Field Capacity — saturated, drains. As the ins and becomes unsaturated due to forces of gravity, K decreases. V If the hydraulic gradient in the z direction is 1 (unit gradient due to gravity), then as @ decreases and K decreases, then q (the drainage) must decrease with time. In_an infinitely tall column of soil, the soil will dry down to very low values (although this may take hundreds of years). At some point during the drainage process, K becomes so small that for all practical purposes, q (drainage) can be ignored. ‘At this point, the change in moisture content with time is very small, and the il wi inue to hold this moisture against the force of gravity, making — This point is often termed field capacity. The point of field capacity can be visualized on the example curves of K vs. moisture. Note how quickly K decreases with a decrease in moisture, thereby preventing additional drainage in significant quantities. If one plots soil moisture vs. time after irrigation, you can see that soil — ‘a fairly steady level after 2 to 3 days at the point of One should note that the field capacity term is a very general not a rigidly fixed point, a city point (although this drainage is very small) R.G.Allen Notes 1988 28Region of rapid drainage (gravitational water) 368 46 38 26 Field 18 : capa city 12345 6 Days after irrigation Figure 23. Graph of Moisture vs. Timea Gravitational Water freely due to gravity within 2 to 3 de et ivity also decrease. Therefore, as pressure potential decreases, the soil "holds" water tighter and r, making it more difficult for roots to extract it. ince hydraulic conductivity decreases in a drying soil, greater forces ;) are required to get moisture to flow to the plant roots. eT ie msttnianianalshucnate " dies. The CS “root capacity istics WP ranges from about -20 bars of pressure potential. An average value of -15 bars is typically used. Some crops like sugar beets may wilt during daylight hours as the £, > KiA of the soil, even at high levels of soil moisture. However, they recover their turgor over night and continue to produce high yields. This is merely a function of stomatal control and rooting characteristics of the crop. R.G.Allen Notes 1988 29‘Available Moisture Also termed: Crop Extractable Moisture ~~ or Water Holding Capacity | After 2 to 3 days after irrigation, soil moisture equals field capacity and the total_anount of water available to plants is then: (FC - WP) This d 1 available moisture or crop extractable moisture or water of the soil. This is the term which is of great importance in irrigation or in plant yield modeling, as it defines the maximum amount of time a soil can provide moisture to a crop without complete loss of that plant. R.G.Allen Notes 1988 30Soil water pressure KPa Soil moisture (A Saturation) Figure 24. -51 -255 -1920 -5160 -142606 -15366 A > Centimeters of water4, TURE #7 an (Review WP and gravitational water and AM) Typical values of FC, WP, AM Silt Loam Soils FC ~ 33 % (volume basis) or 0.33 n/m or 4.0 in/ft We” 13% vi or 0.13 n/m or 1.6 in/ft Therefore, AM ~ 20% (volume basis) or 0.2 m/m | or 2.4 in/ft \ Sand FOD 7% - WP 3% ) AM” 4% = 0.5 in/ft wt Clay Fo" 45% WP > 25 % AM ~ 20 % = 2.4 in/ft seat ’ Note also, that even though clays have a much Leer field capacity, their AM is usually less than or equal to that of silty soils due to ‘the very high moisture levels at the wilti it (this water is held so ‘dhe yeanaMtCrOPCOpTGSpOrGE, URGE” Pie aaE IS nab Tastorrewove-tt)- Typically, silt loam sofls are the preferred sotls for agriculture and irrigation because of their high water holding capacities, good soil structure and moderate infiltration rates. am In summary, the characteristic curve indicates the distribution of pore sizes. Since soil moisture tension or v is proportional to 1/d (pore diameter), then at some point vc, the larger pores have dewatered, thereby decreasing K. Therefore, drainage is greatly reduced and the