Location: Plant Science Research
Title: Sunrise on soil – Keep your soil pump primedAuthor
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Submitted to: Hay and Forage Grower
Publication Type: Popular Publication Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2022 Publication Date: 1/3/2023 Citation: Franzluebbers, A.J. 2023. Sunrise on soil – Keep your soil pump primed. Hay and Forage Grower. https://hayandforage.com/article-4230-keep-your-soil-pump-primed.html. Interpretive Summary: Soil provides a reservoir of water available for plant growth. An ARS scientist in Raleigh North Carolina described how soil texture and organic matter interact to hold water available for plant growth. Fine-textured soils (clayey soils) can hold more water than coarse-textured soils (sandy soils), but this depends also on how much organic matter is present. Although soil has only a small percentage of organic matter, it holds several times its weight in water. Organic matter management can help get more water stored in soil and overcome drought periods. Technical Abstract: Soil provides a reservoir of water available for plant growth. An ARS scientist in Raleigh North Carolina described how soil texture and organic matter interact to hold water available for plant growth. Fine-textured soils (clayey soils) can hold more water than coarse-textured soils (sandy soils), but this depends also on how much organic matter is present. Although soil has only a small percentage of organic matter, it holds several times its weight in water. Organic matter management can help get more water stored in soil and overcome drought periods. |
