ToT Eel itt ese a eval § RelationshipsCuapter = Soil-Moisture - Plant Relationships * REI + Water added to a soil mass during irrigation is held in the pores of the'soil and is termed as soil moisture. ‘+ Soil moisture causes the soil to appear wet or even damp depending upon the amount of moisture present in the soil mass, + Soil pores which do not contain liquid water remain filled with air or water vapour. CRT CN op aseeck meee + Soil provi necessary medium for w: ‘used bs igh their roots that are present in the same medium, + Water acts as a medium to carry large amounts of nutrients essential for the growth of a plant. + ‘The rate of entry of water into the soil its retention and then its movement and availability to plant roots are physical phenomena that contribuic to the growth of vegetation “Hole: Hence, there is need to understand the physical aspects of sol in relation to water for efficient rmanagement of irigated agriculture. Lee SUC a teams! Water Holding capacity of soil is one of the dominant factors influencing irrigation. The water holding capacity of a soil mainly depends on its porosity W Porosity, n= yj where, V,, = Volume of pores, Vy = total volume n = porosity Vv; \ In general there are two types of soil pores viz (1). Capillary oF small pores (2) Non-capillary or large pores +The capillary pores hold a large amount of water held by the soil at aaturation due to capitlarity and prevent it from being drained off under gravity + On the other hand, the non-capillary pores do not hold water tightly and hence a large amount of water held by the.soil at saturation is drained off under gravity + Capillary pores induce greater water holding capacity while non capillary pores induce drainage and aeration.20 TS eM ey alee IRRIGATION ENGINEERING ‘The relative magnitudes of these types of pores in a soil depend on its texture and structure. ‘A sandy soil has more non-capillary pores which result in better drainage and aeration but low water On the other hand clavey soil has more capillary pores which result in better water holding sapacily but pour drainage gush aeation, ‘The water held by the soil is extracted by the roots of the plants for their growth which is resisted by some forces. These forces are more in clayey soils than in sandy soils, 90 it is difficult for_roots of the plants to extract water easily from the clavey soils compared to the sandy. soils, ‘An ideal soil for ierigation has its pore spaces equally divided between capillary and non- capillary pores. Soil water may be classified in the following three categories. w @ Canesma R Oe Fan Gravitational water (2) Capillary water (3) Hygroscopic water. Gravitational water It is that water which is not held by soil but drains out freely under the influence of gravity When the water is added to the soil ditring irrigation,, the water content of the soil is raised to @ state of saturation At this point, the soil pores are completely filled with water and the soil contains the maximum possible water content, which thus constitutes the upper limit of the gravitational water ‘Some of this water is held very loosely by the soil & readily moves downward under the pull of gravity, unless prevented by an impermeable barrier such as hard pan or a high water table, Capillary water Itis that the water which is retained in the soil after the gravitational water has drained off from the soil lary water is held in the soil by surface tension as a continuous film around the soil particles and in the capillary pores between the soils particles ‘The capillary water is held in the soil against the force of gravity. ‘The plant rooto gradually absorb the capillary water which thus constitutes the principal source of water for plant growth. ‘The capillary water is also designated as available water. ‘The water content in the soil corresponding to permanent wilting point constitutes the lower limit of the capillary water. Hygroscopie water cis that water whieh is adsorbed by the particles of dry soll from the atmosphere and is held as a very thin film on the surface of the soil particles due to adhesion or attraction between surface of particles and water molecules. Below the permanent wilting paint. the soil contains sroscopic water. It cannot be removed easily from the soil particles as it is veld with a considerable foree‘SOIL-MOISTURE-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS 2 + Hygroscopic water is in general not available for plant use. The soil water may aso be clasified on the basis ofits availabilty Yo available, avilable and gravit moisture tension is defined: as the force per unit area that must be exerted in order to extract water from the soil. In other words, it is a measure of the tenacity with which water is vetained in the soil + Soil moisture tension is usually expressed in terms of atmospheres. + Several other terms such gs capillary potential, capillary tension. soil pull, and the force of Suction are often used with the