 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 19 
 
 FIELD IV, OXNARD. 
 
 The influence of the distribution of salts around the feeding roots of 
 the beet also has illustration in Field IV, confirming the idea just pre- 
 sented, particularly as to chlorids. This was a field of 8 acres, in which 
 the seed-bed was well prepared and the stand secured was good. The 
 
 " *d$h@% ^" _____ -■ 'MUSS r s&i' 
 
 
 
 a 
 
 
 5H '®>< > BM_k__<r *"%H ^w 
 
 <"■'• / '' ; '''-' ,'■ '■''"" '■' ■ ■'■•' 
 
 Fig. 13. Root System of Sugar Beet, showing necessity of deep 
 preparation of soil. 
 
 field was irrigated previous to planting and had also been irrigated in 
 shallow furrows subsequent to planting. The land north, with a slope 
 toward this field, had been much irrigated, and there seemed to be a 
 marked tendency for alkali to accumulate on this field. The particular 
 thing to attract one's attention was the irregular size of the beets. On 
 
20 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 the lower spots, where the water seemed to have stood at the time of 
 irrigation, the beets were generally good, but on the ridges were found 
 universally the characteristic "alkalied" beet, small, sprangly, and 
 stubby. The general cultivation of the field had been poor, the ground 
 being very hard as a result of flooding the land and failing to properly 
 work the soil thereafter. 
 
 Sample 1, indicated in the table below, is a composite one from three 
 different places where beets are good, while sample 2 is a composite one 
 taken in the same manner from contiguous ridges on which the beets 
 were decidedly poor. 
 
 TABLE V.— Soluble Salts in Field IV, Oxnard. 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 Depth. 
 
 P 
 
 (t> 
 
 CO 
 i 
 
 « i 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 o 
 
 P 
 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 l— ' 
 
 1 
 
 i — ' 
 p 
 
 O 
 
 CO 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 
 
 E 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 No. IV— 1. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .1980 
 .0269 
 .0196 
 
 ■ 
 
 .0084 
 .0041 
 .0034 
 
 .1120 
 .0930 
 
 .0930 
 
 .3184 
 .1240 
 .1160 
 
 7,920 
 1,080 
 
 780 
 
 320 
 160 
 120 
 
 4,480 Y>- 720 
 
 Second foot _ - 
 
 3,720 ! 4,960 
 3,720 4fi9.0 
 
 Third foot 
 
 
 
 
 Av'ge and total, 2 ft.. 
 Av'ge and total, 3 ft.. 
 
 .1124 
 .0815 
 
 .0062 
 .0053 
 
 .1025 
 .0993 
 
 .2211 
 .1861 
 
 9,000 
 9,780 
 
 480 
 600 
 
 8,200 
 11,920 
 
 17,680 
 22,300 
 
 No. IV— 2. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .2866 
 .2627 
 
 .2387 
 
 .0097 
 .0097 
 .0084 
 
 .2237 
 .2516 
 .2509 
 
 .5200 
 .5240 
 .4960 
 
 11,480 
 10,520 
 
 9,480 
 
 22,000 
 31,480 
 
 360 
 360 
 320 
 
 8,960 1 20,800 
 10,080 ! 20,960 
 10,040 1 19,840 
 
 Second foot _ ._ 
 
 Third foot 
 
 
 Av'ge and total, 2 ft. . 
 Av'ge and total, 3 ft._ 
 
 .2746 
 .2627 
 
 .0097 
 .0092 
 
 .2376 
 .2421 
 
 .5219 
 .5140 
 
 720 
 1,040 
 
 19,040 | 41,760 
 29,080 61,600 
 
 The sugar-content of beets from the two points was as follows 
 
 Sample No. 1 
 Sample No. 2 
 
 Sugar in Pnritv 
 Juice. 
 
 grams. 
 '450.0 
 
 218.0 
 
 per cent. 
 17.0 
 19.0 
 
 so. 2 
 75.9 
 
 If we consider these now in the light of previous observations as to 
 the tolerance of beets for the several salts, there would seem little 
 doubt as to the cause of the poor condition of the beets on the high 
 places. On account of the more rapid evaporation from these high 
 places the alkali has doubtless been drawn there until it has passed 
 the tolerance of the beet. 
 
 Examining these results we find that in station 1, where the beets 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 21 
 
 were good, the chlorids are below .15 per cent, but in station 2 they 
 exceed .20 per cent, which is the same condition which has held in each 
 of the other cases discussed. No consideration need here be given to 
 the sulfates, since they are much below the amount found in the former 
 cases in which the chlorids are about the same, and in some of the 
 former cases the sulfates even exceed the amount here. Except so far 
 as it may have had a retarding effect upon the crop generally, it needs 
 no consideration. 
 
