SOIL SCIENCE 1

(Principles of Soil
Science)

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
OF SOILS
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Depth
a. Depth of individual horizons
b. Depth of solum
- A+B Horizons
c. Depth of regolith
- A+B+C Horizons
d. Effective depth - the maximum depth plant roots can
readily penetrate without encountering a restrictive soil
layer.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Soil Texture
- Soil texture is the relative proportion of the
three soil textural fractions or soil separates
namely sand, silt and clay in a given soil.
 IMPORTANCE OF SOIL TEXTURE
Texture influence property that directly affects plant
growth:
a. Nutrient supplying power
B. Water holding capacity
C. Infiltration rate- downward entry of water into soil
or rock surface.
D. Percolation rate- flow of water through soil and
porous fractured rock.
E. Soil tilth- suitability of soil for planting and growing
crops
F. Soil aeration - the exchange of gases between the
soil and the atmosphere
G. Drainage
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

PROPERTIES OF SOIL SEPARATES

Sand

Sand is the largest of the mineral particles.

Sand particles create large pore spaces that
improve aeration. Water flows through the
large pore spaces quickly. Soils with a high
percentage of sand are generally well drained.
Sandy soils lack the ability to hold nutrients
and are not fertile. Sandy soils also feel gritty
to the touch.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

PROPERTIES OF SOIL SEPARATES

Silt

Silt is the mid-size soil particle. Silt has good

water-holding ability and good fertility
characteristics. It feels like flour when dry and
smooth like velvet when moist.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

PROPERTIES OF SOIL SEPARATES

Clay

Clay is the smallest size soil particle. Clay has

the ability to hold both nutrients and water
that can be used by plants. It creates very
small pore spaces, resulting in poor aeration
and poor water drainage. Clay forms hard
clumps when dry and is sticky when wet.
 SIZES OF SOIL SEPARATES
RECOGNIZED BY USDA AND ISSS
Diameter limits (mm)
Soil Separate USDA ISSS
Sand 2.0 – 0.05 2.0 – 0.02
Very Coarse Sand 2.0 -1.0
Coarse Sand 1.0 – 0.5 2.0 – 0.20
Medium Sand 0.5 – 0.25
Fine Sand 0.25 – 0.10 0.20 – 0.02
Very fine Sand 0.10 – 0.05
Silt 0.05 - 0.002 0.02 – 0.002
Clay < 0.002 <0.002
 SIZES OF SOIL SEPARATES
RECOGNIZED BY USDA AND ISSS
Diameter limits (mm)
Soil Separate USDA ISSS
Sand 2.0 – 0.05 2.0 – 0.02
Silt 0.05 - 0.002 0.02 – 0.002
Clay < 0.002 <0.002

Soil particles ≤ 2 mm
gravel > 2mm–3 in
pebble > 3–10 in
cobble > 10–24 in ROCK FRAGMENTS
boulders > 24 in
 GENERALIZED CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SOIL SEPARATES
RATING
Characteristics Sand Silt Clay
Water holding capacity Low Medium to high High
➢ Ability to hold water
Aeration Good Moderate Poor
➢ Exchange of gases
Drainage rate High Slow to Very slow
medium
➢ Removal of excess water
Compactibility Low Medium High
➢ Susceptibility to compaction
Ability to store plant nutrient Poor Medium to high High
➢ CEC and AEC
Resistance to pH changes Low Medium High
➢ Buffering capacity
Total surface area (TSA) Low Medium High
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

METHOD OF DETERMINING SOIL TEXTURE:

1. FEEL METHOD

One can determine soil texture by simply

moistening the soil and then working it
between the thumb and the forefinger.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

1. FEEL METHOD

Sand feels gritty

Silt feels floury powdery – smooth when wet
Clay – very powdery when dry, very sticky when
wet
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

METHOD OF DETERMINING SOIL TEXTURE:

