Water_conducting_and_retaining_properties_of_soils_in_relation_to_irrigation外文学习材料.pdfVIP

/2*J£***K *K •t4?^^£^^ Preprint from PROCEEDINGS, INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM O N DESERT RESEARCH Research Council of Israel in cooperation with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Jerusalem May 7—14 WATER CONDUCTING AN D RETAINING PROPERTIES OF SOILS IN RELATION T O IRRIGATION L. A. RICHARDS Principal Soil Scientist, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, Agricultural Research Administration, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Riverside, California* SUMMARY In the absence of large temperature gradients, the movemen t of water in isotropic soil, saturated or unsaturated, is in the direction of the vector sum of the gravity and the pressure gradient force. This net water-moving-force can be conveniently expressed in terms of the hydraulic gradient . Th e flow velocity is proportional to the hydraulic gradient, the proportionality factor being a property of the soil- water system . This factor, which ma y be designated as hydraulic conductivity for saturated soil and capillary conductivity for unsaturated soil, is readily mea - surable and is an important soil property related to infiltration, movement , and storage of water in irrigated soil. Th e relation of the moisture content of soil to the equivalent negative pressure in the soil water is illustrated by typical data obtained on soil cores having field structure. Terminology and measuring methods relating to the water conducting and retaining properties of soils are discussed and the application of these methods to irrigation problems is indicated. INTRODUCTION The presence in soil of water that can be utilized by plant roots is one of the prime requirements for ag