Identification and Management of New Mexico's Saline and Sodium Affected Soils (Chaves County)

Clients were asked after workshops if they would have there soils tested to evaluate salinity as well as other parameters on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being not likely and 5 most likely. Clients responded as follows:
4% said Not likely (1), 7% (2), 18% (3), 25% (4), 47% (5) Most Likely
Nearly three quarters of those reach had a strong inclination to have their soil evaluated.

Nutrient management workshop held in November, 2008, NRCS offices, Albuquerque, NM, where salinity sodium identification and management was presented to 20 NRCS personnel and 3 consultants.

One study initiated by Dan Smeal San Juan County to look at reclamation of sodium affected soil with gypsum amendment from flue gas desulfurization process at local power plant. Growers in area have difficulty in applying enough water to land with adequate drainage to see an effect. In another project in Lea county, a local rancher contracted with an environmental consultant to reclaim a sodium affected area of rangeland from a brine water spill. The scope of the project was reduced after realizing that it would take natural rainfall to accomplish the goal of reducing the sodium levels. Hauling costs to bring in sufficient water to leach the soil was deemed inappropriate for rangeland preservation.

Short-Term Objectives:
Two major presentations given during the FY2009 season were, “Compost Quality Measurements / Salts.” New Mexico Environment Department Solid Waste Bureau Compost Operators Certification Course on April 16, 2008, and “Soil Salinity and Sodium Issues”: A 60-minute presentation to Master Gardeners in Eddy, Chaves, Dona Ana, Sandoval, Valencia, Santa Fe, Lea, and Otero Counties. Participants shared their level of improved awareness through a simple survey. The evaluation by the participants had the following results:

88% said they would probably have their soil tested.

100% said they would change the way they fertilize/use amendments.

72% said they may change the way that they use organic products.

72% said they have a better understanding of New Mexico soil.

All respondents said that they learned at least one thing about NM soil.

If clients had to put a dollar value on this presentation it would be worth:

a. $$$ (72%)
b. $$ (21%)
c. $ (7%)
d. 0 (0%)

Medium-term objectives:
There were 892 soil samples received for interpretation during FY 2008. Recommendations were made on 15% of those samples for controlling sodium issues and 14% of the samples needed salinity management. Each county, however, presented a different picture. The following counties had saline and/or sodium affected soils (given in the following order: County, % saline, % sodium affected):

Bernalillo (19% 17%)
Chaves (24% 35%)
Cibola (40% 20%)
Dona Ana (19% 28%)
Eddy (5% 4%)
Hidalgo (33% 33%)
McKinley (20% 20%)
Mora (13% 0%)
Otero (44% 17%)
Quay (50% 0%)
Roosevelt (14% 14%)
San Juan (9% 6%)
San Miguel (4% 0%)
Sandoval (7% 15%)
Santa Fe (10% 14%)
Socorro (5% 5%)
Taos (33% 15%)
Torrance (50% 50%)
Valencia (16% 29%)
Out of State (13% 22%)

Recommendations were given for how to best proceed with these soils. Clientele need to be contacted to meet this medium-term objective.

Long-term Objectives
The county extension agents that attended the all-extension conference in April, 2008, received an update on the tools that have been developed to understand where to find salinity related concerns from soil tests.

Short-term objectives:
The following two talks have been developed to help NM clientele recognize the importance of salinity and its management.

“Compost Quality Measurements / Salts.”
New Mexico Environment Department Solid Waste Bureau Compost Operators Certification Course.

“Soil Salinity and Sodium Issues”: A 60-minute presentation to Master Gardeners in Eddy, Chaves, Dona Ana, Sandoval, Valencia, Santa Fe, Lea, and Otero Counties.

Clients that heard this talk were asked to comment on what they learned. Results show the following:

The evaluation by the participants had the following results:

88% said they would probably have their soil tested.

100% said they would change the way they fertilize/use amendments

72% said they may change the way that they use organic products

72% said they have a better understanding of New Mexico soil

All respondents said that they learned at least one thing about NM soil

If clients had to put a dollar value on this presentation it would be worth:

a. $$$ 72%
b. $$ 21%
c. $ 7%
d. 0 0%

Medium-term objectives:
There were 892 soil samples received for interpretation during FY 2008. Recommendations were made on 15% of those samples for controlling sodium issues and 14% of the samples needed salinity management. Each county, however, presented a different picture. The following counties had saline and/or sodium affected soils:
Bernalillo 19% 17%
Chaves 24% 35%
Cibola 40% 20%
Dona Ana 19% 28%
Eddy 5% 4%
Hidalgo 33% 33%
McKinley 20% 20%
Mora 13% 0%
Otero 44% 17%
Quay 50% 0%
Roosevelt 14% 14%
San Juan 9% 6%
San Miguel 4% 0%
Sandoval 7% 15%
Santa Fe 10% 14%
Socorro 5% 5%
Taos 9 4 33% 15%
Torrance 4 4 50% 50%
Union 0 0 0% 0%
Valencia 5 9 16% 29%
Out of State 4 7 13% 22%

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.