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The Significance of Field Structure in the Water Relations of Soils
Author(s) -
Musgrave G. W.
Publication year - 1936
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1936.036159950b1720010044x
Subject(s) - citation , service (business) , soil water , field (mathematics) , soil conservation , library science , mathematics , computer science , soil science , geology , history , archaeology , economics , economy , pure mathematics , agriculture
It is unnecessary to emphasize the fact that there is a close and direct relationship between field structure of soils and the moisture relations of the same soil profile. The purpose of this paper is to show specific effects. A year ago before this group there was reported the widely differing infiltration rates of two different soil series, the Marshall and Shelby silt loams, whose divergent structural characteristics are generally recognized by soil workers (3). More recently a study (5) has been completed which shows some of the more important factors which affect the infiltration rate of soils and which emphasizes the percent porosity of the soil as one of the dominant factors which affects the rate. Other workers Auten (1), and Slater & Byers (6), particularly have found either water intake or percolation rates to be associated with porosity. In the recent study (ibid) it was found for example that surface cultivation at depths of O inch, k inches, and 6 inches produced infiltration rates of 0.78, 0.99 and 1.22 inches per hour, respectively. The average percents of porosity for the entire column were 55, 57 and 58. It was found, however, that these effects were transitory, lasting only from about 1/2 to 1-1/2 hours after the application of water, the relative length depending in part upon the soil type. Increased porosity of soil may of course be obtained in many different ways, at least one of which the incorporation of organic matter most probably has a more lasting effect than does the increase attained through surface cultivation. Such effects upon the amount and rate of Infiltration, percolation, and surface run-off, as well as upon evaporation and transpiration losses of a field soil have been the subject of study for a period of 2-1/2 years, at the Soil Erosion Station in Page County, Iowa.