SOIL WATER AND SOIL AIR 



Water has another property that is of importance in soil 

 management. It has a large capacity for absorbing and 

 retaining heat. This property is made use of in heating 

 buildings by hot water systems. Water once heated remains 

 hot for a long time, giving off heat slowly, but in sufficient 

 quantities to keep the rooms of a building warm. Another 

 illustration is found in the influence of large bodies of water, 



\Vo*tt*abl \ 



Diagram showing regions of capillary and free water. Note 

 distribution of roots in area of capillary water. 



such as the Great Lakes, in tempering climate, making the 

 shore regions warmer in winter and cooler in summer. 



Water in the soil influences its temperature an important 

 matter in crop production, especially in early spring when 

 heat is needed to start plants to growing. Soils having a 

 large capacity for holding water are called cold soils, because 

 when filled with water which takes up heat slowly they 

 remain cold long after soils having less capacity for holding 



