WATER CONSERVATION WATER CONSERVATION and WATER QUALITYand WATER QUALITY

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION• The HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE - Runs on solar The HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE - Runs on solar

energyenergy

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

– SOURCES of WATERSOURCES of WATER•WATER VAPOR – Evaporation & TranspirationWATER VAPOR – Evaporation & Transpiration

– Evapotranspiration (ET) = total water vapor Evapotranspiration (ET) = total water vapor

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

– SOURCES of WATERSOURCES of WATER•PRECIPITATION – Condenses into Rain, Snow, PRECIPITATION – Condenses into Rain, Snow,

Hail, etc.Hail, etc.

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

– SOURCES of WATERSOURCES of WATER•SURFACE WATER or RUNOFF (~25% SURFACE WATER or RUNOFF (~25%

precipitation)precipitation)

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

– SOURCES of WATERSOURCES of WATER•GROUND WATER GROUND WATER

(75% precipitation) (75% precipitation) Water that Water that infiltrates and infiltrates and percolates through percolates through soil to a SATURATED soil to a SATURATED LAYERLAYER

– WATER TABLE WATER TABLE – AQUIFERAQUIFER

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

•Run-off vs. Infiltration/Percolation

– http://www.soilsforsalmon.org/pdf/RelationshipBetweenSoilandWater10-14-99.pdf

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• CONSERVATION by AGRICULTURECONSERVATION by AGRICULTURE

– 80% of WATER used 80% of WATER used annuallyannually in US in US

– EFFICIENT WATER USE depends on 3 EFFICIENT WATER USE depends on 3 BMP’s:BMP’s:•CAPTURING RUNOFFCAPTURING RUNOFF

• INCREASING WATER INFILTRATIONINCREASING WATER INFILTRATION

•RETAINING WATER in soil for BETTER CROP RETAINING WATER in soil for BETTER CROP YIELDSYIELDS

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• CAPTURING RUNOFF - CAPTURING RUNOFF - AgricultureAgriculture– TERRACING TERRACING – FURROW DIKING FURROW DIKING – CONTOUR TILLAGE CONTOUR TILLAGE – STRIP CROPPING STRIP CROPPING

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• CAPTURING RUNOFF - LandscapeCAPTURING RUNOFF - Landscape– TERRACINGTERRACING– BERMS & SWALESBERMS & SWALES

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• INCREASE WATER INCREASE WATER INFILTRATIONINFILTRATION– SUBSOILINGSUBSOILING– AERATION AERATION

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• INCREASE WATER INCREASE WATER INFILTRATIONINFILTRATION– MULCH MULCH – CONSERVATION TILLAGE CONSERVATION TILLAGE

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• RETAIN WATER in soil for RETAIN WATER in soil for BETTER CROP YIELDSBETTER CROP YIELDS– REDUCE EVAPORATION by REDUCE EVAPORATION by

adding OM to HOLD onto adding OM to HOLD onto WATERWATER

• MULCHES / COVER CROPSMULCHES / COVER CROPS

• REDUCED TILLAGE /REDUCED TILLAGE /

CONSERVATION TILLAGECONSERVATION TILLAGE

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• RETAIN WATER in soil RETAIN WATER in soil for BETTER CROP for BETTER CROP YIELDSYIELDS– REDUCE REDUCE

TRANSPIRATIONTRANSPIRATION• ANTI – TRANSPIRANTS ANTI – TRANSPIRANTS

• WIND BREAKSWIND BREAKS

• WEED CONTROL WEED CONTROL

WATER CONSERVATIONWATER CONSERVATION

• RETAIN WATER in soil for RETAIN WATER in soil for BETTER CROP YIELDSBETTER CROP YIELDS– IMPROVING PLANT IMPROVING PLANT

EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY• SOIL FERTILITY SOIL FERTILITY

• SELECT & BREED CROPS for SELECT & BREED CROPS for LOW WATER USAGE and LOW WATER USAGE and DROUGHT TOLERANCEDROUGHT TOLERANCE

WATER QUALITYWATER QUALITY

• A good QUALITY A good QUALITY WATER SUPPLY in US is WATER SUPPLY in US is as IMPORTANT as the as IMPORTANT as the QUANTITYQUANTITY

