scholarly journals Soil water retention curves for the major soil types of the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.

Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.


Koedoe ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Buitenwerf ◽  
Andrew Kulmatiski ◽  
Steven I. Higgins

Soil water potential is crucial to plant transpiration and thus to carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions, yet it is difficult to measure in the field. Volumetric and gravimetric water contents are easy and cheap to measure in the field, but can be a poor proxy of plant-available water. Soil water content can be transformed to water potential using soil moisture retention curves. We provide empirically derived soil moisture retention curves for seven soil types in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Site-specific curves produced excellent estimates of soil water potential from soil water content values. Curves from soils derived from the same geological substrate were similar, potentially allowing for the use of one curve for basalt soils and another for granite soils. It is anticipated that this dataset will help hydrologists and ecophysiologists understand water dynamics, carbon cycling and biosphere–atmosphere interactions under current and changing climatic conditions in the region.


2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-370
Author(s):  
Ruixiu Sui ◽  
Horace C. Pringle ◽  
Edward M. Barnes

Abstract. One of the methods for irrigation scheduling is to use sensors to measure the soil moisture level in the plant root zone and apply water if there is a water shortage for the plants. The measurement accuracy and reliability of the soil moisture sensors are critical for sensor-based irrigation management. This study evaluated the measurement accuracy and repeatability of the EC-5 and 5TM soil volumetric water content (SVWC) sensors, the MPS-2 and 200SS soil water potential (SWP) sensors, and the 200TS soil temperature sensor. Six 183 cm × 183 cm × 71 cm wooden compartments were built inside a greenhouse, and each compartment was filled with one type of soil from the Mississippi Delta. A total of 66 sensors with 18 data loggers were installed in the soil compartments to measure SVWC, SWP, and soil temperature. Soil samples were periodically collected from the compartments to determine SVWC using the gravimetric method. SVWC measured by the sensors was compared with that determined by the gravimetric method. The SVWC readings from the sensors had a linear regression relationship with the gravimetric SVWC (r2 = 0.82). This relationship was used to calibrate the sensor readings. The SVWC and SWP sensors could detect the general trend of soil moisture changes. However, their measurements varied significantly among the sensors. To obtain accurate absolute soil moisture measurements, the sensors require individual and soil-specific calibration. The 5TM, MPS-2, and 200TS sensors performed well in soil temperature measurement tests. Individual temperature readings from these sensors were very close to the mean of all sensor readings. Keywords: Irrigation, Sensors, Soil types, Soil water content, Soil water potential.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 353 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Jensen ◽  
V.O. Mogensen ◽  
H.-H. Poulsen ◽  
I.E. Henson ◽  
S. Aagot ◽  
...  

Drought responses in leaves of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L., cv. Polonez) were investigated in plants grown in lysimeters either in a sand or in a loam soil in the field. Abscisic acid (ABA) content, water potential (ψl) and conductance to water vapour (gH2O) were determined in leaves of both irrigated plants and in plants exposed to gradual soil drying. Amorning-peak of leaf ABA content was found in both fully watered and droughted plants. During soil drying which, on both soils types, only decreased soil water potential of the upper soil layers, mid-day leaf ABA content increased relative to that in fully irrigated plants before any appreciable decreases occurred in ψl. In the part of the soil profile from which water was taken up (0–60 cm depth), gH2O decreased when the relative available soil water content (RASW) on sand was below 12% and RASW on loam, below 30%. At this point the average soil water matric potential (ψsoil) on sand was less than –0.13 MPa and the fraction of roots in ‘wet’ soil was 0.12, while on loam, the fraction of roots in ‘wet’ soil was 0.44 while y soil was similar to that on sand. A critical leaf ABA content of 300–400 ng/g FW was associated with the onset of stomatal closure on both soil types. We suggest that the initial stomatal closure is controlled by ABA which originates from the roots where its production is closely related to ψsoiland the water potential of the root surface and that ψsoil is a more important parameter than RASW or the fraction of roots in ‘wet’ soil for affecting leaf gas exchange. Further drying on both soils led to further increases in leaf ABA and declines in ψl and gH2O. In order to gain further insight, experiments should be designed which combine signalling studies with simulation studies, which take account of soil water potential, root contact area and water flux when calculating the water status at the root surface in the soil-plant-atmosphere-continuum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
H. C. Pringle, III ◽  
L. L. Falconer ◽  
D. K. Fisher ◽  
L. J. Krutz

