Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:06:58.339Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Soil moisture changes under grassland as measured by neutron probe in midland England

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

D. G. M. Hall  and
R. J. A. Jones
D. G. M. Hall
Affiliation:
Soil Survey of England and Wales, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ
R. J. A. Jones
Affiliation:
Soil Survey of England and Wales, Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The moisture regimes of three soils under grassland in midland England were investigated using a neutron probe moisture meter from May 1976 until August 1978. The main aim of the experiments was to compare the differential build-up of moisture deficits in the three soils of different texture by monitoring moisture extraction down to 1·50 m depth. The moisture deficits measured by neutron probe were also compared with those predicted from meteorological data using the Grindley (1970) model.

The sandy (Newport) soil dried out more quickly and more completely than the clayey (Worcester) or fine loamy over clayey stagnogley (Salop) soil, particularly in 1976. This reflected the fact that the former had the smallest available water, most of which is held at low suctions, whereas the Salop soil, with much of its water bound at high suctions, continued to supply small amounts to plant roots when the available water in both the other soils was exhausted.

The soil moisture deficits determined from neutron probe measurements were much larger at all three sites in 1976 than in the following 2 years. The deficit increased more slowly in the Salop soil than in the other two in the early part of 1976 and more slowly than predicted by the Grindley model. However, during July and August of the same year, deficits in the Salop and Worcester soils increased more quickly than predicted and maximum deficits were in proportion to the available water capacities of the three soils. Deficits in 1978 were very small (less than 70 mm) in all three soils because of the wetter weather.

The results of this neutron probe study clearly show that the patterns of moisture extraction and the maximum deficits which developed in the three soils, particularly in 1976, are closely related to their physical properties, as determined from undisturbed soil cores.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 101 , Issue 2 , October 1983 , pp. 481 - 493
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Avery, B. W. (1980). Soil classification for England and Wales. Soil Survey Technical Monograph No. 14, Harpenden.Google Scholar
Bell, J. P. (1976). Neutron probe practice. The Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Hydrology, Report No. 19, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Drew, M. C. (1979). Plant responses to anaerobic conditions in soil and solution culture. Current Advances in Plant Science, Commentaries in Plant Science, No. 36, 1–14.Google Scholar
Eeles, C. W. O. (1969). Installation of access tubes and calibrating neutron moisture probes. Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Hydrology, Report No. 7, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Gardner, C. M. K. (1981). The soil moisture data bank: moisture content data from some British soils. The Institute of Hydrology, Report No. 76, Wallingford.Google Scholar
Graecen, E. L. & Hignett, C. T. (1976). A water balance model and supply index for wheat in South Australia. C.S.I.R.O. Australian Division of Soils, Technical Paper 27, 1–33.Google Scholar
Grindley, J. (1970). Estimating and mapping of evaporation. In World Water Balance, International Association of Science of Hydrology, Symposium, pp. 200–213.Google Scholar
Hall, D. G. M. & Heaven, F. W. (1979). Comparison of measured and predicted soil moisture deficits. Journal of Soil Science 30, 225–237.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, D. G. M., Reeve, M. J., Thomasson, A. J. & Wright, V. F. (1977). Water retention, porosity and density of field soils. Soil Survey Technical Monograph No. 9, Harpenden.Google Scholar
Hodgson, J. M. (ed.) (1976). Soil survey field handbook. Soil Survey Technical Monograph No. 5, Harpenden.Google Scholar
Jones, R. J. A. (1983). Soils in Staffordshire III. Sheets SK02 and SK12 (Needwood Forest). Soil Survey Record No. 80, Harpenden.Google Scholar
Penman, H. L. (1949). Dependence of transpiration on weather and soil conditions. Journal of Soil Science 1, 74–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penman, H. L. (1962). Woburn irrigation, 1951–1959. I–III. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 58, 343–379.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, P. J. (1971). Water balance model and computer program. C.S.I.R.O. Australian Division of Soils, Technical Memoir 22/71.Google Scholar
Smith, L. P. (1967). Potential transpiration. Technical Bulletin No. 16, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Thomasson, A. J. & Robson, J. D. (1967). The moisture regimes of soils developed on Keuper Marl. Journal of Soil Science 18, 329–340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veihmeyer, F. J. & Hendrickson, A. H. (1931). The moisture equivalent as a measure of the field capacity of soils. Journal of Soil Science 32, 181–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Webster, R. & Beckett, P. H. T. (1972). Matric suctions to which soils in south central England drain. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 78, 379–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar