Hydric characteristics of Pelotas soils, Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

This report presents a study of the relationship between soil moisture and the tension at which it is retained in the various horizons of three soils from Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Red-yellow Podzol, Planosol and Gley. Granulometric analysis was made and the distribution of pore spaces (total, noncapillary and capillary porosity) were determined. The saturated samples where submitted to 1/3, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 15 atmosphere tensions, to determine the relationship between the soil moisture content and soil moisture tension. For each type of soil a characteristic moisture curve was obtained. The quantity of available water was low and for the gley soil the quantity of available water was median.