 It will further be noted that in the case of station IV-2 the concen- 
 tration of the alkali is even greater in the second and third foot than 
 in the top, which alone in this case would perhaps be sufficient to prove 
 destructive to the crop with even much smaller percentage than is here 
 shown. 
 
 The stronger alkali upon the ridges was doubtless due to the more 
 rapid evaporation of moisture from these spots, owing to greater surface 
 exposure, which in turn would tend to draw the alkali salts to them — 
 a condition usually noticeable in imperfectly leveled fields carrying 
 large amounts of soluble salts. 
 
 A further point worthy of observation is the fact that on the low 
 spots the alkali is concentrated in the top-foot, and is thus removed 
 from the great mass of feeding-roots of the beet, thus interfering less 
 with its nutrition. In the soil from the high places the alkali is more 
 evenly distributed through the three feet, and is in each foot much 
 above the limit named by other investigators. A further point of 
 importance indicated is, that the tolerance of the beet for chlorids is 
 considerably higher than observed by Dr. Hilgard, for we find fair beets 
 here growing in an average of 4,000 pounds of chlorid per acre-foot. 
 
 That the poorer beets upon the higher places were not due to a too- 
 limited water-content, resulting from greater exposure, is shown from 
 the table giving the water-content of the two locations, in which it will 
 be seen that the higher spots had considerably higher water-content, 
 which fact was also borne out by observations in the field: 
 
 Water-content of Soil Samples from Field IV. 
 
 Low Spots. High Spots. 
 
 Top foot ". 10.38 16.58 
 
 Second foot 15.50 18.91 
 
 Third foot 20.38 18.33 
 
 This increase of moisture is in perfect keeping with the increased 
 alkali, which always tends to render the soils more retentive of mois- 
 ture. This extra amount of moisture, however, is scarcely available for 
 the plant, and the available water for the plant may even be less, on 
 account of the high concentration of the soil solution, due to the 
 large quantity of alkali present. Thus we may even find the plant 
 actually starving in the midst of plenty, on account of an inability 
 to secure sufficient nourishment from such concentrated solutions. 
 
.O 
 
 u 
 O 
 O 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 be 
 
 bo 
 
 X 
 
 IB 
 
 O 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 23 
 
 FIELD XII, OXNARD. 
 
 This field was selected for study because of the fact that in the midst 
 of the mother beets which were growing thereon occurred a spot of 
 comparatively regular shape, as will be seen in Fig. 14. The general 
 appearance of the field, and especially of the spot of " alkalied" beets, 
 is shown in Figs. 14 and 15, in the former of which on the right, the 
 generally stunted condition of the beets is well shown, while on the 
 left the beets are good. In the latter the same thing is shown as to 
 the foreground as compared with the background, the line of demarca- 
 tion between good and poor beets being clearly shown in both illus- 
 trations. 
 
 Good. ~P><?P.t<<i 
 
 •X. 
 
 Good 
 
 E&z&l 
 
 Gonri. 
 
 • 6 
 
 Goo d Mo ihar P ><?.<z,tJ 
 
 Fig. 15. Alkali spot on Field XII, showing where samples were taken. 
 
 In this field a good stand was secured, as shown in the illustrations,, 
 but after a few weeks the beets upon this spot ceased to grow. The con- 
 dition of the plants is very typical of "alkalied" beets. The contrast 
 of these beets with those taken from the other stations on the same- 
 plat is shown in Fig. 14. 
 
 On this spot we failed to find a single good beet; but entirely sur- 
 rounding it were beets of both good form and size (see XII, 7, 13, and 
 14), although in many places could be found the tendency to "sprangle." 
 (XII, 6.) 
 
 Alkali determinations were made upon the soils from the stations- 
 indicated in Fig. 15, with the following results: 
 
24 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 TABLE VI.— Soluble Salts 
 
 in Field XII, Oxnard. 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 
 Pounds 
 
 per Acre. 
 
 
 Depth. 
 
