Physical properties of soil in relation to irrigation.
- Soil is three phase system comprising of
- Solid phase, made up of mineral and organic matter and various chemical compounds.
- Liquid Phase, called the soil moisture and
- The Gaseous phase, called soil air.
- The main components of the solid phase is the soil particles size and shape which give rise to the pore space of different geometry.
- In addition to 3 basic components, soil usually contains numerous living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae and small animals which directly or indirectly affect soil structure and plant growth.
- The most important soil properties influencing irrigation are:
- Infiltration rate
- Water holding capacity of soil
- Soil structure
- Soil texture
- Irrigation depth
- Hydraulic Conductivity
- Soil profile condition