Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering - Vol 3 | 42. Root Zone Soil Water by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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Knowledge
42. Root Zone Soil Water

This chapter focuses on the root zone soil water, emphasizing its significance in various agricultural and hydrological applications. Key concepts include the types of soil water, soil moisture constants, and the dynamics involved in plant-water interactions. Methods for estimating root zone moisture and essential practices for irrigation scheduling and water resource management are also discussed.

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Sections

  • 42

    Root Zone Soil Water

    This section explores the role and dynamics of water in the root zone, including types of soil water, moisture constants, water movement, and estimation methods for effective agricultural practices.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.1

    Soil Water In The Unsaturated Zone

    The unsaturated zone, or vadose zone, is crucial for plant water absorption, containing gravitational, capillary, and hygroscopic water, each with varying availability to plants.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.1.1

    Types Of Soil Water

    Soil water is categorized into three types based on its availability to plants: gravitational water, capillary water, and hygroscopic water.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.2

    Field Capacity And Wilting Point

    Field Capacity and Wilting Point are critical soil moisture constants that define the range of water availability for plant growth.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.3

    Rooting Depth And Root Zone Storage Capacity

    This section discusses the concepts of rooting depth and root zone storage capacity, highlighting their significance in water absorption by plants and water management in agriculture.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.3.1

    Rooting Depth

    Rooting depth indicates how deep plant roots typically grow and affect water absorption.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.3.2

    Root Zone Storage Capacity (Rzsc)

    The Root Zone Storage Capacity (RZSC) indicates the total amount of water stored between field capacity and wilting point in the soil that is accessible to plant roots.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.4

    Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (Swcc)

    The Soil-Water Characteristic Curve (SWCC) illustrates the relationship between soil moisture and matric potential, crucial for water movement modeling and irrigation scheduling.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.5

    Infiltration And Redistribution In The Root Zone

    Infiltration is the process by which water enters the soil and redistributes within the root zone, affecting water availability and soil moisture dynamics.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.5.1

    Infiltration

    Infiltration is the process by which water enters the soil surface and begins to move downward, significantly influencing water availability in the root zone.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.5.2

    Redistribution

    Redistribution in the root zone pertains to how water moves within the soil after infiltration, affecting water availability and plant uptake.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.6

    Plant-Water Interaction And Uptake

    Plants extract water through their roots using gradients in water potential, which are influenced by root density, soil moisture levels, and evaporative demand.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.7

    Evapotranspiration From The Root Zone

    Evapotranspiration (ET) encompasses the processes of evaporation from soil and plant surfaces, as well as transpiration through plant stomata, and is crucial for managing soil moisture within root zones.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.7.1

    Types Of Et Estimates

    This section discusses the two primary types of evapotranspiration (ET) estimates: potential ET and actual ET.

    Learning

  • 42.8

    Moisture Movement In Unsaturated Soil

    This section explores the principles governing water movement in unsaturated soil, focusing on Darcy’s Law for unsaturated flow and factors affecting hydraulic conductivity.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.9

    Methods To Estimate Root Zone Soil Moisture

    This section discusses various methods to estimate root zone soil moisture, exploring both direct and indirect techniques used in practice.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.9.1

    Gravimetric Method

    The gravimetric method involves measuring soil moisture by weighing soil samples before and after drying, providing a highly accurate yet time-consuming assessment.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.9.2

    Neutron Scattering

    Neutron scattering is a non-destructive method used to estimate root zone soil moisture by measuring hydrogen atoms in the soil.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.9.3

    Time Domain Reflectometry (Tdr)

    This section discusses Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR), focusing on its methodology for estimating soil moisture content effectively.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.9.4

    Remote Sensing & Satellite-Based Estimation

    This section discusses the role of remote sensing and satellite technologies in estimating root zone soil moisture.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.10

    Irrigation Scheduling Based On Root Zone Water Balance

    This section discusses the water balance approach to irrigation scheduling, focusing on the management of soil moisture for optimal plant growth.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.11

    Modeling Root Zone Water Dynamics

    This section discusses the common models used to simulate root zone water dynamics, focusing on soil moisture, evapotranspiration, root uptake, and percolation.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.12

    Factors Affecting Root Zone Water Availability

    This section discusses the various factors influencing water availability in the root zone, crucial for plant growth.

    Learning Practice

  • 42.13

    Engineering Applications And Importance

    This section discusses the significance of understanding root zone water for various engineering applications.

    Learning Practice

References

Chapter_42_Root.pdf

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • The root zone is crucial fo...
  • Soil water is classified in...
  • Field capacity and wilting ...

Final Test

Revision Tests