Exam Flashcards
bulk density
weight of oven dry soil/ volume of soil
water that plants uptake and release back into atmosphere
transpiration
cohesion
the attraction of water molecules for each other due to primary h bonding
adhesion
the attraction of water molecules for solid surfaces, think a meniscus. also h bonding
hydrophobic
water resistant
capalarrity
the movement of water up a wick made of hydrophilic solid materials
hydrophilic
water loving, adhesion and cohesion forces cause water to cling to surfaces
osmotic potential
water moves toward higher concentration of salts or organics to reach equilibrium. Using energy to move (negative force)
saturation
all voids are filled w water and there is no air in the soil 0kpa
filed capacity
water content of soil after drained 24-48 hours. Macropores are filled w air
permanent wilting point
point at which plants cannot remove water. plant wilts beyond recovery. -1500kpa
gravitational water
water between saturation and field capacity is gravitational water
plant available water
water between field capacity and permanent wilting point, plant availible water is water that will relinquish to the plant. Held is mesopores
unavailable water
water between permanent wilting point and oven dry is unavailable water. Held in micropores
Wet soils
water loosely held. Energy status is relatively high
Dry soils
water is held tightly by the soil solids. energy status is much lower
time domain reflectometry
nondestructive methods for measuring soil by using radar to transmit signals into soil and analyzing the reflected results.
clay soils
high water holding capacity
sandy soils
low water holding capacity
wilting point is characterized by
the amount of water tightly held to soil particles
what pore size is plant available water held in
mesopores
how is soil water content estimated
tensiometer
soil water potential
the energy status of the soul water in terms of bars, atms, or kpas
soil water content
the amount of water in the soil can be reported as weight or volume.
gravimetric approach to measuring soil water
weight of a soil sample, oven dry soil sample at 105c. weight loss is water, calculate percent mass.
gravimetric water constant formula
(wet weight-oven dry)/oven dry
volumetric
theta = w * Bulk Density
evapotranspiration
happens most in summer
Irrigation
the need for irrigation is closely related to the volume of soil exploited by roots
Irrigation depends on
season
time of day
infiltration rate
aeration
gets more air into soil, gets rid of co2 and gets o2 in. the more wet the soil, the more co2 trapped in soil.
soil quality
based off of plant growth, water supply. It reflects a combination of chemical physical and biological properties.
soil erosion is responsible for how much soil degradation
80% erosion by wind and water
geological erosion
erosion that takes place without the influence of humans, happens at about the rate soil forms.
human accelerated erosioin
humans disturb soil/vegetation. Construction, over grazing
Erosion in arid regions
more erosion be less vegetation. Very few intense rain events
Erosion in humid regions
lots of vegetation so erosion rates are lower
The major sources of erosion in NC
construction, agriculture, and streambank/shoreline erosion