 CO 
 
 
 
 p— ' 
 ?o 
 
 c+ 
 (0 
 
 CO 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 Carbonates(as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 t 
 
 CO 
 
 i— i 
 >-» 
 go 
 
 r+ 
 
 CD 
 
 CO 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid)...- 
 
 o 
 
 EC 
 
 > 
 
 No. XII— 4. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .3543 
 
 .2810 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 .1949 
 
 .1870 
 
 .1909 
 
 .5492 
 .4680 
 
 .5086 
 
 14,160 
 11,240 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 7,800 
 7,480 
 
 21,960 
 18,720 
 
 Second foot ._ 
 
 
 
 Average and total. __ 
 
 .3177 
 
 trace 
 
 25,400 
 
 trace 
 
 15,280 
 
 40,680 
 
 No. XII-6. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .6048 
 .5220 
 
 .008 
 trace 
 
 .1104 
 .1196 
 
 .7160 
 .6416 
 
 24,200 
 20,880 
 
 45,080 
 
 320 
 
 4,400 
 4,760 
 
 28,920 
 25,640 
 
 Second foot . 
 
 
 Average and total. ._ 
 
 .5634 
 
 .004 
 
 .1150 
 
 .6724 
 
 320 
 
 9,160 
 
 54,560 
 
 No. XII. 
 
 Station 13 — Average 
 for 2 feet .. 
 
 .5648 
 .4316 
 
 .008 
 .008 
 
 .1288 
 .0920 
 
 < 
 
 .6944 
 .5244 
 
 45,200 
 16,280 
 
 640 
 
 640 
 
 10,320 
 7,360 
 
 56,160 
 40,560 
 
 Station 14 — Average 
 for 2 feet _ 
 
 No. XII— 7. 
 First foot . ______' 
 
 .9816 
 .7402 
 
 .008 
 trace 
 
 .0736 
 .1104 
 
 1.0632 
 .8506 
 
 39,264 
 29,600 
 
 320 
 trace 
 
 2,944 
 4,400 
 
 42,528 
 
 Second foot . 
 
 34,000 
 
 
 Average and total. .. 
 
 .8609 
 
 .004 
 
 .0920 
 
 .9568 
 
 68,864 
 
 320 
 
 7,344 
 
 76,528 
 
 No. XII— 5. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .1535 
 .2670 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 .1949 
 .1870 
 
 .3484 
 .4540 
 
 6,140 
 10,680 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 7,800 
 7,480 
 
 13,940 
 18,160 
 
 Second foot.. 
 
 
 Average and total.. . 
 
 .2103 
 
 trace 
 
 .1909 
 
 .4012 
 
 16,820 
 
 trace 
 
 15,280 
 
 32,100 
 
 No. XII— 1. 
 Firstfoot 
 
 .3193 
 .3416 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 .2227 
 .2320 
 
 .5420 
 .5736 
 
 12,760 
 13,680 
 
 trace 
 trace 
 
 8,920 
 9,280 
 
 21,680 
 
 Second foot . _ __ _ 
 
 23,960 
 
 
 Average and total. __ 
 
 .3304 
 
 trace 
 
 .2274 
 
 .5578 
 
 26,440 
 
 trace 
 
 18,200 
 
 45,640 
 
 Discussion. — This spot is an especially good illustration of the limits of 
 alkali tolerance by the sugar beet on account of the clear line of demar- 
 cation between good and poor beets under otherwise uniform conditions. 
 That the beet will tolerate a large total alkali, provided the preponder- 
 ance of the salts present is in the form of sulfates, is clearly shown in 
 the curves shown in Fig. 16, the total at station 7 being nearly 1 per 
 cent, 0.86 of which is composed of sulfates. Under these conditions 
 the field was producing beets of at least fair size, of good sugar-content, 
 and of good form. These beets continued as far as station 5, when the 
 condition suddenly changed, and small, stunted, scraggly beets, charac- 
 teristic of this and other alkali spots of the same locality, occurred, and 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 25 
 
 this notwithstanding the total alkali and sulfates have decreased to .40 
 per cent and .21 per cent, respectively. Looking for the cause of this 
 stunted condition we note that there has been a rise in chlorid content 
 to approximately .20 per cent at the spot where the beets become 
 markedly poor. Further, we note that the condition remains the same 
 so long as the chlorid content of the soil remains above .20 per cent ? 
 
 
 )0 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 _£ 
 
 
 
 
 
 % 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 \fl(Kt 
 
 4P> 
 
 fxta 
 
 
 F 
 
 ^onr 
 
 l^p.i 
 
 *f,sS 
 
 
 
 _&_oad 
 
 _Eteet<i. 
 
 
 .60 
 SO 
 40 
 
 
 
 
 r 
 
 m 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 v=- 
 
 
 Ss 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 » \ 
 
 It 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 V 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ■^"^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 "*/! 
 
