Moisture retention characteristics and hydraulic conductivity of alluvial (Entisol) and brown hydromorphic (Alfisol) soils of Kerala

Abstract

The maximum water holding capacity, field capacity, moisture retained at tensions of 1 , 5, 10 and 15 bar were highest in brown hydromorphic soils and those diminished in the order of riverine alluvium and coastal alluvium soils. Available water was highest in the brown hydromorphic soils followed by riverine alluvium and coastal alluvium. The saturated hydraulic conductivities of the soils were relatively high. The hydraulic conductivities of the undisturbed soils were found to be more than that of the disturbed samples even for the same bulk densities. Infiltration rates of all the soils were relatively high.