SOIL CONDITIONERS AND WATER LOSS VIA EVAPORATION PROCESS

The effect of application rates of bituminous emulsion, PVAc and PAM on water evaporation from sandy, sandy loam and calcareous soils was studied.
Results reveal the following facts:

1. The effect of conditioners on the rate of evaporation, cumulative evaporation, and water retention varies with conditioner type, rate of application and the conditioned soil.

2. The rate of evaporation from the conditioned sandy soil decreased with increasing the amount of conditioners used.
   Therefore, a correspondence decrease in cumulative evaporation and an increase in water retained in the soil were noticed.
   The effect of soil conditioners could be arranged in the following order: PVAc ≥ bitumen > PAM.

3. Sandy loam soil is highly responsible to small additions of bituminous emulsion and PVAc regarding the decrease in the evaporation rate and the increase in water retention.
   PAM is not a practical mean for reducing evaporation in sandy loam soil.

4. The calcareous soil was the least affected with the addition of bituminous emulsion and PVAc, but it was more effected with PAM than the sandy loam soil.

III International Symposium on Water supply and Irrigation in the open and under Protected Cultivation

O.A. El-Hady, M.Y. Tayel, F.M. Abed

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1981.119.20