 
 
 9 /> 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A>0 
 
 
 i 
 
 :hjd 
 
 ;0, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 JO 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fig. 16. Alkali curve for Field XII. 
 
 Fig. 17. Beets from Field XII. 
 
 but upon falling below this point at station 4 the beets at once improve 
 and become of normal form, size, etc. (witness Fig. 17, XII, 6, 13, and 
 14), notwithstanding the sulfates have increased from .32 per cent at 4 
 to .56 per cent at 6. 
 
 From this examination it would appear that on a sandy loam soil, 
 under proper conditions of culture, we may expect beets to thrive when 
 the total alkali reaches as high as 1 per cent, provided the chlorids do 
 
26 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 not exceed .20 per cent. Had the sulfates remained as high as '.85 per 
 <cent, and the chlorids increased as shown, it is probable that the area 
 of good beets would have been lessened, and the limit of chlorids been 
 somewhere from .15 to .20 per cent. The effect of the sulfates appears 
 to be very mild, however, as at station 5 with sulfates as low as .21 per 
 €ent the chlorid limit is .19 per cent, and it is essentially the same at 
 station 4, where the sulfates have risen to .32 per cent, or more than 
 doubled. It would be difficult to find a case in which the effect of the 
 chlorids is more clearly shown than here, the indication being that in 
 the absence of carbonates, chlorids are the governing factor and must 
 he below .20 per cent if we would expect success in the production of 
 beets. 
 
 FIELDS I AND II, OXNARD. 
 
 The attention of the writer was called to two different fields in the 
 same general region. It was said by those familiar with the conditions 
 covering several years, that on No. I it was impossible to bring a crop 
 of beets to maturity, even though under very favorable conditions a 
 stand might be secured. Barley had also failed upon this soil, although 
 the seed had germinated and the plants lived for a short time. On 
 Field No. II there had been some difficulty in securing a stand, but when 
 a, stand was once secured the beets grew very well. A comparison of 
 the two soils does not reveal any great difference in physical character- 
 istics, although No. I may carry a little more clay than No. II, but not 
 enough to make it evident to the eye. A comparison of the soluble 
 salts, however, shows a very strong contrast. 
 
 TABLE VI.— Fields Nos. land II, Oxnard. 
 
 Depth— 2 ft. 
 
 Field No. I 
 Field No. II. 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 
 o 
 
 CD ^ ^ 
 P-S £B 
 
 !±PiO 
 
 D.Sa 
 
 £jp GO 
 
 .3004 trace 
 .1456 ! none 
 
 .3340 
 .1020 
 
 o 
 
 SB 
 
 .6344 
 .2476 
 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 cc 
 
 a 
 
 o 
 
 d 
 
 O'CCSS 
 
 ccps- 
 
 
 O O T 
 
 h-O H- 
 
 SB 
 e-t- 
 
 oon 
 din 
 nat 
 
 orids 
 dium 
 ilorid 
 
 Ui 
 
 £B£ 
 
 
 o 
 
 ^■^ 
 
 
 1 Ooj 
 
 i 
 
 
 , -i SB 
 
 ; i w 
 
 SB 
 
 24,000 
 
 trace 
 
 26,720 
 
 11,680 
 
 none 
 
 8,160 
 
 o 
 
 7t 
 
 SB 
 
 50,720 
 19,840 
 
 While it does not appear as to why there should be difficulty in secur- 
 ing a reasonable stand upon this field, if we accept the evidence previ- 
 ously presented as to the apparent limits of chlorids, we certainly find 
 a satisfactory answer as to why the crop does not succeed upon Field 
 No. I, on which the chlorids are a third higher than the limiting num- 
 ber on the locations already discussed. Further, the results add still 
 stronger evidence for the contention that it is unsafe to attempt to grow 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 27 
 
 Fig. 18. Good beets from Field IV. 
 
 sugar beets upon land carrying .20 per cent or over of common salt, 
 and on soils carrying even .15 per cent there will be great uncertainty 
 of a crop, unless 
 other conditions 
 are very perfect. 
 
