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The Penetration of Irrigation and Rain Water into Sandy Soils of Central Florida
Author(s) -
Jamison Ver C.
Publication year - 1946
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/sssaj1946.03615995001000c00004x
Subject(s) - citation , soil water , irrigation , penetration (warfare) , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , library science , computer science , geology , soil science , operations research , ecology , mathematics , geotechnical engineering , biology
A few years ago when the trees were younger or retarded in growth by mineral deficiencies, the water requirement of most Florida citrus groves was not high. With the general use of a better balanced nutritional program trees which were thin in foliage are now profuse in growth during periods when moisture is adequate. Because of frequent droughts occurring mostly during the fall and spring months, moisture has become a limiting factor in production, especially in older closely planted groves on the sandy soils of the central "ridge" section. The soils there are practically devoid of colloidal clay and usually contain about I % organic matter. Being very open and porous, they normally retain very little rain or irrigation water against drainage. This natural tendency toward dryness is further aggravated by a peculiar condition which develops in the sandy soil of older citrus groves. Large bodies of difficultly wettable surface soil which remain unwetted even during the summer rainy season are found beneath citrus trees. These greatly affect the manner in which moisture falling as rain or applied as irrigation water penetrates into and wets the mass of soil beneath citrus trees. In this paper the results of a study of this condition are presented. It is believed that similar conditions may be found elsewhere, especially on sandy or organic soils, and it is hoped that the information will be of value to workers interested in soil moisture problems.