SSAC-111 Fundamental of soil Science
SOIL WATER
Retention of Water by Soil
The soils hold water (moisture) due to their colloidal properties and
aggregation qualities. The water is held on the surface of the colloids and
other particles and in the pores. The forces responsible for retention of water
in the soil after the drainage has stopped are due to surface tension and
surface attraction and are called surface moisture tension. This refers to the
energy concept in moisture retention relationships. The force with which
water is held is also termed as suction.
The water retained in the soil by following ways
1. Cohesion and adhesion forces
These two basic forces are responsible for water retention in the soil.
One is the attraction of molecules for each other i.e.,cohesion.
The other is the attraction of water molecules for the solid surface of
soil i.e. adhesion. By adhesion, solids (soil) hold water molecules
rigidly at their soil-water interfaces. These water molecules in turn
hold by cohesion. Together, these forces make it possible for the soil
solids to retain water.
Fig.Adhesion&Cohesion
2. Surface tension
This phenomenon is commonly evidenced at water-air
interfaces. Water behaves as if its surface is covered
with a stretched elastic membrane. At the surface, the
attraction of the air for the water molecules is much
less than that of water molecules for each other.
Consequently, there is a net downward force on the
surface molecules, resulting in sort of a compressed
film(membrane) at the surface. This phenomenon is
called surface tension.
3. Polarity or Dipole character
The retention of water molecules on the surface of clay micelle is
based on the dipole character of the molecule of water. The
water molecules are held by electrostatic force that exists on
the surface of colloidal particles. By virtue of their dipole
character and under the influence of electrostatic forces, the
molecules of water get oriented (arranged) on the surface of
the clay particles in a particular manner.
Each water molecules carries both negative and positive
charges.the hydrogen end of a water molecule is possitive while
oxygen end is negative.this account for the polarity of water the
clay particle is negatively charged.
Water work in soil
Weathering and transformation of rocks and
minerals.
Improved of soil structure.
Development of soil and soil profile.
Important role in reclamation of usar and acid
soil .
Maintaning of soil temperature.
Methods of expressing suctions
There are two units to express differences in energy levels of soil
water.
PF Scale: The free energy is measured in terms of the height of a
column of water required to produce necessary suction or pressure
difference at a particular soil moisture level. The pF, therefore,
represents the logarithm of the height of water column (cm) to give
the necessary suction.
Atmospheres or Bars: It is another common mean of expressing
suction. Atmosphere is the average air pressure at sea level.
1Atmospher = 1.0133 bar
= 766 mm
1Atm = 1000 cm of water
= 14.7 lb/ sq inch
1 bar= 1023 cm of water =0.987 atm
Physical classification of soil water
Physical forces and the mode of retention soil water may be
divided into 3 categores.
1. Gravitational water: Gravitational water occupies the
larger soil pores (macro pores) and moves down readily
under the force of gravity. Water in excess of the field
capacity is termed gravitational water. Gravitational water is
of no use to plants because it occupies the larger pores. It
reduces aeration in the soil. Thus, its removal from soil is a
requisite for optimum plant growth. Soil moisture tension
at gravitational state is zero or less than 1/3 atmosphere.
Factors affecting gravitational water
1. Texture: Plays a great role in controlling the rate of movement
of gravitational water. The flow of water is proportional to the
size of particles. The bigger the particle, the more rapid is the
flow or movement. Because of the larger size of pore, water
percolates more easily and rapidly in sandy soils than in clay
soils.
2. Structure: It also affects gravitational water. In platy structure
movement of gravitational water is slow and water stagnates in
the soil. Granular and crumby structure helps to improve
gravitational water movement. In clay soils having single grain
structure, the gravitational water, percolates more slowly.
2. Capillary water
Capillary water is held in the capillary pores (micro pores).
Capillary water is retained on the soil particles by surface
forces. It is held so strongly that gravity cannot remove it
from the soil particles. The molecules of capillary water
are free and mobile and are present in a liquid state. Due
2
to this reason, it evaporates easily at ordinary temperature
though it is held firmly by the soil particle; plant roots are
able to absorb it. Capillary water is, therefore, known as
available water. The capillary water is held between 1/3
and 31 atmosphere pressure.
Factors affecting capillary water
1.Soil texture: The finer the texture of a soil, greater is
the amount of capillary water holds. This is mainly
due to the greater surface area and a greater
number of micro pores.
2.Soil structure: Platy structure contains more water
than granular structure.
3.Organic matter: The presence of organic matter
helps to increase the capillary capacity of a soil.
Organic matter itself has a great capillary capacity.
3.Hygroscopic water
The water that held tightly on the surface of soil colloidal
particle is known as hygroscopic water. It is essentially non-
liquid and moves primarily in the vapour form.Hygroscopic
water held so tenaciously (31 to 10000 atmospheres) by
soil particles that plants can not absorb it.