• POLLUTIONPOLLUTION – POINT SOURCEPOINT SOURCE– NON-POINT SOURCENON-POINT SOURCE

• PESTICIDE & FERTILIZER PESTICIDE & FERTILIZER POLLUTIONPOLLUTION

– RUNOFF & EROSIONRUNOFF & EROSION– LEACHINGLEACHING

WATER QUALITYWATER QUALITY• MAINTAIN or IMPROVE WATER QUALITY by MAINTAIN or IMPROVE WATER QUALITY by

AVOIDING POLLUTIONAVOIDING POLLUTION

– REDUCE RUNOFFREDUCE RUNOFF– REDUCE EROSIONREDUCE EROSION– REDUCE FERTILIZER lossesREDUCE FERTILIZER losses– REDUCE PESTICIDE useREDUCE PESTICIDE use– APPLY and STORE MANURES properlyAPPLY and STORE MANURES properly– RETAIN and RESTORE WETLANDS - our natural RETAIN and RESTORE WETLANDS - our natural

water filterswater filters

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• How PLANTS use WATER is very importantHow PLANTS use WATER is very important

– Plants are on ”LIQUID DIETS” and considered Plants are on ”LIQUID DIETS” and considered “HEAVY DRINKERS”“HEAVY DRINKERS”•Plant tissues can be 50-90% WATERPlant tissues can be 50-90% WATER

– WATER is needed for many plant FUNCTIONSWATER is needed for many plant FUNCTIONS•PHOTOSYNTHESISPHOTOSYNTHESIS•TRANSPIRATIONTRANSPIRATION•Conducting NUTRIENTSConducting NUTRIENTS•TURGIDITY of cells and tissuesTURGIDITY of cells and tissues

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• PHYSICAL FORCES of SOIL WATERPHYSICAL FORCES of SOIL WATER

– GRAVITY – Pulls water DOWN through GRAVITY – Pulls water DOWN through the soil profilethe soil profile

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• OTHER FORCES - OTHER FORCES - KEEP water in SOILSKEEP water in SOILS

– ADHESION – attraction ADHESION – attraction between 2 dissimilar between 2 dissimilar substancessubstances

• SOIL PARTICLES and SOIL PARTICLES and H2OH2O

– COHESION – attraction COHESION – attraction between 2 alike between 2 alike substancessubstances

• H2O to H2O attractionH2O to H2O attraction

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

– ADHESION and ADHESION and COHESIONCOHESION

• TOGETHER create a FILM TOGETHER create a FILM of WATER around a soil of WATER around a soil particleparticle

• The CLOSER the WATER The CLOSER the WATER MOLECULE is to the SOIL MOLECULE is to the SOIL PARTICLE, the MORE PARTICLE, the MORE TIGHTLY it is HELDTIGHTLY it is HELD

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

– CAPILLARY ACTIONCAPILLARY ACTION

• ABILITY of a LIQUID to MOVE UPWARD AGAINST the ABILITY of a LIQUID to MOVE UPWARD AGAINST the force of GRAVITYforce of GRAVITY

• In SOILS we can have CAPILLARY MOVEMENT (or In SOILS we can have CAPILLARY MOVEMENT (or action) of WATER through SMALL PORES and action) of WATER through SMALL PORES and CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS

– The SMALLER the PORES the GREATER the The SMALLER the PORES the GREATER the MOVEMENT of WATERMOVEMENT of WATER

UP and DOWNUP and DOWN SIDE to SIDESIDE to SIDE

• Any DISRUPTION in the CONTINUITY of CAPILLARY Any DISRUPTION in the CONTINUITY of CAPILLARY WATER will stop its FLOWWATER will stop its FLOW

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER• TYPES of SOIL WATERTYPES of SOIL WATER

– SATURATIONSATURATION– GRAVITATIONAL WATER GRAVITATIONAL WATER

– FIELD CAPACITYFIELD CAPACITY• Field Capacity = SATURATION – GRAVITATIONAL waterField Capacity = SATURATION – GRAVITATIONAL water

– PERMANENT WILTING POINTPERMANENT WILTING POINT• Permanent Wilting Point = FIELD CAPACITY – AVAIL. WATERPermanent Wilting Point = FIELD CAPACITY – AVAIL. WATER

– HYGROSCOPIC WATERHYGROSCOPIC WATER• WATER held so TIGHTLY by soil particle that it is WATER held so TIGHTLY by soil particle that it is

UNAVAILABLE UNAVAILABLE

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• WATER RETENTIONWATER RETENTION

– DIRECTLY influenced by DIRECTLY influenced by SOIL TEXTURESOIL TEXTURE

• COARSE TEXTURES soilsCOARSE TEXTURES soils– Holds the LEAST WATERHolds the LEAST WATER

