Original scientific paper

INFLUENCE OF THE SOIL PROPERTIES ON RETENTION OF THE SOIL MOISTURE

Stjepan Husnjak ; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Matija Bosak ; Bestovje, Hrvatska

Abstract

It is well known that in the soil many processes are developing which lead to the creation of various dynamic balances. Therefore different physical and chemical soil characteristics are in a constant interaction, while a good insight into these characteristics and their mutual influence is being applied in the modern agricultural production. The paper examines the results of the research on the influence of the humus quantity and clay content on the soil moisture retention at 1.5 MPa and 0.625 MPa. The research was conducted on 42 heterogeneous samples from the archive of the Department of Soil Science of the Faculty of Agriculture in Zagreb with known values of the basic physical and chemical properties. The results indicate that there is no correlation (r = -0,106) between humus quantity and soil moisture retention at 1.5 MPa and 0.625 MPa, hence the existing data on humus content cannot be used for an estimation of moisture retention in the soil. Highly significant correlation coefficients were identified at the value of 1,5 MPa (r = 0,775**) and 0,625 MPa (r = 0,731**), that confirms a strong positive correlation between clay content and soil moisture retention. The finding indicates the possibility of applying data on the clay particles content in the soil for the estimation of soil moisture retention for practical use.

Keywords

soil moisture retention; humus; clay; 1.5 MPa; 0.625 MPa

Hrčak ID:

129140

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/129140

Publication date:

17.10.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.106 *