Abstract. Irrigated acreage is expanding and groundwater supplies are decreasing in the Mississippi Delta. Efficient irrigation scheduling of soybean [ (L.) Merr] will aid in conservation efforts to sustain groundwater resources. The objective of this study was to develop irrigation initiation recommendations for soybean grown on Mississippi Delta soils. Field studies were conducted on a deep silty clay (SiC) in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and on a deep silty clay loam (SiCL) and deep silt loam (SiL) or loam (L) soil in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Irrigation was initiated multiple times during the growing season and soybean yield and net return were determined to evaluate the effectiveness of each initiation timing. Growth stage, soil water potential (SWP), and soil water deficit (SWD) were compared at these initiation timings to determine which parameter or combination of parameters consistently predicted the resulting greatest yields and net returns. Stress conditions that reduce yield can occur at any time from late vegetative stages to full seed on these deep soils. The wide range of trigger values found for SWP and SWD to increase yields in different years emphasizes the complexity of irrigation scheduling. Monitoring soil moisture by itself or use of a single trigger value is not sufficient to optimize irrigation scheduling to maximize soybean yield with the least amount of water every year on these soils. Monitoring one or more parameters (e.g., leaf water potential, canopy temperature, air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind) is needed in conjunction with soil moisture to directly or indirectly quantify the abiotic stresses on the plant to better define when a yield reducing stress is occurring. Keywords: Irrigation initiation, Irrigation scheduling, Soil water deficit, Soil water potential, Soybean, Water conservation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 596-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Roberts ◽  
P. Rosier

Abstract. The possible effects of broadleaved woodland on recharge to the UK Chalk aquifer have led to a study of evaporation and transpiration from beech woodland (Black Wood) and pasture (Bridgets Farm), growing in shallow soils above chalk in Hampshire. Eddy correlation measurements of energy balance components above both the forest and the grassland enabled calculation of latent heat flux (evaporation and transpiration) as a residual. Comparative measurements of soil water content and soil water potential in 9 m profiles under both forest and grassland found changes in soil water content down to 6 m at both sites; however, the soil water potential measurements showed upward movement of water only above a depth of about 2 m. Below this depth, water continued to drain and the soil water potential measurements showed downward movement of water at both sites, notwithstanding significant negative soil water potentials in the chalk and soil above. Seasonal differences occur in the soil water content profiles under broadleaved woodland and grass. Before the woodland foliage emerges, greater drying beneath the grassland is offset in late spring and early summer by increased drying under the forest. Yet, when the change in soil water profiles is at a maximum, in late summer, the profiles below woodland and grass are very similar. A comparison of soil water balances for Black Wood and Bridgets Farm using changes in soil water contents, local rainfall and evaporation measured by the energy balance approach allowed drainage to be calculated at each site. Although seasonal differences occurred, the difference in cumulative drainage below broadleaved woodland and grass was small.


2012 ◽  
Vol 170-173 ◽  
pp. 2407-2413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Dao Cai Chi ◽  
En Bo Tai ◽  
Xu Dong Zhang ◽  
Tao Tao Chen

Pot experiments were conducted under different status of soil moisture potential during different stages of rice. The results show that soil moisture potential regulation and control is able to increase the rice yield at each growth stages after returning green, the suitable soil water potential criteria for middle-season rice in Liaoning province at different stages is 5~10kPa in tillering initial stage, 35kPa at most in tillering final stage, 5~10kPa in jointing and heading stages, not more than 20kPa in Milk maturity stage; re-watering post drought has a compensation effect to rice whose soil suction potential is controlled in 5~10kPa at tillering initial stage according to the results that its tillers number, output, final root dry biomass and leaf dry weight were significant exceeding contrast; The research on rice quality indicates that water stress in jointing stage increase protein content but reduce eating quality.


2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugênio F. Coelho ◽  
Delfran B. dos Santos ◽  
Carlos A. V. de Azevedo

This research had as its objective the investigation of an alternative strategy for soil sensor placement to be used in citrus orchards irrigated by micro sprinkler. An experiment was carried out in a Tahiti lemon orchard under three irrigation intervals of 1, 2 and 3 days. Soil water potential, soil water content distribution and root water extraction were monitored by a time-domain-reflectometry (TDR) in several positions in soil profiles radial to the trees. Root length and root length density were determined from digital root images at the same positions in the soil profiles where water content was monitored. Results showed the importance of considering root water extraction in the definition of soil water sensor placement. The profile regions for soil water sensor placement should correspond to the intersection of the region containing at least 80% of total root length and the region of at least 80% of total water extraction. In case of tensiometers, the region of soil water potential above -80 kPa should be included in the intersection.


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