same meaning as that of soil moisture tension. + For a sol of given texture and structure, soil moisture tension is inversely proportional to its moisture content. + A-knowlodge of the amount of moisture held by the sol at various tensions is requited in order to determine the amount of moisture that would be available to the plants and also the amount of water that must be used for irrigation. SOIL MOISTURE STRESS] + Soil moisture stress is defined as the sum of the soil moisture tension and osmotic pressure_of soil solution. + In many irrigated soils, the soil solution contains an appreciable amount of salts. + Salts in soil water increase the force that must be exerted to extract water and thus affect the amount of water available to plants. + The increase in the force (or tension) caused by salts is from osmotic pressure. If two salt solutions differing in concentration are separated by an impermeable membrane such as a cell membrane in a plant root, water moves from the solution of lower concentration to the one of higher concentration. The force with which water moves across such a membrane is called osmotic pressure and is measured in atmospheres. + The osmotic pressure developed by the soil solution retards the uptake of water by plants. + Plants growth is a function of both soil moisture tension as well as osmotic pressure (ie. a function of soul moisticé" tess). + Thus, for good growth of plants in soils having appreciable salts, the osmotie pressure of the soil solution must be maintained as low as passible by controlled leaching so that in the root zone soil moisture stress is maintained in range that will provide adequate moisture to the plants, (1) Saturation Capacity + Saturation capacity is defined as the total water content of a soil when all the pores of the soil are filled with water. + This is also known as the maximum water holding capacity of the soil “ice Fae Ran" | 22 IRRIGATION ENGINEERING + Atsaturation capacity, soll moisture tension is almost equal to zexo as itis equal to the surface tension at free water surface. ) Field Capacity + Field capacity is defined as the maximum amo wisture whi ‘against gravity. Thus immediately after the gravitational water has drained off frdm a Saturated soil, the moisture content held by the soil is the field capacity of the soil. *+ Tho fold capacity is usually expresced as the weight of the maximum amount of moisture jekd be the soil against eravity per unit weight of the dry soil and is given as percentage + At field capacity the large or non-capillary pores of the soil are filled with air and the small or capillary pores are filled with water. + Field capacity isthe unner limit of the capillary water or the moisture content available to the plant roots. ‘+ In coarse textured sandy soils, the field capacity may usually be achieved in about 1 to 3 days: after the soil has bec thoroughly wetted by irrigation, + In medium textured sandy silt and sandy clay soils about 4 to'8 days may be required for the moisture content to reach field capacity. + In fine textured soils containing large: ‘Proportions of clay, somewhat longer periods are required for the moisture content tn reach fild capacity. + The soil moisture tension at field capacity ranges between 110 to 1/3 atmospheres. 3) Permanent wilting point : - + Permanent wilting point is the moisture content at which the films of water around the soil Particles are held so tightly that the plant roots cannot extract enough moisture at sufficiently Tapid rato to satisfy transpiration requirements thus resulting in the wilting of the plants + The permanent wilting point ie usually expressed as the weiglt of the moisture held by the soil per unit weight of the dry soil when the plants are permanently wilted + Permanent wilting points differ widely for different soils but have approximately the same values for different plants grown on the same soil. + The value of permanent wilting percentage may be as low as 2% for light sandy soils and it may be as high as 30% for heavy clay soils. * ‘The soil moisture tension ofa sol at the permanent wilting point ranges from 7 to 22 atmospheres depending on soil texture, kind and couditivie uf the plants ete. (4) Available moisture + The difference in moisture content of the soil between the field capacity and the permanent wilting point is termed as the available moisture. ~ + This represents the moisture which is stored in the soil in the form of capillary water for being used subsequently by the plants. (5) Readily available moisture + Tes that portion of the available moisture which is most easily extracted by plant roots + Only about 75% of the available moisture is usually readily available FRE Ravan Soa iia] |ay ‘SOIL-MOISTURE-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS. 23 (6) Moisture equivalent + Moisture equivalent is defined as the percentage of moisture retained in an initially saturated sample of soil 10mm thick after being subjected to