2. ROLL METHOD
Involves moistening of one
teaspoonful of pulverized soil
sample and kneading thoroughly
until the moist sample can be
shaped easily into a ball. The
kneaded soil will then be rolled in
between the palm to form soil
wire.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

METHOD OF DETERMINING SOIL TEXTURE:

3. MECHANICAL ANALYSIS

This is the determination of

the amount of each soil
separate (%sand, %silt and %
clay) in a given soil mass.
 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OR MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS
1. SIEVE METHOD

This is a common practical method of

separation for sand particles. It is mechanically
separate out the very fine sand and larger
particles from the finer particles.
It is simply the discrete soil separates
remaining on given sieve belong to the separate
whose size is between the size of opening of the
sieve and the one above it.
 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OR MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS
1. SIEVE METHOD

% sand = (weight of sand/ total weight) x 100

% silt = (weight of silt / total weight) x 100

% clay = (weight of clay / total weight) x 100

1. SIEVE METHOD
 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OR MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS
2. SEDIMENTATION METHOD
Wherein a medium adopts a particles can
settle in the suspension
The law of Stoke’s Law the settlement rigid
spherical particles in suspension separates where
terminal velocity of particle in related to particle
diameter
V= kd² v= velocity or rate of fall (cm/min)
k= constant (cm/mm2-min)
d = diameter (mm)
 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OR MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS

2.a. PIPETTE METHOD

Uses a volumetric
pipette to obtain samples of
samples of the soil suspension
from fixed depth at various
times of sedimentation.
 PARTICLE SIZE ANALYSIS OR MECHANICAL
ANALYSIS
2.b. HYDROMETER METHOD

Uses of calibrated
hydrometer to determine the
amount of suspended soil
particles or density of the soil
suspension at different times.
 2.b. HYDROMETER METHOD

FORMULAS: CHR = Corrected hydrometer reading

Weight of soil = 50g
 GENERAL TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE
SOIL TEXTURE IN RELATION TO BASIC
TEXTURAL CLASS NAMES
Common Amount Texture Basic soil texture
names of soil class names
separate
Sandy >70% Coarse Sands, Loamy sands
Soils sand
Moderately coarse Sandy Loam, Fine
sandy loam
Loamy = % sand Medium Very fine sandy loam,
Soils , silt and Loam, Silt loam, Silt
clay Moderately fine Sandy clay loam,
Silty loam, Clay loam
Clayey >40% Fine Sand clay, Silty clay,
soils Clay
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Soil Structure
- Soil Structure describes the
arrangement of primary soil
particles (sand, silt and clay) into
secondary particles units or
aggregates.
Ped – an aggregate formed
through natural process.
Clod – an aggregate formed
through external forces.
 CONDITIONS THAT SHOULD BE MET FOR A
SOIL TO HAVE STRUCTURE
1. There should be aggregation
2. There is a definite pattern of arrangement

*If any of the two conditions is not met, soil is

structureless
 BASED FOR THE CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL
STRUCTURE
A. Shape of aggregates - Types of soil structure

B. Size of aggregates - Classes of soil structure

C. Durability of aggregates - Grades of soil

structure
 STRUCTURELESS SOIL
a. SINGLE GRAINED -
Typically represented by sandy
soil.

b. MASSIVE - Represented by
paddy soil and compacted soil.
 TYPES OF STRUCTURE
a. BLOCKLIKE
• soil particles cling Angular blocky
together in nearly square or structure
angular block having more or
less sharp edges
• Relatively large blocks
indicate that the soil resists
penetration and movement of
water.
• Commonly found in the
B-horizon where clays has
accumulated (humid regions).
 TYPES OF STRUCTURE
a. SPHEROIDAL

• Individual particles of sand, silt and clay

grouped together in small, nearly spherical grains.
• Water circulates very easily through such soils
• Commonly found in the A-horizon of the
arable soil.

