Page 45 - soil-plant-water relationship and water requirement
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SOIL-PLANT-WATER RELATIONSHIP AND WATER REQUIREMENT
concentration, as well as the optimal aeration, biological activity, temperature, and
nutrient availability, sees the maximum extraction.
Plants consume water quickly from the upper portion of the root zone and more slowly
from the lower regions of the root zone in uniform soils that are at field capacity. The
upper half of an uniform soil profile provides around 70% of available soil water. Any
layer or location within the root zone with a low AWC or high bulk density has an impact
on root development and may be the deciding factor for watering frequency.
The texture, structure, and quality of the soil impact the amount of water accessible in
the soil for plant use and root development. Unlike texture, the structure and condition
of the surface soil can be altered by management.
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