a centrifugal force of 1000 times gravity for a period of 30 minutes «The moisture equivalent of a soil can be quickly determined in‘a laboratory and it is used as an_approximate measure of field capaci EPTH OF WATER HELD BY. SOIL’ IN ROOT ZONE AND AVAILABLE. TO] DANE ‘The field capacity of water is expressed as the ratio of the weight of water contained in the soil to the weight of the dry soil retaining that water We.of water retained in a certain vol. ofsoil Wi. of the same volume of dry soil be Field Capacity If we consider 1 m! area of soil and d metre depth of root zone, then the volume. of soil is 4% 1=d cubic metres. If the dry unit wt. of soil is y, KN /im* then the Wt, of d cubie metres of soil is 7, d KN. If Fis the field capacity, then Wr. of water retained in unit area of soil ” We. of water retained in unit area of soil Vol. of water stored in unit area of soi yea . or, Total water storage capacity of soil in (m depth of water) where, P = the field capacity moisture content ; d = depth of root zone in m Ye = the unit wt. of water ; 45 the dry unit wt, of soil. wid P Depth of water stored in the root zone in filling the soil upto field capacity metres. Yq 1 the unit wt, of the dried sol sample end ret of the sol solids. Hence, it may sometimes be called a5 apparent unit wt ‘The depth of moisture in root zone at field capacity and permanent wilting point per m depth of soil are 0.5 m/m and 0.2 m/m respectively, Compute the field capacity and permanent wilting point. Take dry weight of soil as 13.73 kNim'. Sol. Given, Depth of moisture in root zone at F.C. per metre depth of soil, d, = 0.5 m Depth of moisture in root zone at P.W.P per metre depth of soil, d = 0.2 m ‘Take depth of soil = Im Weight of water retained in the root zone corresponding to F.C Field capacity =~ 3 corresponding 19 F.C CER Pomacre “Difec Pie Reva Sew Be TOT24 IRRIGATION ENGINEERING toe Xhy 9,81%0.5 ai 3572, = 35.72% Weight of water retained in the root zone cbrresponding to PWP. Permanent wilting point = Weight of diy soll Tq = 01429 = 14.29% A Toam soil has a field capacity of 25 percent and wilting coefficient of 10%. The dry unit weight of eoil is L5g/ce. If the root zone depth is 60 cm, determine the storage capacity of the soi Irrigation water is applied when moisture content fallo to 15 percent. If the water application efficiency is 75%, determine the water depth required to be applied in the field. Sol. Given, Field capacity, FC = 25% ; Wilting coefficient, WC = 10% Dry unit wt. of soil,% = 1.5 gmlce ; Root zone depth, d = 60 em Water application efficieney = 75% Moisture storage capacity of soil in the root zine depth = eae wey Now, when moisture content falls to 15%, the deficiency of water depth created Pxd(025-019) 60% (0.25 0.10) = 13.5 em 60x (0.25-0.15)= 9 cui ‘Hence, the net irrigation requirement Net irrigation requirement __9 ‘Water depth required it the eld: =" Water spplication eficiency = 0.76 peo) ‘The following data pertains to healthy growth of @ crop: @ Field capacity of soil = 30% (i) Permanent wilting point : 11% (Gi) Density of soil = 1300 kg/m! (iu) Rfective depth of root zone ~ 700 mm ©) Daily consumptive use of water for the given crop = 12 mm For healthy growth moisture content must not fall below 25% of the water holding capacity between the field capacity and the permanent wilting point. Determine the watering interval in days, Sol. Given, Field capacity of soil (FC) = 30% ; Permanent wilting percentage (PWP) = 11% Density of soil, (yy) = 1300 kg/m’; Effective depth of root zone, (d) = 700 mm Daily consumptive use of water = 12 mim Determine water interval (T) in days Key : Moisture content does not fall below 2! Taras Si Re i] aie Comer‘SOIL-MOISTURE-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS 25 Since for healthy growth, ‘moisture content should not fall below 25% of the water holding’ capacity between the F.C and P.W.P. : e , e 15 58 ‘Therefore, readily available moisture =.75% of (F.C ~ PWP) = 355 *(0-30-.11)= 0,145 So, if the readily available: moisture is lost completely then we have to irrigate the crop 1300 Topp <0-7*0.1825 7, = 1000 kel) Depth of water lost = jhxdeloadily available moisture) 29.7130 mm Daily consumptive use = 12 mm Watering interval = Depth of water lost so as to start: next watering / Daily consumptive use Ap = 1088 days. So, watering should bo applied afer every 10 days (As the value has to be rounded off tothe nearect closer intoger. Although 1 is the closest integer of 10.83, but irrigation should be done before wilting sels up) Bm ‘A soil 50 cm deep over rock has two horizons, the first being a fine sandy loam 20 em thiek and the second clay loam 30 em thick. The field capacity, wilting point and weightWvolume for the first horizon are 20%, 10% and 1.5 gm/em* respectively. ‘The corresponding values for the second horizon are 25%, 13% and 1.2 gmlem’, Determine the available moisture storage capacity. of tho. soil profile. If consumptive use requirements of a erop in’a particular season is 0.5 mmfday and the soil is initially at field capacity, how long will the crop survive without irrigation: Sol. al soda $ | ee=206 WP =10% n= 15 gntent soll Chay 1 | roston pe i04 yeitenen’ 2 Moisture holding eapacity of first horizon = “=(.C-WP) x 20(0.2-0.1)= 3 em 12 Moisture holding capacity of second horizon = 7 30(0.25-0. 