Shallow‐Water Impoundment Increases Soil Moisture and Growth of Hardwoods

W. M. Broadfoot

Soil Science Society of America Journal · 1967 · 64 citations · 0 references

Concepts

Abstract

Abstract Soil moisture during the growing season and radial tree growth were significantly increased by impounding winter and spring rainfall until July 1 on hardwood sites in the Mississippi Delta. In early July, the average moisture per 30 cm of soil amounted to 19.5 cm for the area that had been flooded and 13 cm for the control soil. Even late in the growing season, soil in the impoundment contained about 1 cm more moisture. Timber growth was increased by about 50%. Oxygen in the water was depleted after 15 days of dry weather, but was quickly replenished by rain.