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Prediction and Control of Porosity and Water Retention in Sand‐Soil Mixtures for Drained Turf Sites 1
Author(s) -
Spomer L. Art
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1980.00021962007200020025x
Subject(s) - porosity , aeration , soil science , water retention , soil water , environmental science , bulk density , mixing (physics) , effective porosity , water retention curve , geotechnical engineering , geology , waste management , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
Sand‐soil mixtures are commonly used in drained turf sites such as golf greens and athletic fields to ensure proper water retention. The objective of this study was to develop a physical model useful in developing mixture recommendations based on a few simple laboratory measurements on the components and which eliminates extensive field testing. A simple physical model which predicts the total porosity, water retention porosity, and aeration porosity of bidisperse sand‐soil mixtures from the bulk or mixing volumes of each fraction and their individual total porosities was developed and laboratory tested. The porosities of each of a series of compacted sand‐soil mixtures were measured and compared to those predicted by the model. Actual porosities were within 3% of predicted values. This model apparently accurately predicts the porosity and water retention of sand‐soil mixtures and should prove useful in developing recommendations for using such mixtures on golf greens.