13) = 4.32 em Hence, Total max available moisture = 3 + 4.32 = 7.32 cm Consumptive use requirement of crop in a particular season = 0.5 mm/day = 0.05 cm/day Max. no. of days in which the entire stored moisture will be utilised ‘Absolute no. of days for which erop will survive 733 0.0 = Moisture storage capacity of the soil consumptive use 146.4 days Dies FE Ra So26 IRRIGATION ENGINEERING ‘A sandy loam soil holds watér at 140mm/m depth between fheld capacity and permanent wil point. The root depth of the crop is 30 cm and the allowable depletion of water is 35%. The dail ‘water use by the erop is § mim/day. The area to be irrigated is 60 ha and water can be delive tat 28 Lpa. The surface irrigation application efficiewey is 40%. There are nid rainfall and groun: ‘water contribution Determine: : : G) Allowable depletion depth between irrigations: i) Frequency of irrigation Gi’ Net application depth of water (iv) Volume of water required (0) ‘Time to irrigate 4 ha lot. G Sol. Given, Moisture holding capacity of soil (per metre depth of soil) = 140 mm Root depth of the crop = 30 em ; Allowable depletion of water 35% Daily water use by the eop = 5 mmniday ; Arua Lo by irrigated = 60 ha = 60 x10" m* Rate of delivery of water = 28 Ips_; Irrigation application efficiency = 40% i) Moisture storage capacity of soil = Depth of water stored in root zone 30. = 140 mm/m X root depth of erop = 140 ¥ +55 = 42 mm ‘ 35. Allowable depletion depth between itrigations = 7» 4: jon *42= 14.7 mm Allowable depletion depth between irrigations “= Daily water use by the erop (Gi) Net application depth = ee iv) Volume of water required = Area to be irrigated ¥ Net application depth’ of water = 60 x 10' x 36.75 x 10-9 = 22.05 x 10° m3 = 22.05 x 108 litres (v) Volume of water required to irrigate 4 ha plot 7 = 4X 10! x 96.75 x 105 = 147 x 103 m? ma Bo = 2.94 days 6.75 mm 1.47 10° litres Vol. of water required 1.4710" ‘Time to irrigate 4 ha plot = Tests of delivery of water 5.25 x 108 5 14.583 hes, an os ere 800 m* of water is applied to a farmer's rice field of 0.6 hectares. When the moisture content in the soll falls to 40% of the available water between the field capacity (36%) of soil and permanent wilting point (15%) of the soil crop combination, determine the field application efficiency. The root zone depth of rie is 60 em. Assume porosity = 0.4 Sol. Given, Water applied = 800m* ; Area (A) = 0.6 ha ; Field capacity(FC) = 36% Wilting point (WP) = 15% ; Root zone depth (d) = 60 em ; Porosity (n) = 0.4 We have defined Field Capacity mec. (F) as bag ES MASTER oa ae rgSOIL-MOISTURE-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS: 2 ‘Wicof water contained in a covtain volume of sil 7 = Wh ofthe same volume of dry sil (ewe of dry soll retaining thal ater) Ifa saturated soil contains volume equal to V, and the volume of its voids is V,, then the weight of water contained in this goil= y, . Vz where 7, is the unit wE: of ois with ai, given by 14. Vj whore 1: is the dry unit wl of th soil oN te 5 % . Pox] Frage 22 Maximum quantity of water stored between field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point ew) wa -(2) a. — where, d = root zone depth = 0.6 m (given) Deficiency of water created when irrigation is done = 60% * 0.14 m = 0.084 m {> irrigation water is applied'when me. falls to 40% of mc. available between F.C. and PW] Hence, irigation water is supplied to fill up 0.084 m depth of water. Vol. of irrigation-water required to Bill up the ereated deficiency 084 m x (0.6ha).= 0.084 m x (0.6 x 10,000)m? Actual irrigation water supplied = 800 m® LIL x 0.60 [0.36 ~ 0.15] = 0.14: 04m’. 63% Ans. Efficiency of field application 800 TRACTION PATTERN OF SOIL MOISTURE IN ROOT ZONE BY PLAN’ Ete ‘Moisture extraction pattern shows the'relative amounts of moisture extracted by plant roots from different depths in the root zone. Extraction of Soll Moisture t 40% Bitotive 0% Root zone depth D ox | | ~ {+ [kmay be abserved that about 40% of toa moisture usd is extrac quarter 30% fiom the 2nd quarter. 