EFFECT OF SALINITY ON SOIL WATER RETENTION CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract

Soil moisture content is an essential element of hydrologic cycle that rules the amount of water released to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration and to stream systems through runoff processes. The soil moisture retention (ϴ - Ψ relationship) of the soil defines the ability of soil to release and store water. This relationship is called soil moisture retention curve or soil moisture characteristic curve (SMC) whose shape depends upon pore size distribution of the soil. In this study van Genuchten’s model is used to determine unsaturated soil parameters alpha and n from pressure head and moisture content data. Soil parameters are the characteristics of any soil, which defines the type of soil and its behaviour in different condition and properties such as hydraulic conductivity, water storage capacity and ability to aggregate depends on grain size distribution. This study mainly determines the effect of salinity on soil water retention curve.