A NEW SOIL COMPACTOR FOR INCREASING WATER HOLDING CAPACITY OF LOAMY SAND SOIL | ||||
| ERJ. Engineering Research Journal | ||||
| Article 16, Volume 32, Issue 4, October 2009, Page 559-566 PDF (1006.25 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/erjm.2009.69488 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| Khiery M. Ismail1; I. S. Al-salama2 | ||||
| 1Dept. of AgriculturaL EngiNeering, FaculTy of Agriculture, University of Alexandria, Egypt | ||||
| 2dept. of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Qassim University. Saudi Arabia. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Because the most soils in Saudi Arabia can not maintain water being sandy soils. This. soil characteristic leads to the loss of water by gravity. In addition, the high degree of temperature also can cause high evaporation rate for water after irrigation especially in summer. A thought was developed toward a method to increase soil bulk density that leads to raise the capability of water to maintain water. This was achieved by designing and constructing a machine for compacting and making holes in soil. These holes will act as small water tanks in soil and save water to growing seeds. This machine consisted of 44 cm diameter cylinder with 245 cm width to make 8 rows of holes on the ground with 30 cm apart. The cylinder bas 5 groups of metal cones (10 cm diameter with 10 cm height) welded on the cylinder circumference. Thus, lay out holes on the ground have a distance of 30 cm apart and 40 cm apart in the other direction. Mainly two field treatments were camed out, one with holes and one without holes. Variables such as soil moisture content and soil bulk density of soil were measured at different depths and times. The other variables such soil penetration resistance and organic matter as well as the clay percent were determined affer the 4" inigation for both treatments. The results showed that soil moisture content was higher in hole soil treatment than soil without treatment due to the coUection of clay particles and organic matter by water droplets during inigation. The collection of clay and organic matter in these holes made the holes very well sealed and increased the soil storage for water. It is obvious that the developed machine decreased the soil hydraulic conductivity that leads to an increase in soil water content. | ||||
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