 The fact that 
 these results were 
 obtained on these 
 soils under the con- 
 ditions existing 
 this year is not 
 necessarily conclu- 
 sive that the same 
 soils under some- 
 what different con- 
 ditions of treat- 
 ment or seasonal 
 moisture might not 
 produce good beets 
 over their entire area; but 
 it is suggestive that a knowl- 
 edge of the conditions pre- 
 vious to planting upon a soil 
 might save considerable ex- 
 pense to both the farmer and 
 the company. With the 
 rapid methods of analysis 
 which can now be employed 
 in making approximate de- 
 terminations of the alkali in 
 soils over considerable areas, 
 there would appear no reason 
 for continuing to plant beets 
 upon soils entirely unsuited, 
 or even precarious for the 
 crop. It is usually true that 
 there are but comparatively 
 few fields so affected with 
 alkali as to make them un- 
 certain for crops from this 
 standpoint, and these doubt- 
 
 .,«■;, -, t •! -, . Fig. 19. Good beets from Field X. 
 
 ml fields could easily be in- 
 vestigated from the standpoint of their soluble salts and planting done 
 in accordance with the results obtained by such examination. It 
 
28 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION. 
 
 suggests a closer attention to the field of agricultural chemistry by the 
 sugar companies operating in the arid regions especially. The writer 
 believes that far too great attention is paid to the factory side of the 
 sugar industry as compared with the agricultural, and that the highest 
 results can never be attained, especially in the arid region, until 
 rational attention be given to agricultural chemistry in connection with 
 the field operations. 
 
 Good Beets Frequently Grow in Strong Alkali Soil. — One who has had 
 experience in beet fields affected with alkali is soon impressed with the 
 fact that there seems to be individual beets much more alkali resistant 
 than those immediately surrounding. Here and there one finds indi- 
 vidual beets, in the midst of other beets badly "alkalied," making a 
 strong and healthy growth and carrying a good per cent of sugar and 
 purity, and maintaining a good form of the beet, viz., a long, straight 
 and symmetrical root. That such a form is unusual for beets grown 
 under these conditions, is clearly shown in the illustrations of beets 
 taken as typical of the alkalied fields here studied. 
 
 Below is shown the alkali-content, to a depth of two feet, of the 
 exact spot in which these beets were growing, and also the sugar-content 
 of the beet in each case. 
 
 TABLE VII. 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 Depth— 2 ft. 
 
 GO 
 
 
 
 P 
 11 
 
 co 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid)..-. 
 
 o 
 p 
 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 *—* 
 
 cc 
 
 p" 
 a> 
 
 co 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid)..*.. 
 
 o 
 
 c-t- 
 
 p 
 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 IV— 1 
 
 .1536 
 
 .2986 
 .0920 
 
 trace 
 
 .0097 
 .0042 
 
 .0920 
 .1277 
 
 .1278 
 
 .2456 
 .4360 
 .2240 
 
 12,320 
 
 23,840 
 
 7,360 
 
 trace 
 
 800 
 320 
 
 7,360 
 10,240 
 10,240 
 
 19,680 
 34,880 
 17,920 
 
 IV— 3 
 
 IV— 4 
 
 Other illustrations of the same thing are shown in the following table, 
 the beets from which are shown in Fig. 19: 
 
 TABLE VIII. 
 
 
 Percentage in Soil. 
 
 Pounds per Acre. 
 
 Depth. 
 
 pi 
 *—* 
 
 p 
 
 CO 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 i-3 
 
 o 
 
 P 
 
 P 
 
 CO 
 
 pi 
 
 1 — I 
 
 p 
 
 r+ 
 
 <D 
 CO 
 
 1 
 
 Carbonates (as 
 Sodium Car- 
 bonate) 
 
 Chlorids (as 
 Sodium 
 Chlorid) 
 
 o 
 
 P 
 
 > 
 
 P 
 
 .-• 
 t 
 
 X— 5. 
 
 First foot 
 
 Second foot 
 
 .0688 
 .0511 
 
 .0025 
 .0050 
 
 .0326 
 .1118 
 
 .1039 
 .1679 
 
 2,760 
 2,040 
 
 4,800 
 
 120 
 200 
 
 1,320 
 
 4,480 
 
 4,200 
 6,720 
 
 
 
 .0722 
 
 
 Average and total- ._ 
 
 .0600 
 
 .0037 
 
 .1359 
 
 320 
 
 5,800 
 
 10,920 
 
TOLERANCE OF THE SUGAR BEET FOR ALKALI. 
 
