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A rapid, inexpensive and quantitative procedure for assessing soil structure with respect to cropping
Author(s) -
Koppi A.J.,
Douglas J.T.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1991.tb00847.x
Subject(s) - bulk density , soil structure , geotechnical engineering , limiting , soil science , shear strength (soil) , shear (geology) , soil texture , environmental science , soil water , cropping , water content , materials science , geology , composite material , engineering , ecology , mechanical engineering , biology , agriculture
. The essential factors dependent on soil structure that influence plant growth are soil/root contact, adequate air and water, and low mechanical impedance. Bulk density, shear strength and texture arc interrelated closely and permit quantification of these factors. A general relationship between clay content and vane shear strength of soil at field capacity and non‐limiting bulk density provides a rapid means of quantitatively estimating structure. We propose a procedure utilizing vane shear strength and a tactile assessment of clay content as criteria for judging soil structure in the field.