WATER MOVEMENT IN DRY SOILS

Semi-infinite columns of dry soil closed at one end had the other exposed to a turbulent atmosphere at constant relative humidity (0.98) and a range of constant temperatures. After varied times the water content of the columns was measured gravimetrically, in 1 cm layers, from which the total quantity taken up Q and the distribution of water content Ø with time t and distance x were found. Assuming that the Boltzmann transform, λ=xt^?t can be applied to the standard diffusion equation, two soil parameters are derived. A test of the assumption is that Ø should be uniquely dependent on λ, and then the diffusivity is calculable from where Ø_t is the initial uniform water content. The second parameter—the sorptivity, S= Qt^?½—and is not independent of Ø_t or the value maintained at x= 0. Results show that in a clay soil, between pF 5.8 and pF 4.2, water moves predominantly as vapour: in a non-swelling silicate mineral (sepiolite) there is significant liquid movement between pF 5.1 and pF 4.2. Long-continued use of organic manure has little effect on either D or S; aggregate size has some effect, in opposite senses for a sand and a clay; a mulch or a still atmosphere affects S but not D; evaporation suppressants decrease S; ignition decreases S and greatly alters D; and degradation of structure causes small changes in D.