(i) Granular – The granules are relatively less

porous. (ii) Crumb – The granules are especially
porous.
CRUMB GRANULAR
 TYPES OF STRUCTURE
a. PLATELIKE

• Usually found in middle

soil layer
• Large, thin, plate-like
peds arranged in overlapping horizontal layers
• Discontinuous pores reduce penetration of air,
roots and water moves laterally
• Can occur in upper soil layer due to
compaction topsoil crushed into thin layers
• Commonly found in forest soils, in part of the
A-horizon, and in claypan soils
a. PRISMLIKE
• Soil particles have formed into vertical columns
or pillars separated by miniature, but definite, vertical
cracks
• Water circulates with greater difficult and
drainage is poor
• Commonly found in the B-horizon of soils in
arid to semi-arid regions
 GRADES OF SOIL STRUCTURE
0 - Structur No aggregation or orderly arrangement
e-less
1 - Weak Poorly formed, nondurable, indistinct peds
breaking into a mixture of a few entire and
many broken peds and much unaggregated
materials
2 - Moderat Well formed, indistinct in undisturbed soil
e that breaks into many entire and some
broken but little unaggregated materials
3 - Strong Durable distinct peds, weakly attached to
each other that breaks almost completely
into entire peds.
 CLASSES OF SOIL
STRUCTURE
CLASSES TYPE OF SOIL STRUCTURE
OF SOIL
STRUC-
Platy Prismlike Blocklike Spheroidal
TURE
Very fine < 1 mm < 10 mm < 5 mm < 1 mm

Fine 1-2 mm 10 – 20 mm 5 – 10 mm 1-2 mm

Medium 2 – 5 mm 20 – 50 mm 10 – 20 mm 2 – 5 mm

Coarse 5 – 10 mm 50 – 100 20 – 50 mm 5 – 10 mm
mm
Very coarse >10 mm > 100 mm > 50 mm > 10 mm
 HOW TO DESCRIBE THE SOIL STRUCTURE?
- First identify the grade, followed by class and then
the type of soil structure.

- For example, the soil have:

Grade : 3
Aggregate size = 8 mm
Blocky structure

- It described as a soil with strong, fine blocky

structure.
 IMPORTANCE OF SOIL STRUCTURE TO
PLANTS
- Soil structure would determine the
distribution of pore spaces in the soil which
in turn would influence air and water
movement within the soil
- Soil structure would affect the bacterial
activities such as nitrification and
mineralization processes.
 FORMATION OF SOIL AGGREGATES
- Genesis of soil structure involves the causes
and methods of formation of the structural
units or aggregates. Formation of soil structure
is flocculation plus other consolidation
process.
1. Clay particles 5. Cultivation
2. Alternate wetting and drying 6. Biological Factors
3. Swelling and shrinking 7. Chemical Factors
4. Freezing/thawing
CEMENTING AGENT FOR AGGREGATION
- ORGANIC MATTER
o Binds, lightens and expands soil
aggregates

- LIME
o Encourages aggregation by bringing
together tiny soil particles especially fine clay
into small clumps or granules.
CEMENTING AGENT FOR AGGREGATION
- MICROBIAL GUMS
o Viscous microbial products that
encourage and stabilize crumb development

- FINE CLAY
o Bridges primary soil particles into
granules
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Soil Consistency
- Soil consistency is the physical condition of a
soil at given water content. This term is also
used to designate the manifestation of the
physical forces of cohesion and adhesion
acting within the soil at various moisture
contents. In Other words, the idea is to define
how consistent a body can remain under stress,
or to what extent it can maintain its shape when
subjected to forces tending to cause
deformation.
 FORMS OF SOIL CONSISTENCY
- HARSH CONSISTENCY
o When soil is dry. When dry, a soil body is likely to be
relatively hard and brittle and exhibit a high degree of
cohesiveness for internal cementation and a high resistance
to tillage.

