The Effectiveness of a Cotton Bur Mulch and a Ridge‐Furrow System in Reclaiming Saline Soils by Rainfall

Fanning, Carl D.; Carter, David L.

doi:10.2136/sssaj1963.03615995002700060039x

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Also with evaporation, the salt was transported to and deposited on the soil surface. Similar results have been reported by Fanning and Carter ( 1963), Sandoval and Bentz ( 1966), and Heilman et al ( 1968).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Yield and Chemical Composition of Coastal Bermudagrass, Rhodesgrass, and Volunteer Species Grown on Saline and Nonsaline Soils

González¹,

Heilman²

1977

Journal of Range Management

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Highlight: Yields and chemical composition of coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and Rhodesgrass (Chloris guyanu Kunth) grown on saline and nonsaline soils were investigated in the nonirrigated region of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. Forage production (3-years average) was 12.9 and 13.8 metric tons per hectare (MT/ha) for coastal Bermudagrass and 16.3 and 13.5 MT/ha for Rhodesgrass in nonsaline and saline soils, respectively, as compared with 7.7 and 7.2 MT/ha for voluntary grasses and forbs. The higher yields of coastal Bermudagrass in saline vs nonsaline soils indicates its greater salt tolerance. Soil salinity did not affect the chemical composition or crude protein content of either grass. Chemical composition of grasses varied yearly, but changes between saline and nonsaline soil treatments followed the same general trend. Growing grasses on saline soils established a mulch on the soil surface and reduced evaporation, but this was not a successful soil reclamation practice, because moisture extraction by roots from saline soil profile caused salt accumulation in the root zone. Small, erratically distributed saline areas are common on cropland and rangeland of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas (Hawker and Simmons 1926; Beck and Hendrickson 1928; Hawker et al. 1929; Fanning et al. 1965). In the intensely farmed area, because of their erratic distribution, saline soils are not treated differently from nonsaline soils. Salt intolerant crops fail to germinate in the saline spots, and cultivation keeps weed growth to a minimum. Thus, saline areas remain virtually barren year after year. A high water table and evaporation from the bare soil surface tends to perpetuate this saline system (Allen et al. 1966). The areas with the most salt-affected soils are primarily on the Rio Grande River watersheds where climate is characterized by mild winters; long, hot growing seasons; and erratic rainfall distribution (generally, rainfall peaks in May and September). We conducted this study to characterize forage quality and production of coastal Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and Rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana Kunth) on saline and nonsaline soils of the nonirrigated region of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. We also investigated the effects of grass mulches on saline soil reclamation. Methods The study was conducted 11 km east of Raymondville, Tex., in an area of interspersed saline and nonsaline alluvial soils that are Authors are soil scientists, Southern Region,

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Yield and Chemical Composition of Coastal Bermudagrass, Rhodesgrass, and Volunteer Species Grown on Saline and Nonsaline Soils

González¹,

Heilman²

1977

Journal of Range Management

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“…However, secondary succession on these sites in arid and semiarid regions is extremely slow due to low precipitation, soil disturbance, and contamination. Mulching may also reduce salinity by reducing evaporation and subsequent salt accumulation at the soil surface (Fanning andCarter 1963, Hamilton 1972). Screening potentially useful materials in the field is of critical importance (O'Leary 1984).…”

Section: Cals Normal Disposal Rates Of 10 Drilling Fluid Components mentioning

confidence: 99%

Revegetation of Oil Well Reserve Pits in West Texas

McFarland¹,

Ueckert²,

Hartmann³

1987

Journal of Range Management

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. Allen Press and Society for Range Management are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Range Management. Abstract On-site disposal of drilling fluids frequently causes severe, longterm disturbance of rangeland soils. The effects of mulch on establishment and standing crops of seeded kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.] King Ranch bluestem (Bothrochloaischaemwn (L.) KengJ Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis khmaniana Nees), kleingrass 'Selection 75' (Panicum coloratum L.), alkali sacaton [Sporobolus airoides (Toff.) Torr.J and fourwig saitbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nuttl and transplanted fourwing saltbush were evaluated on 4, recently covered oil well reserve pits in Reagan County Texas, in 1981 and 1982. On-site dbposal of drilling fluids resulted in substantial to large increases in sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) and concentrations of soluble salts, primanrly sodium chloride, in reserve pit soils. Mulching with 4,500 kg/ha of weathered hay had no effect, but irrigation was esential for establishment and growth of the seeded species on severely contaminated soils (EC. 71 to 114 dS m', SAR 33 to 127). Mulching improved establishment and yields of seeded King Ranch bluestem and kleingrass on reserve pit soils with EC. values of 9to 1 dS m-1 and SAR values of 12 to 16. Application of 5.1 cm of supplemental water and mulching reserve pit soils with EC. values of 3 to 7 and SAR values of 5 to 9 stimulated establishment of competing vegetation, which tended to decrease establishment and yields of seeded and transplanted species. Establishment and yields of transplanted fourwing saltbush were acceptable with or without mulching or irrigation. Survival of fourwing saltbush transplants was near 100%o on moderately contaminated soils and 26 to 30%0 on severely contaminated soils. Activities associated with oil and natural gas exploration and production seriously damage large acreages of arid and semiarid rangeland in west Texas. Construction of drilling sites, oil field roads, installation of pipelines, and on-site disposal of drilling fluids reduce forage and browse production, increase susceptibility of soils to erosion, and frequently result in persistent stands of undesirable plants. Oil and gas production activities have caused soil salinity problems on about 174,000 ha of land in Texas (Carl Gray, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Temple, Texas, unpublished data).Most oil and gas wells in west Texas are drilled by the rotary method. Typical drilling fluids or muds contain 5% bentonite in fresh water or brine, with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) added as a dispersant, lignite or lignosulfonate to stabilize the slurry, and a density incre...

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“…A satisfactory crop was produced by this method. These investigators had shown earlier that cotton bur and wood chip mulches effectively reduced evaporation, increased water intake, and increased leaching of salts (FANNING and CARTER, 1963;CARTER and FANNING, 1964). RASMUSSEN et al (1972) have demonstrated that deep plowing of some salt affected soils brings about a complete reclamation.…”

Section: Crop Stand Establishmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Problems of Salinity in Agriculture

Carter¹

1975

Plants in Saline Environments

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The Effectiveness of a Cotton Bur Mulch and a Ridge‐Furrow System in Reclaiming Saline Soils by Rainfall

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Yield and Chemical Composition of Coastal Bermudagrass, Rhodesgrass, and Volunteer Species Grown on Saline and Nonsaline Soils

Yield and Chemical Composition of Coastal Bermudagrass, Rhodesgrass, and Volunteer Species Grown on Saline and Nonsaline Soils

Revegetation of Oil Well Reserve Pits in West Texas

Problems of Salinity in Agriculture

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