Does soil organic matter increase the amount of water a soil can hold and connection between soil organic matter and soil water?
Organic matter and clay carry and overall negative charge and the tend to disperse in water.
Add cationic material like Calciium Iron or Aluminum the suspended materials join and flocculate.
In the
flocculated state the material is not lost in the water but stays in the soil.
The Clay Organic mineral complex is key to stabilizing losses of clay and organic mattercritical to soil health and producity.
The floculation is a spongy material with superb ability to hold air or water
Building the organic clay mineral complex is fundamental conserving and building organic matter supplies rather than losing them
Increasing the organic matter content from 1 to 2 percent would increase the volume of water to 3 quarts per cubic foot of soil. "Each 1 percent increase in soil organic matter helps soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre." The addition of organic matter to the soil usually increases the water holding capacity of the soil. This is because the addition of organic matter increases the number of micro pores and macro pores in the soil either by “gluing” soil particles together or by creating favorable living conditions for soil organisms. Soil with more organic matter can absorb and keep in more water. This can improve crop productivity and reduce: tillage and irrigation costs and flooding, as water moves more slowly through the landscape after heavy rain. The major polluting effect of biodegradable organic materials is the reduction in oxygen concentration in the water. Bacteria and other organisms (decomposers) break these materials down into simpler organic or inorganic substances. The water holding capacity for sand is low. Soil organic matter (SOM) is another factor that can help increase water holding capacity. Soil organic matter has a natural magnetism to water. If the farm increases the percentage of soil organic matter, the soil water holding capacity will increase. Farmers add manures to the soil which is a natural fertilizer for crops. It replenishes the nutrients in the soil which helps in increasing the crop yields. It also helps to loosen the soil which increases the absorption rate and increases the water holding capacity of the soil. Increased soil organic matter enhances your soil's ability to absorb water, leading to less water stress during both dry and wet periods. This can be achieved by: Incorporate compost, manures, or other stable organic materials. Grow and incorporate a high biomass cover crop.It is well known that microbial decomposition of organic matter (OM), as well as carbon inputs through primary production, is also strongly dependent on water availability. On the other hand, high amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) increase soil water availability. Amount of water a given soil can store, primarily influenced by the soil texture and the soil organic matter content. In general, soils with greater silt and clay-sized particles have greater water- holding capacities. Likewise, soils with more organic matter have greater water-holding capacities. Soils with higher organic matter can infiltrate and store water at greater capacities. Organic matter behaves similar to a sponge, with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water. Soils with higher organic matter can infiltrate and store water at greater capacities. Organic matter behaves similar to a sponge, with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water.
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