- FRIABLE CONSISTENCY
o When soil is moist (not dry, nearly saturated
condition). When tilled, soil tends to crumble easily and
form a loose assemblage of relatively small soft clods. This
is the soil is near “optimal wetness” for tillage and prescribe
the physical condition of the soil suitable foe plowing.
 FORMS OF SOIL CONSISTENCY
- PLASTIC CONSISTENCY
o When the soil is molding to any shape without
breaking. The soil worked, instead of crumbling into clods,
its tends to be molded (puddled) into lumps, which upon
drying to become extremely hard.

- STICKY CONSISTENCY
o When the soil is almost saturated by water. The soil
becomes a muddy paste.

- VISCOUS CONSISTENCY
o When the soil is more than saturated by water. The
soil becomes paddy soil.
Plasticity index (P.I.) is defined as the
difference between the liquid and plastic
limits.

- It is generally taken as an indication of a

soil’s clayeyness or potential plasticity.
Plasticity index (P.I.)
P.I. Soil characteristics Textural Cohesiveness
class
0 Non-plastic & non- Sand Cohesiveless
cohesive
1-6 Low plasticity Silt Partly cohesive

7-17 Medium plasticity Silty clay & Cohesive

clay
loam
> 17 Highly plastic Clay Very cohesive
 IMPORTANCE AND USE OF SOIL
CONSISTENCY
• Soil consistency coupled with soil texture
tells us both the types and amount of clay
present in the soil
• Knowledge on the properties exhibited by
various types of clay and the amount of the
clay in the soil, would serve as a sound basis
for making management decision.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS
Soil Color
- Color is one of the most obvious characteristics of
soil and one that is probably more frequently used
to describe soil than any other soil color has no
different effect on plant growth but an indirect one
through its effect on temperature and moisture.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL COLOR
INDICATOR OF SOIL PRODUCTIVITY

Dark Soil – high organic matter

- More productive

Red Soil – old and infertile

- Less productive
 SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL COLOR
INDICATOR OF PARENT MATERIAL
• Dark-colored minerals many give rise to
dark-colored soils while light-colored
minerals may also give rise to light-colored
soil.

Biotite (Black mica) Hematite

SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL COLOR
INDICATOR OF PARENT MATERIAL

Major forms of Iron effect on soil color

Form Chemical Color
Formula
Ferrous oxide FeO Gray
Hematite Fe2O3 Red
Limonite 2Fe2O3.3H2O Yellow
 SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL COLOR
INDICATOR OF DRAINAGE
CONDITION

• Uniform soil color throughout the horizon

would indicate good drainage condition
• Mottle – spots or blotches of different color
would indicate poor drainage problem.
- Cause by alternate reproduction and
oxidation with seasonal fluctuation of water
table.
 Soil pit with
mottles dug to a
depth of 1.2m
(Source: H.
Moore)
 COLOR AND SOIL INTERNAL DRAINAGE

Well-drained - no mottle within one meter from

the surface
Moderately some mottles between 60 to 100
well-drained cm
Somewhat mottles between 30 to 100 cm
poorly drained -
Poorly drained - mottles in or immediately beneath
A or Ap horizon
Very poorly gleyed soil; bluish-gray colored
drained - soil
 SIGNIFICANCE OF SOIL COLOR
INDICATOR OF CLIMATIC CONDITION
• In mature soil, color is indicator of the climate
in which they developed
• A warm climate brings about red soil color
especially if the soils are well drained
• Light color is frequently the result of leaching
of iron from soil and nutrient.
 DETERMINATION OF SOIL COLOR
• A method that is favored by many soil specialists
is direct comparison of the soil with chips of
standard colors. The MUNSELL SOIL COLOR
CHART (Kohnke, 1968).

(Adapted from Brady

and Weil, 1996)
THREE FACTORS
COMPONENTS OF
MUNSELL SOIL
COLOR CHART
DETERMINATION OF SOIL COLOR
HUE

• Refers to the dominant spectral color

and is related to wavelength of light. The
hue notation of a color indicates its
relation to red, yellow, green, blue and
purple.
DETERMINATION OF SOIL COLOR
VALUE

• Expresses apparent lightness or darkness of

the color. It refers to the gradation of white
or black.

