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Custom Soil Resource Report <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 water <br /> per inch of soil for each soil layer. The capacity varies, depending on soil properties <br /> that affect retention of water. The most important properties are the content of <br /> organic matter, soil texture, bulk density, and soil structure.Available water capacity <br /> is an important factor in the choice of plants or crops to be grown and in the design <br /> and management of irrigation systems.Available water capacity is not an estimate <br /> of the quantity of water actually available to plants at any given time. <br /> Linear extensibility refers to the change in length of an unconfined clod as moisture <br /> content is decreased from a moist to a dry state. It is an expression of the volume <br /> change between the water content of the clod at 1/3-or 1/10-bar tension (33kPa or <br /> 10kPa tension)and oven dryness. The volume change is reported in the table as <br /> percent change for the whole soil.The amount and type of clay minerals in the soil <br /> 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 than <br /> 9 percent. If the linear extensibility is more than 3, shrinking and swelling can cause <br /> damage to buildings, roads, and other structures and to plant roots. Special design <br /> 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 KO and the T factor. <br /> Erosion factor K indicates the susceptibility of a soil to sheet and rill erosion by <br /> water. Factor K is one of six factors used in the Universal Soil Loss Equation <br /> (USLE)and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)to predict the <br /> average annual rate of soil loss by sheet and rill erosion in tons per acre per year. <br /> The estimates are based primarily on percentage of silt, sand, and organic matter <br /> and on soil structure and Ksat.Values of K range from 0.02 to 0.69. Other factors <br /> being equal,the higher the value,the more susceptible the soil is to sheet and rill <br /> 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 /> Erosion factor T is an estimate of the maximum average annual rate of soil erosion <br /> by wind and/or water that can occur without affecting crop productivity over a <br /> sustained period.The rate is in tons per acre per year. <br /> Wind erodibility groups are made up of soils that have similar properties affecting <br /> their susceptibility to wind erosion in cultivated areas.The soils assigned to group 1 <br /> are the most susceptible to wind erosion, and those assigned to group 8 are the <br /> least susceptible.The groups are described in the"National Soil Surrey Handbook." <br /> 40 <br /> SUMMIT BRICK AND TILE COMPANY- EDMUNDSON CLAY MINE NOVEMBER 2023 <br />