Field Measurements of Soil Water Loss Patterns in the Presence of Established Orchard Grass II. The Water Balance of Root Zone

Abstract

Soil water depletion rates in the root zone of ‘Dactylis glomerata L’ were determined for a growth period of 7 months, from March to September at Montpellier in France.

Soil moisture was measured by using a neutron moisture probe in 20 depths from the soil surface in 10 cm increments. Tensiometric measurements were made in the depths of 90 cm and 120 cm down from soil surface below the root zone.

From 10 cm to 60 cm depth interval the water loss increase while that of the lower depths remain constant. The actual evapotranspiration decrease gradually after a rainfall. The actual evapotranspiration reaches its minimum value of 3 mm a week in September after a long dry period.