Comparison of Low-Cost Methods for Soil Water Holding Capacity

ABSTRACT

The use of cost-effective methods for measurement of WHC is common in underdeveloped and developing countries, but the accuracy of these cost-effective methods compared to the sophisticated and more expensive alternatives is unclear. To compare different WHC measurement methods, 30 random samples of clay loam and sandy clay loam soils of Jhansi, India were used. The methods compared here were: FAO in-situ method (FAO), Keen-Raczkowski box method (KM), funnel method (FM), column method (CM) and pressure plate method (PPA). For WHC measurements the PPA results were comparable to KM and FM methods for sandy clay loam, and KM and FAO methods for clay loam. Therefore, until a reliable method that matches the results of sophisticated analytical methods of soil water measurement is available, different inexpensive analytical methods can be used, but they must be chosen with caution. The findings from this study will facilitate appropriate selection of a suitable method.

KEYWORDS:

• Cost-Effectiveness
• methodology
• soil
• water holding capacity

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the laboratory and field facility provided by ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, India. Also thank the Pressure Plate Apparatus facility provided by Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Regional Station, Datia, India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution statement

All authors contributed to the study conception and design, and/or manuscript preparation as follows. Prabhu Govindasamy: Conceptualization, Execution of experiments, Lab analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing-original draft. Sonu Kumar Mahawer: Execution of experiments, Lab analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing-original draft. Jake Mowrer: Methodology, Writing-review & editing. Muthukumar Bagavathiannan: Methodology, Writing-review & editing. Mahendra Prasad: Lab analysis, Methodology. Srinivasan Ramakrishnan: Lab analysis, Methodology. Hanamant M Halli: Lab analysis, Methodology. Sunil Kumar: Project Administration, Supervision. Amresh Chandra: Project Administration, Supervision.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.