About Lesson
Rooting characteristics and moisture extraction pattern
- The amount of available soil moisture to a plant is determined by the moisture characteristics of the soil, depth to which the plants roots extend and the proliferation or density of roots.
- SMC such as FC, WP are peculiar to a soil and are a function of texture and organic matter.
- Water in unsaturated soil moves very slowly and only a distance of few cm.
- During favorable growing period, roots grow so rapidly that satisfactory moisture contacts can be maintained even when the soil moisture contents decline.
- Rooting of plants may be influenced by several factors such as high water table, shallow soils, presence of impermeable layer, fertility and salt status, crop management, etc.