Soil Hydrology Overview

This data reflects both the quality of the soil structure, the amount of water available for growth and the ease by which these soils are able to be irrigated. The data indicates how much water is available for vigorous tree and fruit growth, as well as how much water is available for tree maintenance and survival. This data can also be used to better schedule irrigation, and compare irrigation requirements between soils.

The topsoil or A1 horizon shows signs of low-level compaction or loss of soil structure. Evidence for this compaction and loss of structure include; the low to moderate bulk density at 1.25 g/cm³, a moderate saturated hydraulic conductivity at 80 mm/hr, and a drainable porosity of 6.2 % which is less than the 10% desirable level. Despite this loss of structure, the A1 horizon retains good soil water retention properties, having 31.2 % or 93.5 mm plant available soil moisture, and 10.7 % or 32.2 mm readily available soil moisture. The upper subsoil or B21 horizon is well structured for a light clay containing higher drainable porosity and thus large macropores than the topsoil A1 horizon. The B21 and B22 horizons contain 17 % and 18 % plant available soil moisture, and 6.5 % and 6.3 % readily available soil moisture respectively, resulting in a combined plant available moisture in the subsoil of 89.0 mm which is substantial.