Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering - Vol 3 | 41. Soil-Water Relationships by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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41. Soil-Water Relationships

41. Soil-Water Relationships

Soil-water relationships encompass the study of how water interacts with soil, influencing various engineering applications such as irrigation and groundwater management. The chapter discusses the properties of soil, forms of soil moisture, movement of water within soils, and methods to measure and manage soil moisture. Understanding these concepts is essential for effective water resource management and agricultural practices.

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  1. 41
    Soil-Water Relationships

    This section explores the interaction between soil and water, emphasizing...

  2. 41.1
    Types And Properties Of Soil

    This section explores the different types and properties of soil, including...

  3. 41.1.1
    Soil Texture And Structure

    This section discusses soil texture and structure, crucial elements...

  4. 41.1.2
    Soil Porosity

    Soil porosity is the ratio of volume of voids to the total volume of soil,...

  5. 41.1.3
    Bulk Density And Particle Density

    This section explores bulk density and particle density, highlighting their...

  6. 41.2
    Soil Moisture And Its Forms

    This section discusses the various forms of soil moisture essential for...

  7. 41.2.1

    Saturation refers to the condition in which all soil pores are filled with...

  8. 41.2.2
    Field Capacity

    Field capacity is the amount of water retained in the soil after...

  9. 41.2.3
    Permanent Wilting Point

    The Permanent Wilting Point is the soil moisture level at which plants can...

  10. 41.2.4
    Available Water

    Available water is the moisture difference between field capacity and the...

  11. 41.3
    Soil Water Potential

    Soil water potential describes the energy status of water in the soil,...

  12. 41.3.1
    Types Of Potentials

    This section discusses the various types of soil water potentials, crucial...

  13. 41.4
    Movement Of Water In Soil

    This section discusses how water infiltrates, percolates, and moves within...

  14. 41.4.1
    Infiltration

    Infiltration is the process of water entry into the soil surface, influenced...

  15. 41.4.2

    Percolation refers to the downward movement of water through soil layers,...

  16. 41.4.3
    Capillary Rise

    Capillary rise refers to the upward movement of water in soil due to surface...

  17. 41.5
    Water Retention Characteristics

    This section discusses the characteristics of water retention in soil,...

  18. 41.5.1
    Soil Moisture Characteristic Curve (Retention Curve)

    The Soil Moisture Characteristic Curve illustrates the relationship between...

  19. 41.5.2

    Hysteresis in soil-water retention describes the difference in retention...

  20. 41.6
    Hydraulic Conductivity

    Hydraulic conductivity measures the rate at which water moves through soil,...

  21. 41.6.1

    This section defines hydraulic conductivity and its importance in soil-water...

  22. 41.6.2
    Darcy’s Law

    Darcy's Law describes the flow of water through saturated soils and is...

  23. 41.6.3
    Factors Affecting Hydraulic Conductivity

    This section outlines the key factors influencing hydraulic conductivity,...

  24. 41.7
    Measurement Of Soil Moisture

    This section focuses on various methods used to measure soil moisture,...

  25. 41.7.1
    Gravimetric Method

    The Gravimetric Method is a technique used to measure soil moisture content...

  26. 41.7.2
    Tensiometers

    Tensiometers are devices used to measure soil matric suction up to 0.85 atm,...

  27. 41.7.3
    Electrical Resistance Blocks

    Electrical resistance blocks employ gypsum or fiberglass to measure soil...

  28. 41.7.4
    Neutron Probe

    The neutron probe is a highly accurate tool that measures soil moisture...

  29. 41.7.5
    Time Domain Reflectometry (Tdr)

    This section discusses Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) as a method for...

  30. 41.8
    Soil-Water-Plant Relationships

    This section discusses the relationships between soil moisture, plant water...

  31. 41.8.1
    Root Zone Water Availability

    Root zone water availability refers to the water that crops can access...

  32. 41.8.2
    Management Allowable Depletion (Mad)

    Management Allowable Depletion (MAD) refers to the fraction of available...

  33. 41.8.3
    Water Use Efficiency (Wue)

    Water Use Efficiency (WUE) is a critical measure of agricultural...

  34. 41.9
    Soil Moisture And Irrigation Practices

    This section discusses the various soil moisture zones relevant to...

  35. 41.9.1
    Soil Moisture Zones

    Soil moisture zones are critical areas influencing water availability and...

  36. 41.9.2
    Irrigation Scheduling Based On Soil Moisture

    This section discusses the methods of irrigation scheduling that involve...

  37. 41.9.3
    Role In Hydrologic Cycle

    This section explores how soil moisture influences the hydrologic cycle...

What we have learnt

  • Soil texture and structure significantly affect water retention and movement.
  • Different forms of soil moisture, such as saturation and field capacity, are critical for plant health.
  • Hydraulic conductivity and soil water potential are key factors in understanding water movement through soil.

Key Concepts

-- Soil Texture
The relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in a soil mass, influencing its porosity and permeability.
-- Field Capacity
Amount of water retained in soil after gravitational water has drained, optimal for plant uptake.
-- Hydraulic Conductivity
The rate at which water moves through soil under a hydraulic gradient, influenced by soil texture and structure.
-- Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
The ratio of crop yield to the amount of water used, indicating the effectiveness of water in agricultural production.

Additional Learning Materials

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