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Effective Available Water and Its Relation to Evapotranspiration Rate, Depth of Wetting, and Soil Texture
Author(s) -
Miller D. E.,
Aarstad J. S.
Publication year - 1973
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/sssaj1973.03615995003700050036x
Subject(s) - loam , evapotranspiration , soil water , soil texture , silt , environmental science , wetting , field capacity , texture (cosmology) , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , geomorphology , ecology , image (mathematics) , artificial intelligence , computer science , composite material , biology
The effect of evapotranspiration (Et) rate on effective available water (EAW) was evaluated for three soils ranging in texture from sand to silt loam, at evapotranspiration rates of about 0.4 to 1.3 cm per day, and at two depths of wetting. In all cases, as evapotranspiration rate increased, drainage following irrigation decreased and as a result EAW increased. The increase in EAW due to Et rate was relatively greater in the sand than in the finer textured soils. If only midsummer Et rates are considered, EAW is estimated quite well from a usual field capacity test, provided soil depth and soil texture are considered in determining the sampling time for characterizing field capacity. If one considers usable water referenced to some safe depletion level rather than available water referenced to the 15‐bar percentage, the effect of Et is more important. EAW is influenced differently by depth of wetting in different textured soils.