CHROMA

• The gradation of purity of color or the

intensity or brightness of a color.
Hue

Value

Chroma
 COLORING AGENTS IN SOIL
ORGANIC MATTER (Carbon)

• Very strong coloring agent

• Makes soil dark or black in color

COMPOUND AND ELEMENTS

• Well aerated iron oxides (rust) coat particles, soil

particles appear to be yellowish brown to reddish in
color
 OPTIMUM CONDITIONS FOR
READING SOIL COLOR

• Natural Light
• Clear sunny day
• Light at right angles
• Soil is moist
• No sunglasses
• Not color blind
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

SOIL DENSITIES, POROSITY AND VOID

RATIO
Soil density is a density of an object relates to the
ratio of its weight to its volume. For soil which has 4
major components, each exhibits volumes and
masses. Two types of densities are obtained
depending to which volume of the soil is used in
calculation.
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

It is expressed as:
 = M/V
Where:
M is the mass of a substance
V is the volume of a substance
 - density
VOLUME AND WEIGHT PARAMETERS
A. PARTICLE DENSITY

• Ratio of the mass of dry soil or soil solid

(mineral +organic matter) to its volume (soil
solid)
Formula: p = Ms/Vs
Where:
Ms – mass of dry soil (soil solid)
Vs - volume of soil solid
p – particle density
Ideal/optimal particle density value: 2.66 g/cm³
 FACTORS AFFECTING PARTICLE
DENSITY
1. ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT
• The higher the organic matter content, the lighter
the soil hence, the lower the particle density value

2. MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION OF THE

SOIL
• Soils formed from heavy minerals would most like
high particle density while soil formed from light
mineral would have low particle density value.
B. BULK DENSITY

• Ratio of the mass of soil solid to its total

volume (solid + pore spaces)
Formula: b = Ms/Vt
Where:
b– bulk density
Ms – mass of dry soil (soil solid)
Vt - total or bulk volume
= Vs + Vp
• Ideal/optimal bulk density value: 1:33 g/cm³
 METHODS DETERMINING OF BULK
DENSITY
CLOD METHOD
• Is calculated from their mass and volume. The volume
is determined by coating the clod with a water-
repellent substance and again while immersed in a
liquid of known density.

CORE METHOD
• Is used when coarse fragments occupy less than 25%
by volume. At site with lots of coarse particles and
roots.
 FACTORS AFFECTING BULK DENSITY
ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT
• Bulk density decrease with increase organic
matter content. The low bulk density of soil having
high organic matter content is attributed.

1.a. very light weight of organic matter as compared to

organic materials
2.a. granulating effect of organic matter that increases
soil porosity.
 FACTORS AFFECTING BULK DENSITY
MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SOIL
• Soils formed from heavy minerals have high bulk
density whereas soils derived from light minerals have
low bulk density.

SOIL POROSITY
• Bulk density decrease with increasing porosity of the
soil.
 FACTORS AFFECTING BULK DENSITY
MINERALOGICAL COMPOSITION OF THE SOIL
• Soils formed from heavy minerals have high bulk
density whereas soils derived from light minerals have
low bulk density.

SOIL POROSITY
• Bulk density decrease with increasing porosity of the
soil.
C. POROSITY

• Total porosity is a portion of the soil

not occupied by solid components and
filled up by water and gases.
 CLASSIFICATION OF PORE SPACES
1. COARSE PORES
• Pore widths > 10 um
• Function for air and water movement

2. MEDIUM PORES
• Pore widths of 0.2 to 10 um
• Act as storage for the available water

3. FINE OR SMALL PORES

• Pore widths < 0.2 um
• Retain water very strongly
Formula:
% PS Where:
= Vp / Vt x 100 PS – pore space
= 100 - %solid Vs - volume of soil
solid
= 100 - [(b / p) x 100] Vp – volume of pore
spaces
= [1 – (b / p) ] x 100 Vt – total volume

