Appearance
of sandy loam and fine sandy loam soils at various soil moisture
conditions
Available
Water Capacity 1.3-1.7 inches/foot:
Percent Available: Currently available soil
moisture as a percent of available water capacity.
Inches/foot Depleted: Inches of
water currently needed to refill a foot of soil to field capacity.
0-25 percent available 1.7-1.0 in/ft. depleted:
Dry, forms a very weak ball, aggregated soil
grains break away easily from ball. (Not pictured)
25-50 percent available 1.3-0.7 in/ft.
depleted (Figure 1): Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with defined
finger marks, darkened color, no water staining on fingers, grains break
away.
Figure 1
50-75 percent available 0.9-0.3 in./ft.
depleted (Figure 2): Moist, forms a ball with defined finger marks,
very light soil/water staining on fingers, darkened color, will not
slick.
Figure 2
75-100 percent available 0.4-0.0 in./ft.
depleted (Figure 3): Wet, forms a ball with wet outline left on
hand, light to medium staining on fingers, makes a weak ribbon between
the thumb and forefinger.
Figure 3
100 percent available 0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity)
Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on soil surface after
squeezing or shaking, medium to heavy soil/water coating on fingers.
(Not pictured)
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