Field moisture regimes and morphology of some arid-land soils in New Mexico

Title	Field moisture regimes and morphology of some arid-land soils in New Mexico
Publication Type	Book Chapter
Year of Publication	1973
Authors	Herbel C.H., Gile L.H
Editor	Bruce R.R., Flach K.W., Taylor H.M
Series Title	Field Soil Water Regimes
Volume	Soil Science Society of America, Special Publication No. 5
Pagination	119-152
City	Madison, WI
Keywords	classification, precipitation, soil moisture, soil morphology
Abstract	Soil moisture, as well as other climatic features, have been recognized as an important factor in soil genesis and classification. Certain soils occur only in specific climatic zones. The water status of soil continually affects soil properties through its influence on weathering, profile development, friability and permeability (Slatyer, 1967). It is also an important factor in erosion on some soils (Russell, 1959). In the system of soil classification (Soil Survey Staff, 1960 and 1967) adopted by the National Cooperative Soil Survey, soil moisture characteristics are used as differentiating criteria. Soil moisture and precipitation data have been collected at a number of sites in an arid region of southern New Mexico. The effects of precipitation on soil moisture depends on such factors as (1) soil characteristics (structure, texture, etc.), (2) position on the landscape, (3) amount and intensity of precipitation event, (4) plant cover and (5) soil moisture status at time of storm. In this paper, we relate soil moisture to precipitation, soil morphology and landscape position.
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