balance of the moisture is “held" in'the soil. This point is field capacity. Therefore, the characteristic curve is very useful in understanding the hows and whys of field capacity and permanent wilting point and the principles of soil moisture movement. R.G.Allen Notes 1988 31Soil water pressure Soil moisture (4 Saturation) -51 -255 -1626 -5100 -16266 -15366 KPa |. Figure 25. Centimeters of waterExample Three days after a complete irrigation, a soil is sampled at a 20 cm depth with the following results: vol = 114 end wet weight = 195 gm dry weight = 154 gm Crop is allowed to deplete moisture to HP (crop dies), and soil is resampled: vol = 139 cm? wet weight dry weight Questions 208 gn 188 . What are the values of FC and WP as % volumes? . What is the value of AM? ‘What is the apparent bulk density? paw ‘What are FC and WP as % saturation? . Alt Solution on At FC, mass of water = 195 - 154 = 41 gm or 41 cm? ( Therefore, ay = 41/114 = 36% ~~ At WP, mass of water = 208 - 188 = 20 gm or 20 cm? Therefore, #y = 20/139 = 14.4% j/ Mb = 36 - 14.4 = 21.6% 22 cn/meter = 2.6 in/ft Bulk density. at FC = 196/114= 1,35 gn/em3 , % These values are the same, although this is not always the case, as bulk density can change with # in sone clayey or organic soiJs. (shrink-swell soils (Montmorillinite clay)). 7 Assuming ps = 2.65, — N= l= pp/os = 1 - 1.35/2.65 = 49 % 0 / y Thers e percent y ae at WP= 14.4/49 = 29% R.G.Allen Notes 1988 32 hah fl InchOther soil Moisture Terms Gravitational Water = water in excess of FC _ Capillary Water = water held in soil by capillary forces. ‘Hyaroscopic Water = water bonded to soil particles due to molecular forces ‘Management Allowable Depletion Percentage (MAD) (@— Jy2 7) Even though all AM can be used by crops, some Et stress and Towering of yields” may occur before WP is reached. Therefore, At ‘The#f percentage of AM depleted between irrigations is termed management allowable depletion percentage, a concept termed by John Merriam in 1966. ‘The value of MAD (%) depends on: © crop: “ i ¥ tern Vv | a ( rsiwater holding capacity = “9 _ “uncertainty of soil parameters” i.e., if rooting depth uncertainty is +/- 20% and the uncertainty in the value of AM is +/- 15%, then the estimate of total available moisture (TAM) could be 4/- 38%, (us Therefore, some of the value of MAD is used to account for uncertainty in knowlege of soil parameters. MAD provides for: 1. buffer against stress by crop 2. factor of safety against uncertainty 3. effect of sparse root distributions near the bottom of the root profile :Saturation Field capacity Ca pillary Figure 26, Graph of Water ClassificationsTypically, MAD = 40 % for high value, shallow rooted crops = 50 % for average crops 60 % for deep rooted average value crops. 33 R.G.Allen Notes 1988The product MAD + AM is sometimes termed ‘Readily Available Moisture (RAM). ample If rooting depth of winter wheat in April is 1 meter and FC = 32 % by volume WP = 17 % by volume E_ during April is 5.3 mm/day, 1. What should be the irrigation frequency for MAD = 60 %? 2. How much water should be added each irrigation if the application efficiency is 70 %? = 60/100 (1) (32-17)/100 = 0.09 meters = 90 mn between irrig. Irrigation frequency = 90/5.3 = 17 days u~ Gross application = 90/.7 = 129 mm depth 0.129 a-n/ha 1290 m3/ha 0.42 acre-ft/acre 5.1 inches Note: Occaisionaly the term MAD - R, - AM is also referred to 100 s tla (aenagenental Towa iedeplattonssenthly Therefore, be careful not to become confusec \ \ gate Re An \ R.G.Allen Notes 1988 34thes L, ; Sojf $2 Chen bap of atiniab on Me carte’ S jor Taco sv obs PEt GIO Ty fiery, baie lense Lorine sean ea aia oe teem 4 ee Hk pole prrticls aude Lecnyed Kany t Poise A oma VED (Org ani i SOIL WATER RELATIONSHIPS — Penains'), = Soil serves as a medium for: % poms pid 2 Sell plate tud » nutrients BE. opie item ss Pris » water 2 ate. Mesf safe have ~ 7 Meroorgantsms werty LA esenr | ad 2 Yard, “plant roots