Work on improvement of saline-alkali land on the University Farm, Khartoum, 1956–59

Extract

Over the 3 years of the experiment the salt in the top 2 ft. of the soil was reduced by almost a half of the original amount, and nearly all this was removed in the first season. The movement was downwards, and there was little evidence of any upward movement; flushing was not very effective in removing salt from the soil. The type of cultivation affected the amount of salt removed, deep subsoiling being most successful with over 50% removal, but irrigation without any cultivation removed 29%. The penetration of irrigation water was very restricted in the first waterings, but became increasingly deeper as the experiment continued.

Crop yields showed a steady improvement from season to season, the final average of about 1500 lb. per feddan being above the average for the district. The various treatments did not appear to have much effect on the yields, and the general improvement in yields is attributed to the reduction of salt content and to the deeper water penetration, chiefly the latter. The detrimental effect of the dry north winds was more apparent than the effects of the different treatments.