Factors affecting hygroscopic water: The amount of clay and
also its nature influences the amount of hygroscopic water.
Clay minerals of the montmorillonite type with their large
surface area adsorb more water than those of the kaolinite
type, while illite minerals are intermediate.
Soil Moisture Constants
Earlier classification divided soil water into gravitational, capillary and
hygroscopic water. The hygroscopic and capillary waters are in
equilibrium with the soil under given condition. The amount of water
that a soil contains at each of these equilibrium points is known as
soil moisture constant.following are the soil moisture constants.
1. Field capacity: It is the capacity of the soil to retain water against the
downward pull of the force of gravity. At this stage only micropores or
capillary pores are filled with water and plants absorb water for their
use. At field capacity water is held with a force of 1/3 atmosphere.
Water at field capacity is readily available to plants and
microorganism.
2.Wilting coefficient
A point is reached when the water is so firmly held by
the soil particles that plant roots are unable to draw
it. The plant begins to wilt. At this stage even if the
plant is kept in a saturated atmosphere it does not
regain its turgidity and wilts unless water is applied
to the soil. The stage at which this occurs is termed
the Wilting point and the percentage amount of
water held by the soil at this stage is known as the
Wilting Coefficient. It represents the point at which
the soil is unable to supply water to the plant. Water
at wilting coefficient is held with a force of 15
atmospheres.
3.Available water capacity
Available water capacity is the maximum amount of
plant available water a soil can provide. It is an
indicator of a soil's ability to retain water and make
it sufficiently available for plant use. Available water
capacity is the water held in soil between its
field capacity and permanent wilting point.The
available water is the difference in the amount of
water at field capacity (- 0.3 bar) and the amount of
water at the permanent wilting point (- 15 bars).
4.Hygroscopic coefficient
The hygroscopic coefficient is the maximum
amount of hygroscopic water absorbed by 100
g of dry soil under standard conditions of
humidity (50% relative humidity) and
temperature (15°C). This tension is equal to a
force of 31 atmospheres. Water at this tension
is not available to plant but may be available
to certain bacteria.
Entry of Water into Soil
1. Infiltration: Infiltration refers to the downward entry or movement of
water into the soil surface. It is a surface characteristic and hence
primarily influenced by the condition of the surface soil. Soil surface
with vegetative cover has more infiltration rate than bare soil. Warm
soils absorb more water than colder ones. Coarse surface texture,
granular structure and high organic matter content in surface soil, all
help to increase infiltration. Infiltration rate is comparatively lower in
wet soils than dry soils.it is express as mm/hr.
Factors affecting infiltration
1. Clay minerals 2. Soil Texture 3 Soil structure 4.Moisture content
5.Vegetative cover 6.Topography.
2.Percolation
The movement of water through a column of soil is called
percolation. It is important for two reasons.
(i) This is the only source of recharge of ground water which can be
used through wells for irrigation
(ii) Percolating waters carry plant nutrients down and often out of
reach of plant roots (leaching)
Percolation is dependent of rainfall. In dry region it is negligible and
under high rainfall it is high. Sandy soils have greater percolation
than clayey soil. Vegetation and high water table reduce the
percolation loss
3.Permeability
It indicates the relative ease of movement of
water with in the soil. The characteristics that
determine how fast air and water move
through the soil are known as permeability.
The term hydraulic conductivity is also used
which refers to the readiness with which a soil
transmits fluids through it. it is express is
inch/hour.
Soil Water Movement
(i) Saturated Flow
(ii) Unsaturated Flow
(iii) Water Vapour Movement
Saturated flow: This occurs when the soil pores are completely filled with
water. This water moves at water potentials larger than – 33 k Pa.
Saturated flow is water flow caused by gravity’s pull. It begins with
infiltration, which is water movement into soil when rain or irrigation
water is on the soil surface. When the soil profile is wetted, the movement
of more water flowing through the wetted soil is termed percolation.
Hydraulic conductivity can be expressed mathematically as
V = kf
Where,
V = Total volume of water moved per unit time
f = Water moving force
k = Hydraulic conductivity of soil
Factors affecting movement of water
• Texture
• Structur
• Amount of organic matter.
• Amount of water in the soil
• Temperature
• Pressure
(ii)unsaturated flow
Soil pores contain some air as well as water is called
unsaturated soil.the soil macro pores are mostly filled with
air and the micro pores with water and some air.
(iii)Water vapour movement- there are two type of water
vapour movement.
(a) Internal movement -The change from the liquid to the
vapour stets takes place within the soil.
(b)External movement- occurs at the land surface and the
resulting vapour is lost to the atmostpher by diffusion and
Convection. (surface evaporation)
