Soil Science Society of America Journal · 1980 · 13 citations · 0 references
Soil CharacterizationSoil PropertyBiogeochemistryEngineeringSoil ScienceAgricultural EconomicsCritical Matric PotentialSoil ManagementMatric PotentialSoil FunctionLand DegradationSummertime Flooding EffectsSoil PhysicSoil O 2HydrologyEarth ScienceO 2Alfalfa Mortality
Abstract Soil oxygen levels and soil water matric potentials were measured at the 15‐, 30‐, and 60‐cm depths in plots subjected to flooding times of 15, 25, 35, and 45 hours. A decrease to 6% O 2 or less in the soil for > 24 hours resulted in substantial losses of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). Soil O 2 content decreased more at the 15‐cm depth as compared with the 30‐ or 60‐cm depths because of higher matric potential. The critical matric potential that restricted O 2 movement was about −11 cbars.