Apr. 9,1917 
Water-Retaining Capacity of Soil 
49 
the initial ratio was as high as 1.3, the final ratio of the surface 3-inch 
section was similar to the above and that in the lowest section varied 
from 1.3 to 1.5. 
The final moisture content of the surface layer in these loams bears 
an even closer relationship to the moisture equivalent than to the 
hygroscopic coefficient, being in general about nine-tenths of the latter 
value, the ratio varying from 0.80 to 1.01 (Table XVI and figure 2). As 
will be pointed out below, this is not the case with the sand Q and it 
would appear that with sands in general there would be a departure, 
increasing with the coarseness of the texture. However, the great 
majority of agricultural soils have a texture no coarser than that of 
K, L, or M. 
Table XIV .—Distribution of water in cylinders filled with soil containing a percentage 
of water approximately equal to the hydroscopic coefficient To the surface of each 
enough water was applied to raise the total water content to one and a half times the 
hygroscopic coefficient, after which the cylinders were allowed to stand from 68 to no days 
Soil No. 
Item. 
A. 
B. 
C. 
D. 
E. 
G. 
H. 
I. 
J* 
K. 
If. 
M. 
Soil: 
Hygroscopic coefficient. 
13*3 
12.9 
10. 5 
10. 2 
10. X 
8.2 
7.6 
7 *i 
5*6 
3*4 
3*4 
3*3 
Initial water, .per cent.. 
13 -a 
13 -1 
12.0 
13*4 
9.9 
8.0 
9.0 
8.4 
5*6 
4*3 
4*5 
4*3 
Initial ratio. 
z.o 
I. 0 
X. X 
i *3 
1.0 
x. 0 
x. 2 
x. 2 
x.o 
1*3 
1*3 
i *3 
Water applied, .inches.. 
2. XI 
2 . X 2 
X. 21 
.90 
1.42 
1. 58 
X. 28 
. 60 
.89 
•33 
• 27 
•33 
Moisture equivalent.... 
29.5 
35- 8 
24.I 
27.8 
22. $ 
21. 2 
19* 7 
16.8 
13*5 
7 *5 
7*2 
7*9 
Time.days.. 
xxo 
69 
IOO 
no 
IOO 
106 
X02 
102 
70 
IOO 
68 
ZOO 
Final water content (per 
cent): 
Depth— 
1 inch.... 
27-5 
2 5-5 
23-4 
24.1 
20.5 
17.4 
18.0 
16.3 
12. 2 
7*8 
6.2 
8.7 
3 inches. 
26.1 
23. 7 
22.1 
22.9 
19*3 
16. 7 
16. 6 
I 5 *i 
II* 7 
7*4 
5 * 8 
8.0 
3 inches. 
25 - X 
23. s 
21. 2 
21.6 
19. 0 
16.3 
16. 7 
14.0 
n. 3 
7 * 1 
5*5 
7*3 
4 indies. 
24 - 7 
23-3 
20.3 
20.8 
18.5 
16. 2 
16. 3 
13*6 
xo. 8 
6.6 
5 * S 
7*3 
5 inches. 
24.3 
22. 9 
20.2 
20. 2 
18.6 
16.0 
IS* 9 
13.6 
10. 5 
6.4 
5*4 
6.6 
6 inches. 
23 - 7 
23.1 
19-9 
19.0 
18.3 
15*7 
15*7 
13*2 
10.3 
6. 2 
5 * 0 
5*7 
7 indies. 
22.9 
23 - 1 
19-4 
18.0 
18.0 
15.6 
IS* 5 
12. 7 
10.0 
5*9 
5 *i 
S-o 
8 indies. 
22. 0 
22. 7 
X9. 0 
16.8 
17. 7 
IS* 4 
iS*i 
ix. 8 
9.6 
5*6 
4*9 
4 * 7 
9 inches. 
20.8 
22.4 
18.1 
IS* 9 
x6.9 
IS* 0 
14.8 
10.8 
9*5 
5*3 
4.6 
4 * 7 
10 inches. 
19-5 
21. 8 
17.4 
14. 8 
16. 7 
14.6 
14. 6 
9.9 
9.1 
5*2 
46 
4*7 
11 inches. 
17-6 
21.4 
16.8 
14.0 
16.2 
14.4 
14. 2 
9*5 
8.6 
5 *o 
4*3 
46 
i 3 inches.. 
16. 5 
20.8 
15-4 
13.6 
15.3 
14. 2 
13 * 7 
9- 2 
8.2 
4*8 
4.4 
4.6 
13 inches. 
15.3 
20.4 
14. 5 
13*4 
14.8 
14.0 
13. 2 
8.9 
7 * S 
4 * 7 
4. 2 
4 * 7 
14 inches. 
14 -S 
20. X 
13*0 
13*2 
14.1 
13*6 
12*5 
8.9 
7*3 
4-8 
4.2 
4 * 7 
15 inches. 
14.0 
X9.6 
X 2 « 9 
13.1 
13*2 
13*3 
12.3 
8* 8 
6.6 
4.6 
4.1 
4*7 
16 inches. 
13*6 
19- 0 
12. 7 
13 * I 
12.3 
13 -1 
ii *3 
8-7 
6.2 
4.6 
4*1 
4*6 
17 inches. 
13 * S 
18.3 
12.4 
I 3 *i 
11. 7 
12. 9 
10. 7 
8.7 
6.0 
4.6 
4.2 
4*7 
18 inches.. 
13-3 
17* S 
12.3 
I 3 *i 
11.4 
12.3 
10.3 
8.6 
6.0 
4.6 
4. 2 
4-6 
19 inches. 
13-3 
16. 9 
12.4 
13*1 
11.0 
11.8 
9.6 
8.7 
S* 7 
4.6 
4*4 
4 * 7 
20 inches. 
13-3 
IS- 7 
12.4 
13*2 
10.9 
11. 2 
9*7 
8.7 
5*7 
4.6 
4.4 
4*7 
21 inches. 
13 -1 
IS- 0 
12.4 
13 - 2 
10. 8 
10. 7 
9*7 
8.7 
5*7 
4*7 
4.4 
4*8 
2a inches. 
13 - 1 
14-S 
12.3 
13-3 
xo. 6 
10. 2 
9-8 
8.8 
S* 7 
4*7 
4 -S 
48 
23 indies. 
X 3 *o 
14 -S 
12. 2 
13*2 
10.5 
9-9 
9 * 7 
8.8 
S -9 
4-7 
4.4 
48 
24 indies. 
X 3 -o 
13-5 
12. 2 
13*3 
10. 5 
IO. 0 
9*7 
8.7 
5 * 7 
4* 6 
4.1 
4*8 
Average, i to 34 
inches. 
18.1 
19.9 
l6. O 
IS* 9 
14.8 
13*8 
I 3 *i 
10.6 
8. 2 
5*4 
4*7 
5*3 
Average, 1 to 12 
indies. 
22.6 
22. 8 
19-4 
18. 5 
17*9 
IS* 6 
15.6 
12. 5 
10. X 
6. x 
5 *i 
6.0 
Average, 13 to 24 
inches.. 
13*6 
17-1 
12.6 
13*2 
11.8 
11.9 
IO. 7 
8.7 
6.2 
4*7 
4*3 
4*7 
Change in water content 
vper cent;. 
1 to 12 inches. 
9.4 
9-7 
7*4 
5 *i 
8.0 
7.6 
6.6 
4.1 
4*5 
x. 8 
.6 
1-7 
13 to 24 indies. 
•4 
4.0 
.6 
—. 2 
1*9 
3*9 
1*7 
•3 
. 6 
•4 
. 9 
•4 
