Facts on Why to Conserve Soil Water
Make your next lawn design an efficient one by capitalizing your lawn's soil water. Agricultural engineer W. Bryan Smith believes topsoil is the "most often overlooked aspect of irrigation design and operation." He says that homeowners tend to focus on runoff and plant watering needs. Instead, Smith recommends considering the importance your soil's water-holding capacity. Doing so is a critical key to maximizing the benefits of soil water.
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Significance
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Because landscapes only require an inch of water per inch of soil depth, failing to conserve soil water will cause excess water to move out of the root zone. In addition, excessive irrigation encourages weed growth. Excess water won't be able to carry nutrients away from the root zone. Conserving soil water means you'll have fewer weeds to battle and a healthier landscape.
Soil Types
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If your lawn consists of sandy soil, the large spaces between large particles will drain water quickly. On the other hand, clay soil has microscopic particles, which drain at a slower rate.
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Holding Capacity
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Soil-water holding capacity is largely based on your soil's texture. In general, soil can hold between 0.18- to- 0.05 inches of water. Clay soil holds more water than sandy soil. Sandy soil won't hold very much water.
Calculations
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Calculating irrigation frequency starts with knowing your soil's water-holding capacity. The amount of water your soil can hold must be considered in light of how deep your landscape's plant roots reach. Such calculations prevent unnecessary daily irrigation--unless your sod is new or if you're growing hearty vegetables.
Considerations
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Plans that result in over-irrigating your lawn will waste your landscape's soil water. By accounting for how much water your soil can hold, you will conserve soil water when your irrigation plan goes into effect.
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References
- Photo Credit new construction landscaping image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
