Battle River Soil Reconstruction Project: Results Three Years After Construction

Authors
Leonard Leskiw
Resource Date:
1984
Page Length
29

The Battle River Reconstruction Project involves four (4) experiments designed to assess methods of reconstructing soil profiles in order
to ameliorate the problems caused by the saline/sodic nature of the subsoils and bedrock.

The experiments assess soil reconstruction methods in terms of (a) varying subsoil depths; (b) separating and mixing subsoil horizons;
(c) the use of bottom ash as a capillary barrier to salt movement; (d) altering the surface configuration (slope and aspect) of the reclaimed
land; and (e) the use of gypsum and bottom ash as surface amendments. Yields from cereal and forage plots and soil salt and moisture movement have been monitored for 3 years. This paper discusses the results from the third growing season of the project.

This year's yields indicate that (a) forage production is more successful than cereal production; (b) topsoil is essential for reclamation;
(c) increased subsoil depth results in higher yields and more favorable salinity and sodicity in the upper rooting zone; (d) bottom ash applied
on the surface or above spoil increases forage production; and (e) gypsum applied at 20 T/ha helps to ameliorate the sodium problems that occur in reclamation of Torlea soils.

In 1983, a drought stressed season, it seems that crop yields were mainly determined by soil moisture supplying capability of the soils rather than soil chemical properties . Nevertheless, there is ample evidence of salt migration and continued monitoring will allow confirmation of trends.