• MEDIUM TEXURED soilsMEDIUM TEXURED soils– Holds the MOST PLANT Holds the MOST PLANT

AVAILABLE waterAVAILABLE water

• FINE TEXTURED soilsFINE TEXTURED soils– Holds the MOST Holds the MOST

WATER of any soil WATER of any soil type, but has LESS type, but has LESS AVAILABLE WATER due AVAILABLE WATER due to INCREASED to INCREASED HYGROSCOPIC waterHYGROSCOPIC water

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• WATER MOVEMENTWATER MOVEMENT

– INFILTRATION – Downward INFILTRATION – Downward ENTRY of water into soilsENTRY of water into soils

– PERCOLATION -Downward PERCOLATION -Downward MOVEMENT of water MOVEMENT of water THROUGH the soil profileTHROUGH the soil profile

– WATER MOVEMENT WATER MOVEMENT depends on PORE SIZE depends on PORE SIZE (texture) and CONTINUITY (texture) and CONTINUITY (structure)(structure)

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• WATER MOVEMENT WATER MOVEMENT through blended and through blended and different HORIZONSdifferent HORIZONS

– Any sharp DIFFERENCE Any sharp DIFFERENCE between the TEXTURES between the TEXTURES of TWO LAYERS of soil of TWO LAYERS of soil will RETARD DRAINAGEwill RETARD DRAINAGE

– A LAYER must be A LAYER must be SATURATED before it will SATURATED before it will PENETRATE the next, PENETRATE the next, called a WETTING FRONTcalled a WETTING FRONT

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• HOW ROOTS GATHER WATERHOW ROOTS GATHER WATER– The THICKER the WATER FILM in PORES, the The THICKER the WATER FILM in PORES, the

EASIER and LESS ENERGY it takes for PLANTS EASIER and LESS ENERGY it takes for PLANTS to get WATERto get WATER

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

– ROOTS grow BEST where ROOTS grow BEST where the LARGEST AMOUNTS the LARGEST AMOUNTS of Oof O22 and WATER exist and WATER exist

• As the UPPER ZONE is As the UPPER ZONE is DEPLETED, ROOTS utilize DEPLETED, ROOTS utilize WATER DEEPER and WATER DEEPER and DEEPER DEEPER

• As soil dries, ROOT As soil dries, ROOT GROWTH INCREASES over GROWTH INCREASES over shoot growth to GROW shoot growth to GROW DEEPER & DENSERDEEPER & DENSER

– A – Dry land wheatA – Dry land wheat– B – Irrigated wheatB – Irrigated wheat

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

– EFFECTS of WATER SHORTAGE - DROUGHT EFFECTS of WATER SHORTAGE - DROUGHT

• Soil DRIES till NO AVAILABLE WATER Soil DRIES till NO AVAILABLE WATER

• TEMPORARY WILTING POINT TEMPORARY WILTING POINT

• PERMANENT WILTING POINT PERMANENT WILTING POINT

• Most plants AVOID WATER STRESS by …..???Most plants AVOID WATER STRESS by …..???

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

– EFFECTS of WATER EXCESS – POOR EFFECTS of WATER EXCESS – POOR DRAINAGEDRAINAGE

•EXCESS WATER displace OEXCESS WATER displace O22 in pores in pores

•Soil ANAEROBIC - Dissolved OSoil ANAEROBIC - Dissolved O22 used by used by MICROBES and ROOTSMICROBES and ROOTS

•ROOTS require OROOTS require O22 for RESPIRATION for RESPIRATION

•Problems associated with waterlogged soils? Problems associated with waterlogged soils?

SOIL WATERSOIL WATER

• MEASURING SOIL WATERMEASURING SOIL WATER

– TENSIOMETERTENSIOMETER• Liquid filled TUBE with a POROUS Liquid filled TUBE with a POROUS

clay TIP on one end and a VACUUM clay TIP on one end and a VACUUM GAUGE at topGAUGE at top

• As soil dries it pulls water OUT of As soil dries it pulls water OUT of TIP and creates a VACUUM that is TIP and creates a VACUUM that is MEASURED by the gaugeMEASURED by the gauge

– ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE BLOCKSBLOCKS• 2 ELECTRODES imbedded in 2 ELECTRODES imbedded in

BLOCKS of gypsum, and placed in BLOCKS of gypsum, and placed in soilsoil

• MEASURES ELECTRICAL MEASURES ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY of soilCONDUCTIVITY of soil