Bulletin No. 242 - Drainage of Land Overlying an Artesian Ground-Water Reservoir: Progress Report

Certain tracts of land in the West formerly used to produce grain and forage crops now produce only pasture grasses of comparatively low quality because of the water-logging and alkali accumulation which has occurred since irrigation was begun. Other tracts now producing only light crops of wild hay probably would produce profitable crops of alfalfa and clover, provided the water-table were lowered and the water-logged and alkaline condition of the soil removed. Still other areas are almost wholly nonproductive because of the concentration of excessive quantities of harmful alkali salts. Knowledge concerning (1) the causes of water-logging, (2) economical methods of drainage and reclamation, and (3) prevention of water-logging of low-lying irrigated lands, which thus far have sustained no injury from excess water, is essential Ito the perpetuity of profitable agriculture in many parts of the arid region