% solid
= Vs / Vt x100
= 100 - %PS
= b/p x 100
D. VOID RATIO (e)

• Ratio of the void volume (Vp) to the volume of soil solids

(Vs)

Formula:
e = Vp / Vs If e = 1; Vp = Vs Ideal soil
= % PS / % solid If e > 1; Vp > Vs Soil is porous
= p /b -1 If e < 1; Vp < Vs Soil is
compact
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

SOIL WATER/MOISTURE
IMPORTANCE OF WATER

• Universal Solvent
• Nutrient itself
• Carrier of nutrients
• Stabilizer the soil temperature
PROPERTIES OF WATER
• Water is a simple compound, its individual
molecules containing one oxygen atom and two
hydrogen atoms.
POLARITY
• Explains how water molecules relate to each
other. Each water molecules does act completely
independent but rather is coupled with other
neighboring molecules.
HYDROGEN BONDING
• Phenomenon by which hydrogen atoms acts as
connecting linkages between water molecules.
COHESION AND ADHESION
• One attraction between like (cohesion) and the
other is attraction between unlike molecules
(adhesion). By adhesion, soil particles hold water
molecules that in turn hold other water
molecules by cohesion.

SURFACE TENSION
• Commonly evidenced at liquid-air interface and
results from the greater attraction of water
molecules for each other than for the air above.
COHESION AND ADHESION
• One attraction between like (cohesion) and the
other is attraction between unlike molecules
(adhesion). By adhesion, soil particles hold water
molecules that in turn hold other water
molecules by cohesion.

SURFACE TENSION
• Commonly evidenced at liquid-air interface and
results from the greater attraction of water
molecules for each other than for the air above.
 TWO ASPECT OF SOIL WATER
1. Soil Water Content
• Capacity factor
• How much water is present

2. Energy status of soil water

• Intensity factor
• How easy can water be removed

SOIL WATER CONTENT

• Amount of water present in the soil.
EXPRESSION OF SOIL WATER CONTENT
EXPRESSION OF SOIL WATER CONTENT
EXPRESSION OF SOIL WATER CONTENT
EXPRESSION OF SOIL WATER CONTENT
 Entry of water into the soil
THE INFILTRATION PROCESS

• When rain or irrigation water is supplied to a field, it

seeps into the soil. This process is called infiltration.

• Infiltration can be visualized by pouring water into a

glass filled with dry powdered soil, slightly tamped.
The water seeps into the soil; the colour of the soil
becomes darker as it is wetted
 Entry of water into the soil
THE INFILTRATION RATE

• The infiltration rate of a soil is the velocity at which

water can seep into it.
• It is commonly measured by the depth (in mm) of
the water layer that the soil can absorb in an hour.
• An infiltration rate of 15 mm/hour means that a
water layer of 15 mm on the surface of the soil, will
take one hour to infiltrate
 Entry of water into the soil
A range of values for infiltration rates is given below:
 Entry of water into the soil
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INFILTRATION
RATE

• The infiltration rate of a soil depends on factors that

are constant, such as the soil texture.

• It also depends on factors that vary, such as the soil

moisture content.
 Entry of water into the soil
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INFILTRATION
RATE
i. Soil Texture
• Coarse textured soils have mainly large particles in
between which there are large pores.
• On the other hand, fine textured soils have mainly
small particles in between which there are small pores.
• In coarse soils, the rain or irrigation water enters and
moves more easily into larger pores; it takes less time
for the water to infiltrate into the soil.
• In other words, infiltration rate is higher for coarse
textured soils than for fine textured soils.
 Entry of water into the soil
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE INFILTRATION
RATE

ii. The soil moisture content

• The water infiltrates faster (higher infiltration rate)

when the soil is dry, than when it is wet.

• As a consequence, when irrigation water is applied to

a field, the water at first infiltrates easily, but as the
soil becomes wet, the infiltration rate decreases.
 Soil moisture conditions
SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT

• The soil moisture content indicates the amount of

water present in the soil.

