Derivation of soil water capacity parameters from standard soil texture information for Bulgarian soils

Abstract

Prediction of total porosity and volumetric water content at field capacity, and permanent wilting point have been evaluated for their possible applicability to supply important missing soil information. The results were compared to the experimental data from Bulgaria. Also the possibility is explored to convert soil particle size distribution data as determined according to the soil standards in Bulgaria to the following particle size fractions (‘sand’ (0.05–2.0 mm in diameter), ‘silt’ (0.002–0.05 mm) and ‘clay’ (smaller than 0.002 mm)). The approach tested for calculating total porosity and volumetric water content at field capacity, and permanent wilting point yielded values in close agreement with the measured ones.