Premium
Hydraulic Properties of a Clay Loam Soil and the Field Measurement of Water Uptake by Roots: I. Interpretation of Water Content and Pressure Profiles
Author(s) -
Bavel C. H. M.,
Stirk G. B.,
Brust K. J.
Publication year - 1968
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/sssaj1968.03615995003200030018x
Subject(s) - loam , soil science , water content , soil water , hydraulic conductivity , water retention curve , environmental science , water extraction , soil horizon , extraction (chemistry) , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , chemistry , geotechnical engineering , chromatography
The distribution of irrigation water in an Adelanto clay loam profile was studied in a field plot by simultaneous, periodic observations of the water content and hydraulic head profiles. Successive measurement series were made with the plot bare and covered, bare, and planted to a sorghum crop ( Sorghum vulgare Pers.). From the first two, the in situ and dynamic relations of water content to water pressure and to conductivity were obtained. From the cropped field data, the root‐extraction pattern was derived, using the established hydraulic properties of the profile. The data demonstrate the variability within depths and locations of water retention and conduction properties and the consequent problem of calculating fluxes. The mobile character of soil water is also evident, confirming the inadequacy of static concepts of soil water “constants” for a profile. Calculated root‐extraction rates agreed reasonably with independent lysimetric measurements of the water loss from the surface to the atmosphere.