Core vs. Bulk Samples in Soil-Moisture Tension Analyses

Walter M. Broadfoot

Treesearch

Core vs. Bulk Samples in Soil-Moisture Tension Analyses

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Walter M. Broadfoot

Year:

1954

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Southern Research Station

Source:

In: Occasional Paper SO-OP-135. New Orleans, LA: USDA-Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 22-25.

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Abstract

The usual laboratory procedure in determining soil-moisture tension values is to use "undisturbed" soil cores for tensions up to 60 cm. of water and bulk soil samples for higher tensions. Low tensions are usually obtained with a tension table and the higher tensions by use of pressure plate apparatus. In tension analysis at the Vicksburg Infiltration Project some soils had higher moisture contents at 1/3 atmosphere tension than at 60 cm (.06 atmosphere). This was noted particularly in fine-textured soils and was thought to be related to the difference in relative disturbance of the soil samples used under the two tensions. Accordingly, a comparison was made of the moisture contents of core and bulk samples at various tensions.

Citation

Broadfoot, Walter M. 1954. Core vs. Bulk Samples in Soil-Moisture Tension Analyses. In: Occasional Paper SO-OP-135. New Orleans, LA: USDA-Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 22-25.