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Impact Report

For plan Identification and Management of New Mexico's Saline and Sodium Affected Soils
Date February 4, 2008, 12:02 am
For Objective Short-term Show short-term objectives
Impact Report Short Term Objective: Seventeen soil and water salinity presentations were made to nearly 600 New Mexicans ranging from master gardener participants to small and large scale farmers. Soil test interpretations were provided for 636 samples submitted through NMSU’s SWAT lab. Only four soil samples were submitted for interpretation from a lab outside of NMSU’s system. An additional twenty water samples were interpreted for New Mexico clients. Medium Term: One farm North of Roswell, NM, was used to evaluate recommendations made for saline and sodium affected soil. Client reported abandoning the south half of the center pivot field while maintaining production of alfalfa on most of the north half. On-site evaluation revealed a complex scenario where portions of the north half were subject to flooding which helped leach salts out of the root zone. No improvements were noted with sodium or salinity on the south half. Well water samples were taken to assess the possible "root" cause of the salinity since the soil series for the area indicated that the salinity was a recent development. Water samples revealed that the water was both saline and sodium affected. The poor water quality coupled with the irrigation system’s inability to deliver sufficient water for leaching purposes was the reason for the poor crop performance and the eventual abandonment of the south half. The long-term successful use of the land on this farm will be dependent on the ability of a well-driller finding a zone of better water quality or a new well in a different location with better water quality. Once the pivot system is paid for it may be best to return to flood irrigation in order to promote more leaching. Sodium affected soils should report an increase in the use of gypsum or other amendment to reclaim the land from sodium while sodium affected soils should have been either leached or tolerant species planted. The survey of the farm north of Roswell revealed that gypsum is a hard commodity to obtain. Other amendments were used but none affected remediation. Other species such as wheat were planted but severe crusting prevented stand establishment. The recommended grass species to use was barley but personal choice as well as marketability may have prevented its use. Long-Term Objectives A map or tabular data of the state identifying areas of concern regarding sodium and salinity issues will be generated to help with the long-term education effort. Mapping will commence once zip+4 locations are assigned to appropriate samples from the SWAT laboratory. Plants that are better suited to saline soils will be used. This remains to be seen and may be dependent on profitability of the suggested crops. Soils that are sodium affected will have seen a decrease in sodium concerns due to management with the correct tools. This also remains to be seen as the reclamation process can take several years or the water source has to be changed.