Flow of Water in Soils

Role in Plant Growth

• Proper water flow ensures that plant roots receive adequate amounts of water. If soil lacks permeability, water cannot penetrate to plant roots and provide the nutrients plants need. On the other hand, if soil permeability is too high, the water may not remain in the soil long enough to nourish plants.

Soil Types

• Water flow is primarily influenced by soil type. In clay soils, water flow may be hindered because particles are sticky and have tiny pores. This may lead to saturated soils and root rot. Sandy soils, on the other hand, have large pores that do not retain water. Most plants need loam soils to obtain adequate amounts of water and nutrients.

Amending Your Soil

• You can improve the water flow in your soil by incorporating organic matter, such as compost or manure. Organic matter makes clay soils more permeable, since it increases the spaces between soil particles. It does the exact opposite in sandy soils, filling in the pores to help restrict water flow.