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Physical Soil Properties--Elbert County,Colorado,Western Part <br /> Saturated hydraulic conductivity(Ksat)refers to the ease with which pores in a <br /> saturated soil transmit water. The estimates in the table are expressed in terms <br /> of micrometers per second. They are based on soil characteristics observed in <br /> the field, particularly structure, porosity, and texture. Saturated hydraulic <br /> conductivity(Ksat) is considered in the design of soil drainage systems and <br /> septic tank absorption fields. <br /> Available water capacity refers to the quantity of water that the soil is capable of <br /> storing for use by plants. The capacity for water storage is given in inches of <br /> water per inch of soil for each soil layer.The capacity varies, depending on soil <br /> properties that affect retention of water.The most important properties are the <br /> content of organic matter, soil texture, bulk density, and soil structure.Available <br /> water capacity is an important factor in the choice of plants or crops to be grown <br /> and in the design and management of irrigation systems.Available water <br /> capacity is not an estimate of the quantity of water actually available to plants at <br /> any given time. <br /> Linear extensibility refers to the change in length of an unconfined clod as <br /> moisture content is decreased from a moist to a dry state. It is an expression of <br /> the volume change between the water content of the clod at 1/3-or 1/10-bar <br /> tension(33kPa or 10kPa tension)and oven dryness. The volume change is <br /> reported in the table as percent change for the whole soil. The amount and type <br /> of clay minerals in the soil influence volume change. <br /> Linear extensibility is used to determine the shrink-swell potential of soils. The <br /> shrink-swell potential is low if the soil has a linear extensibility of less than 3 <br /> percent; moderate if 3 to 6 percent; high if 6 to 9 percent; and very high if more <br /> than 9 percent. If the linear extensibility is more than 3, shrinking and swelling <br /> can cause damage to buildings, roads, and other structures and to plant roots. <br /> Special design commonly is needed. <br /> Organic matter is the plant and animal residue in the soil at various stages of <br /> decomposition. In this table, the estimated content of organic matter is expressed <br /> as a percentage, by weight, of the soil material that is less than 2 millimeters in <br /> diameter. The content of organic matter in a soil can be maintained by returning <br /> crop residue to the soil. <br /> Organic matter has a positive effect on available water capacity,water infiltration, <br /> soil organism activity, and tilth. It is a source of nitrogen and other nutrients for <br /> crops and soil organisms. <br /> Erosion factors are shown in the table as the K factor(Kw and Kf)and the T <br /> factor. Erosion factor K indicates the susceptibility of a soil to sheet and rill <br /> erosion by water. Factor K is one of six factors used in the Universal Soil Loss <br /> Equation (USLE)and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)to <br /> predict the average annual rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in tons per <br /> acre per year. The estimates are based primarily on percentage of silt, sand, and <br /> organic matter and on soil structure and Ksat.Values of K range from 0.02 to <br /> 0.69. Other factors being equal, the higher the value, the more susceptible the <br /> soil is to sheet and rill erosion by water. <br /> Erosion factor Kw indicates the erodibility of the whole soil.The estimates are <br /> modified by the presence of rock fragments. <br /> Erosion factor Kf indicates the erodibility of the fine-earth fraction, or the material <br /> less than 2 millimeters in size. <br /> litil),\ Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 3/12/2018 <br /> .i Conservation service National Cooperative Soil Survey Page 2 of 6 <br />