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What is the term used for the upward movement of a liquid in narrow spaces due to capillary action?
How is the available water in soil defined?
What determines the variation in available water in soil?
Which equation represents the relationship for available water (AW) in soil?
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What is the main factor enabling capillarity in soil?
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What is hygroscopic water primarily defined by?
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Which category of water is defined as water that cannot be removed by air drying?
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What characterizes gravitational water in soil?
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What is the definition of capillary water?
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How is chemically-combined water uniquely characterized?
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What primarily allows water to rise in small soil pores despite gravity?
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Which type of water movement occurs due to gravity at low suction levels?
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What causes water molecules to hold onto each other in soil?
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Which force is greater in smaller soil pores compared to larger ones?
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Which of the following factors contributes to the energy state of soil water?
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In which type of soil texture are the capillarity effects expected to be the lowest?
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How do plant roots primarily access water from the soil profile?
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What can increase as the size of soil pores decreases?
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What happens to water when cohesive forces in soil are insufficient?
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How does osmosis relate to osmotic potential in soil?
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What is matric potential primarily associated with?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the energy state of water in relation to permeability?
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What factor contributes to the effectiveness of water infiltration into soils?
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What must a plant root overcome to extract water from moist soil?
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When is gravitational potential most significant?
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How does an increase in solutes affect osmotic potential?
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What is the primary limitation of the electrical resistance blocks method for measuring soil moisture?
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How does a neutron scattering probe measure soil water content?
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What is the main function of the porous ceramic cup in a tensiometer?
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Which statement is true about the operation of a tensiometer?
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What type of neutrons are used in a neutron scattering method to measure soil water content?
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Why might one choose to use electrical resistance blocks for soil moisture measurement despite their limitations?
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What does the tensiometer measure in relation to soil?
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Which of the following best describes the interaction between fast neutrons and hydrogen atoms in the neutron scattering method?
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Study Notes
Soil Water
- Five categories of water in the soil:
- Adsorbed Water (Hygroscopic Water): tightly held by soil particles due to electrical attraction.
- Water at Permanent Wilting Point: water that can be removed by oven drying but not by air drying.
- Capillary Water (Water at Field Capacity): held by surface tension. Removeable by air drying.
- Gravitational Water: Water that drains under the influence of gravity; not readily available to plants.
- Chemically-Combined Water: Water within the crystal structure of soil minerals, not removable by oven drying.
Soil Water Content
- Available Water: Water stored in the soil that plants can use.
- Available Water Calculation: Field Capacity - Permanent Wilting Point
Capillarity
- Refers to the ability of a liquid to flow against gravity.
- Due to adhesion (water molecules attracted to soil particles) and cohesion (water molecules attracted to each other).
- Capillary Rise: The upward movement of water in small pores due to capillary action.
- Capillary Forces: Stronger in smaller pores.
Water Movement in Soils
- Saturated Flow: Water movement through soil due to gravity when the soil is saturated.
- Unsaturated Flow: Water movement at higher suction pressures, driven by capillary action.
Energy State of Soil Water
- Gravitational Potential: Water's ability to flow downward due to gravity; significant when soil is saturated.
- Osmotic Potential: Water's tendency to move from regions of higher water potential to lower potential due to the presence of solutes.
- Matric Potential: Water's potential energy due to its attraction to soil solids; operational in unsaturated soil.
Soil Water Content Measurement
- Electrical Resistance Blocks Method: Inexpensive method to measure approximate changes in soil moisture, but limited accuracy.
- Neutron Scattering Method: Uses a neutron scattering probe to measure soil water content by measuring the scattering of neutrons by hydrogen atoms.
- Tensiometer Method: Measures matric water potential by measuring the tension in a water-filled tube with a porous ceramic cup in the soil.
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Description
Explore the different categories of water in soil and their significance in agriculture. This quiz covers topics such as adsorbed water, capillary water, and water availability for plants, providing a comprehensive understanding of soil water dynamics.