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Physical Properties: Water
Water content, also known as moisture content, is defined as the
ratio of the weight of water to the weight of solids in a given
volume of soil.
Water content of a soil gives the reclamationist information on
the wetness of a soil. Having adequate moisture in the soil is necessary
for successful plant growth, as it provides the medium to transport
soluble nutrients to the plant roots. If the moisture content of
a soil is too low, the plants may not receive adequate nutrients
or water, possibly compromising their survival. It is important
for this reason to ensure adequate moisture application when reclaiming
and revegetating a disturbed area to ensure successful plant growth.
Water content is measured by weighing a soil sample before and
after drying the sample. The difference in weight is the weight
of water, Ww, and the final weight, after drying, is the weight
of the soil, Ws. For specific methods, see Page
et al. (1982).
Problem | Compliance
| Health & Safety | Sampling
| Analytical | Data
Quality
Site Assessment | Prediction
| Construction | GIS
| Monitoring & Assessment
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