South Dakota State University South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation experts have some tips and advice about reclaiming saline areas in cropland.

"There are two main management practices that can reduce the salt affected soil problem," says Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension soil specialist.

One is to tile. Tile drainage, which lowers the water table, will help remove excess water and provide drainage for the salts to move lower in the profile. However, this management approach really doesn't solve the root of this problem because excess water is still moving through the soil and picking up salts. The influence of the tile drainage can only be effective to the installation depth, he says.

Salt appears on the soil surface of a field with salinity problems.

Two is to use the water. Growing alfalfa, grass and cover crops can use large amounts of water and slow or stop the movement salts towards affected areas, Bly says. The alfalfa, grass and cover crop roots use a large amount of water which lowers the water table and allows the salts to move (leach) deeper in the soil profile as well. Perennial forage is successful in using more soil water and allowing the salts in the affected soils to move deeper in the profile therefore permitting successful plant growth.

1- to 3-, or 3-10 year process
NRCS has found that using targeted crop rotations that include small grains followed by planting high carbon based cover crop mixes or establishment of perennial covers can reclaim saline areas in a 1- to 3-year window, says Shane Jordan, NRCS district conservation at Redfield and Clark, S.D.

"That's along with a little cooperation of Mother Nature," Jordan says. "Incorporating small grains and cover crops into rotations can be considered an investment into your pest and nutrient programs, with returns coming through increased production potential in subsequent crop yields. Annual management considerations and evaluations will continue to be key to successfully maintaining sustained profitability throughout these sensitive areas."

When salt becomes visible on the soil surface, long term reclamation over a period of thee to 10 years may be required, he says.

"A perennial vegetative mixture we have found to be very successful is a mixture of Salinity Max Alfalfa - a newer salt-tolerant alfalfa  blended with Slender Wheatgrass, AC-Saltlander Wheatgrass, Western Wheatgrass, Tall Wheatgrass and Garrison Creeping Foxtail," Jordan says. "Using at least 10-20% of the Creeping Foxtail in our mixtures to reduce drowned out gaps in establishment areas can be critical to overall water management of these areas."

The key to managing wet areas is insuring that a sufficient number of recharge acres are taken in so grasses can establish and encroach on higher salinity affected area, Jordan says.

"Often, producers try to address saline issues by taking in only higher salinity areas. The result is a failed seeding, extended reclamation periods, and an unsuccessful reclamation outcome."

Garrison Creeping Foxtail is preferable to Reed Canarygrass when forage usage is a consideration. Garrison has proven to offer improved nutritional value and palatability over Reed Canarygrass, he says.

SDSU Extension and South Dakota NRCS provided information for this article.