Soil Moisture Regime Changes in Tephra-Mulched Soils

• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2002.0202
• Publication Date: 2010-07-27T22:37:27Z
• Authors: M. Tejedor; C. C. Jiménez; F. Díaz
• Keywords: Udic moisture regime; USDA soil taxonomy; Inceptisol

Large areas of the Canarian archipelago are catalogued as aridic according to U.S. soil taxonomy. A traditional system cultivation, based on application a mulch layer tephra, is widely practiced. The objective this work compare classification soils with and without using U. S. taxonomy, illustrate problems in estimating moisture regime basis meteorological data. In study natural an adjacent mulched 12-cm basaltic tephra was characterized gravimetric measurements, taken over period >1 yr, at 10-cm intervals depth 1 m. also estimated Results obtained for natural, nonmulched measured values those from atmospheric data very similar, both indicate regime. difference covered noteworthy. latter case, remained moist throughout year, representing udic This noteworthy reflected soils: Aridisols first case Inceptisols second. proposal made include mulching cultural practice along irrigation fallowing definition classes regimes would prevent changing order placement