Lec.

9, Soil
moisture and
hydrology

Course Title: Soil

Plant Relationship
Course Code: BOT- 805
Credit Hour: 3(2-1)
Dr. Abida Kausar
Incharge
Department of Botany
GCWUF
 SOIL
 Soil is a natural body that consists of layers (soil
horizons), composed primarily of minerals ,
 which differ from their parent materials in their
texture, structure, consistency, color, chemical,
biological and other physical characteristics.
 Soil is the end product of the influence of the
climate (temperature, precipitation), relief (slope),
organisms (flora and fauna), parent materials
(original minerals), temperature, and time.
 Soil Moisture
 Soil moisture is the water that is
held in the spaces between soil
particles.
 Surface soil moisture is the water
that is in the upper 10cm of soil
 whereas root zone soil moisture is
the water that is available to plants,
which is generally considered to be
in the upper 200 cm of soil.
 Soil Moisture
 Soil Moisture Estimation
 Direct method: Measurement of
moisture content in the soil (wetness)
 Indirect methods: Measurement of
water potential or stress or tension
under which water is held by the soil.
 Moisture may be present as
adsorbed moisture at internal
surfaces and as capillary
condensed water in small pores
Classification of Soil Moisture
Water is retained by
the soil particles (on
their surface)
especially colloidal
particles and the pore
spaces by the force of
adhesion and
cohesion. It can be
classified as
Importance of Soil Moisture

 Used by plants for:

i. Transpiration.
ii. Absorption of nutrients.
iii. Cell turgidity.
iv. Tissue Metabolism.
v. Agent in many soil processes.
Soil Hydrology
5
Refrences

 https://coessing.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/soil-moist
ure-presentation.pdf
 https://site/cropsoilandwaterquality/home/leachm-n-mo
delling