The influence of the microflora on the physical properties of soils. II. Field studies on water repellent sands

Abstract

The water repellence of sandy soils has been investigated at sites in the upper south-east of South Australia by observation of infiltration patterns and measurement of contact angle of wetting. Water penetrated into repellent sands through narrow channels, the intervening soil remaining dry. Such dry areas persisted through the winter months and were responsible for a mosaic pattern of bare and grassed areas in severely affected paddocks. The intensity of water repellence has been found to vary with species of plant cover, age of pasture, and also management practices.