Water retention capacity in Arenosols and Ferralsols in a semiarid area in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size distribution and porosity on the water retention capacity of sandy soils in the semiarid area of the Northeast region. Soil bulk and particle densities, total porosity (macro, meso and microporosity), field capacity, permanent wilting point and soil-water retention curve were determined in samples of surface (A) and subsurface (C or Bw) horizons of ten sandy soil profiles. Particle size was determined subdividing the sand fraction into five classes. Higher amounts of the medium and fine sand fractions of the studied soils oriented their physical and hydric characteristics, being responsible for their great water retention. The arrangement of the fine silt, clay, fine sand and very fine sand particles may have provided a diversity of pore sizes and a good pore distribution, being responsible for the large proportion of micropores in the soils, allowing great water retention capacities. PMID: 31778454 [PubMed - in process]
Source: An Acad Bras Cienc - Category: Science Authors: Tags: An Acad Bras Cienc Source Type: research
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