• It is commonly expressed as the amount of water (in

mm of water depth) present in a depth of one metre
of soil. For example: when an amount of water (in
mm of water depth) of 150 mm is present in a depth
of one metre of soil, the soil moisture content is 150
mm/m.
 Soil moisture conditions
SATURATION/ MAXIMUM WATER HOLDING
CAPACITY (MWHC)

• During a rain shower or irrigation application, the soil

pores will fill with water.
• If all soil pores are filled with water the soil is said to
be saturated.
• There is no air left in the soil.
• It is easy to determine in the field if a soil is saturated.
• If a handful of saturated soil is squeezed, some
(muddy) water will run between the fingers.
 Soil moisture conditions
SATURATION/ MAXIMUMWATER HOLDING
CAPACITY (MWHC)
• Plants need air and water in the soil. At saturation, no
air is present and the plant will suffer. Many crops
cannot withstand saturated soil conditions for a
period of more than 2-5 days.
• Rice is one of the exceptions to this rule. The period
of saturation of the topsoil usually does not last long.
After the rain or the irrigation has stopped, part of
the water present in the larger pores will move
downward. This process is called drainage or
percolation.
 Soil moisture conditions
SATURATION/ MAXIMUMWATER HOLDING
CAPACITY (MWHC)

• The water drained from the pores is replaced by air.

• In coarse textured (sandy) soils, drainage is completed
within a period of a few hours.
• In fine textured (clayey) soils, drainage may take some
(2-3) days.
• Soil water potential is 0 atm

(Soil water potential expresses how much energy you would need
to expend to pull that water out of the soil sample.)
 Soil moisture conditions
FIELD CAPACITY

• After the drainage has stopped, the large soil pores

are filled with both air and water while the smaller
pores are still full of water.
• At this stage, the soil is said to be at field capacity.
• At field capacity, the water and air contents of the soil
are considered to be ideal for crop growth.
• water from coarse pore spaces are drained hence, only
medium and fine pores contain water.
• upper limit of available water
• soil water potential of 1/3 bar or atm
 Soil moisture conditions
PERMANENT WILTING POINT (PWP) or
WILTING COEFFICIENT (WC)

• Moisture condition whereby plants would wilt

permanently

• Little by little, the water stored in the soil is taken up

by the plant roots or evaporated from the topsoil into
the atmosphere.

• If no additional water is supplied to the soil, it

gradually dries out.
 Soil moisture conditions
PERMANENT WILTING POINT

• The dryer the soil becomes, the more tightly the

remaining water is retained and the more difficult it is
for the plant roots to extract it.

• At a certain stage, the uptake of water is not

sufficient to meet the plant's needs. The plant looses
freshness and wilts; the leaves change colour from
green to yellow. Finally the plant dies.
 Soil moisture conditions
PERMANENT WILTING POINT

• The soil water content at the stage where the plant

dies, is called permanent wilting point.

• The soil still contains some water, but it is too

difficult for the roots to suck it from the soil

• Lower limit of available water

• 15 bar or atm
 Soil moisture conditions
AVAILABLE WATER CONTENT

• The soil can be compared to a water reservoir for the

plants.

• When the soil is saturated, the reservoir is full.

• However, some water drains rapidly below the

rootzone before the plant can use it.

• When this water has drained away, the soil is at field

capacity. The plant roots draw water from what
remains in the reservoir .
 Soil moisture conditions
AVAILABLE WATER CONTENT

• When the soil reaches permanent wilting point, the

remaining water is no longer available to the plant.

• The amount of water actually available to the plant is

the amount of water stored in the soil at field capacity
minus the water that will remain in the soil at
permanent wilting point.
• The available water content depends greatly on the
soil texture and structure. A range of values for
different types of soil is given in the following table.

