AC-Ch. 4 Water Management Flashcards
Available water
Water remaining in the soil after gravitational water has drained and before the permanent wilting point has been reached.
Bubblers
Localized, low-pressure irrigation devices that apply water into basins around trees; often used in groves.
Capilary water
Water held in the capilary pores of the soil; much of this water can move in any direction and is readily available to plant roots.
Chlorosis
Whitish or yellowish leaf discoloration caused by lack of chlorophyll. Often caused by nutrient deficiency.
Desiccation
Severe drying out.
Dieback
Condition in which the branches in a tree die from the tips toward the main stem.
Drip irrigation
Method of minimizing evaporation and runoff by applying small amounts of water through small emitters.
Evapotranspiration
Loss of water by evaporation from the soil surface and transpiration by plants.
Field capacity
Maximum soil moisture content following the drainage of water due to the force of gravity.
Girding root
Root that encircles all or part of a the tree trunk or the tree’s other roots, constricting the vascular tissue and inhibiting secondary growth and the movement of water and photosynthates.
Hydrophobic
Tendingtorepelor fail to mix with water.
Hydrozone
Group of plants in a landscape with similar water requirements.
Hygroscopic water
“Unavailable” water held too tightly by soil particles for plant uptake after graviational water drains through the soil.
Infiltration
(1) Downward entry of water into the soil. (2) Entry of fine particles into drainage or aeration systems can lead to system clogging and failure. (3) Downward entry of materials from one soil or fill layer to another as when a gravel road surfaces mixes with underlying soil.
Infiltration rate
Speed at which water penetrates the soil.
Minimum irrigation
Practice of minimizing irrigation needs through the use of drought-tolerant plants and watering only the amount needed to maintian health, growth, and appearance.
Percolation
The movement of water through the soil.
Percolation rate
The speed at which water moves through the soil.
Phytophthora
Soilborne plant pathogen that can build up in ponds. Can cause root rot, canopy blight, and other diseases .Often called “water molds.”
Phytotoxic
Term to describe a compound that is poisonous to plants.
Pubescence
Tiny leaf hairs preventing water loss by trapping an insulating layer of moist air near the leaf surface.
Salinity
Amount or percentage of salt in the soil.
Soil Matric Potential
The force with which water is held by the soil matrix and a criterion for measuring soil water availability to plants by tensiometer.
Soil matrix
The conponent or “phase” of soil consisting of solid particles. Soil particles can be classified by their chemical composition and size.
Soil moisture reservoir
The volume of water available depending on the volume of soil occupied by plant roots and the water-holding capacity of the soil.
Spray irrigation
Method of applying water to plants through a network of spray emitters (sprinkler irrigation).
Tensiometer
Instrument used to measure soil moisture.
Turgid
Fully hydrated to a normal state of distension.
Vadose zone
The ground extending from the land surface down to the water table. Its pore space usually contains air as well as water. Also called “the unsaturated zone” and “the zone of aeration.”
Water budget
Calculation based on precipitation and environmental factors that establishes the minimum irrigation needed to maintain plant health.
Water-holding capacity
Ability of a soil to hold moisture.
Water tabe
Top surface of the accumulated underground water that has percolated through the soil above it.
Xeriscaping
Use of plant materials and practices that minimize landscaping water use. Term for environmentally friendly form of landscaping in dry climates.
