EXAM 2 - Chapter 6 & 7 Flashcards
What is Darcy’s law? What do the variables mean?
The quantity of water per unit of time that flows through a column of saturated soil; A is the area in which water flows, Ksat is the saturated hydraulic conductivity, Y is the change in water potential between the ends of the column, L is the length of the column
Unsaturated flow vs saturated flow.
Unsaturated flow occurs when the soil pores are filled with air leaving only smaller pores to hold and transmit water; Saturated flow takes place when the soil pores are completely saturated with water
Vapor flow (in response to temperature and salinity gradients)
occurs as vapor pressure differences develop in relatively dry soils; water vapor will move from a zone of low salt to high salt where it lows the vapor pressure; if temperature of a uniformly moist soil is decreased, the vapor pressure will decrease and it will move toward the cooler part
Evaporation
considered a “waste” of water from the standpoint of plant productivity
Transpiration
an essential component for plant growth that provides the water plants need for cooling, nutrient transport, photosynthesis, and turgor maintenance
Evapotranspiration
The combination of Evaporation and Transpiration
Potential Evapotranspiration
the rate that tells us how fast water vapor would be lost from a densely vegetated plant-soil system if soil water content were continuously maintained at an optimal level; determined by the vapor pressure gradient
Soil Water Discharge
Water that does not enter the soil, but runs off instead
Perched Water Table
when water enters a system more rapidly than lateral capillarity can carry it away, water sits
Water Balance Equation
Precipitation - Soil Storage + Evapotranspiration + Discharge
Evaporation Pan
Used to help estimate potential evapotranspiration; reflects relative humidity, temperature, wind speed, and other climatic variables related to the vapor pressure gradient
Water Stress
when soil water content is less than optimal, the plant will not be able to withdraw water from the soil fast enough to satisfy PET, and the plant will lose turgor pressure and wilt; ET < PET
Water Deficit
the difference between PET and actual ET; a large deficit is indicative of high water stress and aridity
Leaf Area Index
the ratio between leaf and unit land area which increases in vegetated areas that more radiation will be absorbed by foliage to stimulate transpiration and less will reach the soil to promote evaporation
What industry uses the most water?
Agriculture
Consumptive Use
Freshwater withdrawals which are not immediately available for further use because they have been evaporated, embodied in products and waste, or discharged after use into different watersheds or the sea
Blue water vs green water
Blue water is the freshwater available for removal from surface water bodies and aquifers; green water is water stored in the soil as soil moisture and used by plants in evapotranspiration
Furrow and Flood Irrigation
Water is applied to the upper end of a field and allowed to distribute itself by gravity flow through furrows; all plants aren’t getting an accurate amount of wter
Center Pivot Irrigation
low-energy, precision application according to soil properties; very high equipment costs
Micro-irrigation (Drip irrigation)
A small portion of the soil is wetted using a drip system where tubing and emitters are buried 20-50cm deep so water soaks directly into the root zone
Aquifer
a saturated, permeable layer of sediment or rock that can transmit significant quantities of water under normal pressure conditions
How do drainage systems work?
they hasten the removal of excess water from the soil and lower the water table; septic tank drain fields operate in reverse by carrying wastewater to the soil
Ditch
diverts water from rivers to other areas
What is the usage of a drainage pipe? Which orientation should it be placed in?
Placed downward to lower the water table and or absorb excess water to prevent waterlogging