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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #95149
Title: RAIN PATTERNS UNDER A CORN CANOPY I WATER MOVEMENT IN NEAR SURFACE SOILS

Author
item Dolan, Michael
item Dowdy, Robert
item LAMB, J - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Redirection of precipitation by a crop canopy can significantly affect the distribution of water entering soil. This knowledge can be used to improve crop management practices for protecting ground water. In a four-year field study, rainfall and/or irrigation was collected in 8 equidistant positions between corn (Zea mays L.) rows. Soil cores taken in the top 0.3 m of soil measured soil water status in the same relative positions betwee rows. Precipitation intensity, wind direction and speed, and crop canopy dimensions all influenced throughfall and resultant soil water content. Throughfall decreased to approximately 40 percent of total precipitation after canopy closure, allowing large amounts of water to enter the soil as stemflow, and increasing percolation near plant rows and soil water content under the rows.