41.5.2. Hysteresis

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is hysteresis in soil-water relationships?

   Hint

   Think about how the behavior of soil changes with water presence.

2. 2.

   Name one factor that affects hysteresis.

   Hint

   Consider what can change during drying and wetting.

3. 3.

   What does hysteresis indicate?

   • Changes in soil texture
   • Differences in retention during drying and wetting
   • Increased porosity

   Hint

   Focus on the behavior differences when soil dries or becomes wet.

4. 4.

   True or False: Air entrapment can improve water retention in soil.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider how air affects the movement of water.

5. 5.

   Consider a soil sample that shows distinct hysteresis when wetting and drying. How would you go about determining the best irrigation strategy in light of these findings?

   Hint

   Review the concepts of water availability throughout the growing season.

6. 6.

   A study describes that soils with high hysteresis lead to inefficient water usage in agriculture. Propose a solution to mitigate this issue.

   Hint

   Think about methods that apply water more efficiently to prevent excess runoff.