 29 
 
 The occurrence of so typical beets growing under such adverse con- 
 ditions, and the development of the beet to such a high state by the 
 process of continued selection, suggests the possibility of producing by 
 the same methods a type of beet which shall be much more alkali 
 resistant than those now being grown in this country, the seed of which 
 has been produced under the very best of conditions in alkali-free soil 
 in Europe. Such a beet would meet a need which is now very apparent 
 in the irrigated regions of America, and would be a decided factor in 
 aiding to place the agricultural side of the industry on a firmer footing 
 
 Fig. 20. Selected beets from strong alkali soils. 
 
 than is now the case. The most difficult thing now appears to be to 
 induce the farmer to so conduct his agricultural operations, especially 
 as to the selection and preparation of the soil, as to secure such a yield 
 per acre as to make the industry continually inviting, and in those 
 regions where alkali is prevalent in the soil it is one of the greatest obsta- 
 cles to overcome. Further, the development of a more alkali-resistant 
 beet would make it possible to considerably extend the area now avail- 
 able, and bring under cultivation to a generally profitable yield a large 
 amount of land for which it is now difficult to find satisfactory crops. 
 
 Note. — It is desired hereby to express thanks to the American Beet 
 Sugar Company, who assisted in this work by allowing the use of their 
 laboratory; to Mr. C. L. Colvin, chemist of the above-named company, 
 for courtesies received; and also to Mr. Frank D. Merrill, who assisted 
 in certain of the analytical work. 
 
CALIFORNIA PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION. 
 
 REPORTS. 
 
 1896. Report of the Viticultural Work during the seasons 1887-93, with data 
 
 regarding the Vintages of 1894-95. 
 
 1897. Resistant Vines, their Selection, Adaptation, and Grafting. Appendix to 
 
 Viticultural Report for 1896. 
 
 1898. Partial Report of Work of Agricultural Experiment Station for the years 
 
 1895-96 and 1896-97. 
 1900. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for the year 1897-98. 
 
 1902. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1898-1901. 
 
 1903. Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1901-1903. 
 
 1904. Twenty-second Report of the Agricultural Experiment Station for 1903-1904. 
 
 BULLETINS. 
 
 Reprint. Endurance of Drought in Soils of the Arid Region. 
 
 No. 129. Report of the Condition of Olive Culture in California. 
 
 •131. The Phylloxera of the Vine. 
 
 132. Feeding of Farm Animals. 
 
 133. Tolerance of Alkali by Various Cultures. 
 135. The Potato- Worm in California. 
 
 137. Pickling Ripe and Green Olives. 
 
 138. Citrus Fruit Culture. 
 
 139. Orange and Lemon Rot. 
 
 140. Lands of the Colorado Delta in Salton Basin, and Supplement. 
 
 141. Deciduous Fruits at Paso Robles. 
 
 142. Grasshoppers in California. 
 
 143. California Peach-Tree Borer. 
 
 144. The Peach-Worm. 
 
 145. The Red Spider of Citrus Trees. 
 
 146. New Methods of Grafting and Budding Vines. 
 
 147. Culture Work of the Substations. 
 
 148. Resistant Vines and their Hybrids. 
 
 149. California Sugar Industry. 
 
 150. The Value of Oak Leaves for Forage. 
 
 151. Arsenical Insecticides. 
 
 152. Fumigation Dosage. 
 
 153. Spraying with Distillates. 
 
 154. Sulfur Sprays for Red Spider. 
 
 155. Directions for Spraying for the Codling-Moth. 
 
 156. Fowl Cholera. 
 
 157. Commercial Fertilizers. 
 
 158. California Olive Oil ; its Manufacture. 
 
 159. Contribution to the Study of Fermentation. 
 
 160. The Hop Aphis. 
 
 161. Tuberculosis in Fowls. 
 
 162. Commercial Fertilizers. 
 
 163. Pear Scab. 
 
 164. Poultry Feeding and Proprietary Foods. 
 
 165. Asparagus and Asparagus Rust in California. 
 
 166. Spraying for Scale Insects. 
 
 167. Manufacture of Dry Wines in Hot Countries. 
 
 ■ 
 
 168. Observations on Some Vine Diseases. 
 
 CIRCULARS. 
 
 No. 1. Texas Fever. No. 10. Reading Course in Economic 
 
 2. Blackleg. Entomology. 
 
 3. Hog Cholera. 11. Fumigation Practice. 
 
 4. Anthrax. 12. Silk Culture. 
 
 5. Contagious Abortion in Cows. 13. The Culture of the Sugar Beet. 
 
 6. Methods of Physical and Chem- 14. Practical Suggestions for Cod- 
 
 ical Soil Analysis. ling-Moth Control in the 
 
 7. Remedies for Insects. Pajaro Valley. 
 9. Asparagus Rust. 
 
 Copies may be had by application to the Director of the Experiment 
 Station, Berkeley, California.