• The field capacity, permanent wilting point (PWP)

and available water content are called the soil
moisture characteristics. They are constant for a given
soil, but vary widely from one type of soil to another.
HYGROSCOPIC COEFFICIENT

• Soil moisture constant representing the condition

wherein water is held so tightly and appearing as a
very thin film of water around a soil particle and
may move only through vapor transfer.

• is the moisture content of an air dry soil

• 31 bar or atm
 Physical classification Biological classification
of soil water of soil water
1. free or gravitational 1. superfluous water - H2O that is
H2O - H2O that is held held by coarse pore spaces with
by the coarse pore very low energy, hence, it readily
spaces that drains due to flows downward
gravity - Corresponds to gravitational
water under the physical
classification
2. capillary water - H2O 2. available water - H2O that is held
that is held by medium by medium pore spaces with
pore spaces energy within the extracting
capacity of plant roots
3. hygroscopic water - 3. unavailable water - H2O that is
H2O that is held by the held by fine pores very strongly,
fine pore spaces hence, not available to plants
 Movement of soil water
• Water moves as a result of the difference of
potential
- Movement of water is always from higher to
lower water potential.
- Movement of water is always from lower to
higher suction or tension.

• Darcy’s Law - law that governs movement of soil

water
- named after Henri Darcy
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Soil Aeration
• Exchange of gases between soil and the atmosphere

- portion of the soil that is occupied by air

 Soil Aeration
• Composition of soil air is similar, but not identical to the
atmospheric air.

- similar since some soil pores are open to the atmosphere

through which atmospheric gases may enter and move
through.
- not identical because movement of soil air is slow and soil
organisms would influence the composition of soil air and
the concentration of the gases in soil air may be different
from that of atmospheric air.
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
• A 100 cm3 soil weighed 160 g when
moist. After oven drying, its weight was
reduced to 130 g. Assuming that the
Vp/Vt = 0.5, calculate the following:
Given: Vt = 100 cm3
FW = 160 g
` ODW or Ms = 130 g
Vp/Vt = 0.5
a) b = Ms/Vt
= 130g / 100 cm3
= 1.30 g/cm3
b) % PS = (Vp/Vt) x 100
= 0.5 x 100
= 50%
c) % solid = 100 - %PS
= 100 – 50%
= 50%
d) p = Ms/Vs
= 130g / 50 cm3
= 2.6 g/cm3
• Since Vs is not given, you have to solve for Vs
by getting the 50% of solid from the total
volume of 100 cm3.
Solution:
Vs = solid x Vt
Vs = 0.50 x 100 cm3
therefore, Vs = 50 cm3
e) void ratio, e
= % PS / % solid
= 50% / 50%
= 1 therefore, it is an ideal soil
f) m
= (FW – ODW) / ODW
= (160g – 130g) / 130g
= 30g/130g
= 0.23 g of H20/g of soil
g) v
= m x (b / w)
= 0.23 x (1.30/1.0)
= 0.30 cm3 of H20 / cm3of soil
h) hw if hs = 20 cm
= v x hs
= 0.30 x 20 cm
= 6 cm
i) %s
= (v/PS) x 100
= (0.30/0.50) x 100
= 60%
j) Ea
= (PS - v) x 100
= (0.50 – 0.30) x 100
= 20%
 LESSON 1
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOILS

Soil Temperature
• is a measure of heat energy that a soil contains.

Importance of soil temperature

- Soil temperature plays an important role in soil

formation, weathering, soil organic matter balance, soil
chemical reactions, microbial activity and plant growth
Importance of soil temperature

- It controls the intensity of biophysical, biochemical

and microbiological processes that take place in the
soil.

- mineralization of o.m.
- diffusion and viscous flow
- germination of seed
- root growth
- Respiration
- H2O and nutrient absorption
13 – 38oC - favorable temperature for seed germination
and plant growth

< 5oC - biological activities would cease and basically

inactive

Biologic zero temperature = 5 oC

- is the temperature below which biological activity

would stop
- temperature below which mesophyllic soil microbes
become relatively inactive