To help waterlogged fields dry out, keep any green vegetation on them as long as possible, even if it is weeds. Vegetation will pump water out of the ground allowing the soil to dry out more quickly. On ground that has been covered by water, watch for new weeds species and control them before they go to seed so as not to contaminate the field with a new weed. If water flowed over the fields, it will probably be necessary to relevel the field.
Depending on whether water movement was down through the soil (flooding from a levee break) or coming up from beneath the soil (subbingunder levees or high water table) the salt situation on a particular piece of ground may be better or worse. If movement was from below, salts that had previously been leached below the root zone may have been pushed back to the surface. If water flowed over the ground and then drained away rapidly, salts could have been pushed out.
Ground which has had salts pushed back up may need to be reclaimed all over again. Most salt problems in this area do not require amendments, but do need drainage below the root zone, and the most salt free water that can be obtained. Water from eastside water districts is quite pure unless large amounts of drain water have been pumped into canals. Avoid applying pond water or manure to salt affected fields; that will only add more salt. Separator manure has fewer salts than corral manure. Until the salts can be reduced, it may be necessary to choose crops which are more salt tolerant.({most tolerant} barley > oats, wheat, sudangrass> alfalfa, corn silage {least tolerant}) will help diminish yield losses.
November 5, 1999