Moisture retention characteristics of laterite soils of Kerala

Abstract

Seventy five soil samples were collected from different parts of Kerala and moisture retention studies were conducted at six tensions. The retention properties were correlated to the contents of organic carbon and textural separates. More than 50 per centof the available water in the 2 mm sieved fraction was depleted when the tension reached 3 bars. The water content of the 2 mm siaved soil showed significant positive relation with clay and silt anJ negative relation with coarse and fine sand fractions. The effect of organic carbon content was not significant. Prediction equations have been developed to predict water retentions at 0.3 and 15 bars of both the 2 mm sieved soil and also of soil including gravel fraction from the contents of textural separates, organic carbon and gravel. The latertte soils were found to have an overall available water content of 3.1 per cent, when gravel retention was also included.