Water retention, transmission and contact characteristics of ludas sand as influenced by farmyard manure

Abstract

Small cylinders were filled to a depth of 20 cm with a sandy soil to which farmyard manure (F.Y.M.) had been added up to a maximum rate equivalent to 846 t/ha. The cylinders were set in the ground and kept moist. At the end of 10 months samples were taken for measuring water retention and saturated hydraulic conductivity as well as the rate of horizontal infiltration for 0.01 M CaCl2, and alcohol. An apparent contact angle was calculated from the last two measurements. The application of F.Y.M. caused a progressive increase in the volume of water retained at a given suction, together with a small increase in available water. Hydraulic conductivity was decreased. Cumulative horizontal infiltration of 0.01 M CaCl2 decreased markedly with increase in F.Y .M. applied. This decrease is attributed mainly to an increase in the contact angle. Values are also given for the increase in cation exchange capacity and linear shrinkage due to the treatments.