Soil Characteristics
Name for the organization of soil solids
Soil Structure
Mass of soil solid particle for volume of that solid
Particle Density
Volume of water per volume of soil
Volumetric Water Content
Used to estimate percent sand, silt, and clay
hydrometer
Lift of small soil particles into the air by wind
Suspension
Defined by soil particle size
Texture
Mass of soil solids per volume of soil sample
Bulk Density
Mass of water per mass of soil solids
Gravimetric Water Content
Used to measure water pressure (typically in unsaturated soil)
tensiometer
Removing of an entire plan of soil by water
Sheet erosion
Particle class less than 0.002 mm
Clay
Default value for particle density (density of quartz)
2.65
Mechanism by which heat transfer occurs
Conduction
Newer tool to measure soil water content (post 1980)
Time Domain Reflectometer
Method tilling to decreasing erosion by leaving at least 30 percent coverage using plant residues
Conservative tillage
Particle class 2 - 0.05 mm
Sand
Volume of pores per volume of soil
porosity
Primary mechanism in which gas moves through the soil
Diffusion
Older tool to test soil water content (pre 1980)
Neutron Probe
Bouncing of soil particles along the surface by wind
Saltation
Particle class 0.05 - 0.002 mm
Silt
Relationship between porosity and bulk density
Porosity = 1 - (bulk density / particle density)
The flow of a substance per area per time
Flux
Measures water content of the soil by using electrical conductivity
Capacitance Sensors
Vein like channels on the soil surface caused by water erosion
rills