Boron and salinity—in vineyards of the west side, Fresno county

When the California Aqueduct was completed, it brought high quality water from northern California to replace por quality local wel water, which usualy contained high levels of boron and salts and made much of the area unsuitable for many crops. New experimental and comercial plant-ags of a variety of crops are continuing to le made to determine whether production, locality and economics warant more extenive plantings. Grapes are one of the crops receiving wide interest. This study indicates that suitability of the area for grapes is strongly related to a relocation in soil boron, which acumulated in roils during irigation or was present from natural causes. Boron can be removed by bleaching, although copious amounts of god duality water are neded to remove it. However, god irigation practices with the new rater suply can be expected to reduce.iron to aceptable levels within a few years 3rd al crops in wel-drained soils. Soil and land analysis can be used to evaluate the rogres in reclamation and to determine coil suitability for planting.