20% from the Srd-quarter & only. 10% from the last quarter. +The larger extraction of moisture from the upper layers is due to the fact that in a uniform scl gencrallv greater toot develmament takes place in the unperlavers ofthe sil than elsewhere + Ina layered soil, the moisture available per unit depth varies and hence the extraction pattern ‘and the root development vary from the one in a uniform soil| 28 IRRIGATION ENGINEERING CEE et ake maar eee e Met ‘The various methods adopted to maintain the fertility of a soil are as follows. (1) By keeping the land fallow: If the land is kept fallow, (Le, it is let uncultivated for one or ‘more crop seasons) then the soil is allowed to recover w.rt. the nutrients which are deficient and thus regain its fertility. (2) Addition of manure and fertilizers: Ifthe soil is deficient in some nutrients then by adding manure as well as fertilizers the daficiency is removed and the fertility of the soil is improved. (8) Crop rotation . + Crop rotation means changing the crops to be grown every year in the same field. In other words, it is a process of growing different crops in rotation in the same field, + If the came erop ie grown every yoar in any ficld then since the same type of nutrienls are consumed the soil becomes deficient in these nutrients, + On the other hand, if different crops are grown in the same field then since different crops require different nutrients and in different proportions a balanced utilization of the nutrients results and the soil does not become deficient in particular type of nutrients. ‘+ Moreover, if a soil becomes deficient in some of the nutrients by a certain crop grown in the field then itis allowed to recoup when next time a different crop is grown in the same field + Different crops have different depths of the root zone. Thus by combining deep rooted crops and shallow rooted crops in the rotation of crops the optimum utilization df the nutrients available in the soil is made. (@ Mixed Cropping + Mixed Cropping is defined as the growing of two or more craps together in the sane field during the same crop season. eg., Wheat and mustard or gram and barley may be grown simultaneously in the same field: + In mixed cropping, the optimum utilization of the nutrients available in the soil is made. meee cee Water containing impurities, which are injurious to plant growth, is not satisfactory for irrigation. The quality of suitable irrigation watr is very much influenced by the constituents ofthe soil which is to be irrigated. The various types of impurities, present in water that makes it unfit for irrigation, are classified (Q) Sediment concentration in water (2) Total concentration of soluble salts in water (3) Proportion of sodium ions to other cations (4) Concentration of potentially toxic elements present in.water (5) Bicarbonate concentration a5 related to the concentration of calcium plus magnesium, (6) Bacterial contamination. (1) Sediment concentration ‘esent in the irrigation water depends upon the type of irrigated land. When is deposited on sandy soils, the fertility is improved. On the other hand, ‘The effect of sediment fine sediment feom water bagi e Sasrer Wile ers ramsey ee‘SOIL-MOISTURE-PLANT RELATIONSHIPS 29 if the sediment has been derived from.the eroded areas, it may reduce the fertility or decrease the soil permeability. @) Total concentration of soluble salts Salts-of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium, present in the irrigation water may prove injurious fa planta, When present in excessive quantities, they reduce the osmotic acutes ofthe plants, and may prevent adequate aeration, causing injuries to plant growth. The effects of salts on. plant growth depend largely upon the total amount of salts present in the soil solution. The salinity concentration of the soil solution (C_) after the consumptive water (C,) has been extracted from the soil, is given by CQ C= fae, Ry where, Q = The quantity of water applied ; C, = Consuinptive use of water, R, = Effective rainfall or useful rainfall ; C, -R, = Used up irrigation water © = Concentration of salt in irrigation water ; CQ = Total salt applied to soil with Q amount of irrigation water. + The salt concentration is generally expressed by ppm_or by mgil, both units being equal. + The critical salt concentration in the irrigation water in excess of 700 ppm are harmful to some plants, and more than 2000 ppm are injurious to all crops. + The salt concentration is generally measured hy determining the electrical conductivity of water, Salt concentration and electrical conductivity are directly proportional to each other, + Bloctrical conductivity is expressed in micro mhos ner centimetre Electrical conductivity Fi at 25°C in m mhos! cm on no e Low salinity Can be used for alll gous water (C,) ‘crops Medium salinity Cant be used if icone water (C,) leaching is done High salt tolerant plant 750-2250 ee, can be grown with special ) _ |moasures to control salinity > Very high walinity ‘i | 2250 a Not suitable for irrigation (8) Proportion of sodium ions to other cations + The percentage of the sodium ions is generally less than 5% of the total exchangeable cations. + If this percentage increases to about 10% or more, the aggregation of soil grains breaks down ‘The soil becomes less permeable and of poorer tilth. It starts erusting when dry and its pH increases towards that of an alkaline soil + High sodium soils are, therefore. plastic. sticky when wet, and are prone to form clads, and (Ge Fal LES MASTER ice Fi haw Swe TE