Granulometric composition as a factor of winter moisture migration in soils

Based on a review of published data, the article refines the understanding of the influence of granulometric composition on winter moisture migration in soils of the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Siberia. It establishes quantitative proportionalities between environmental parameters and the cryogenic accumulation of moisture in soils with different granulometric compositions for the purpose of forecasting this element of the soil water regime. The particle size distribution predetermines the water yield of soils and the volume of mobile moisture at humidity levels below the field capacity. Soils with a heavy particle size distribution (heavy loamy and light clayey) are characterized by low water yield (the water storage coefficient is 0.06). This is due to the high water content of micropores with difficult-to-move moisture and the increased hydro-adsorption capacity of highly silty soils (more than 15% of the mass). The content of mobile moisture remains high even at humidity levels below the field capacity. Therefore, in heavy soils with shallow groundwater, the freezing accumulation does not exceed 50 mm, while with deep groundwater, it reaches 25 mm. Under such soils, during the redistribution of part of the groundwater into the cryogenic accumulation layer, their level may drop by 0.9 m from October to March, and the thickness of the freezing layer can reach 1.1 m. Light (sandy and sandy loam) soils are characterized by the predominance of large and medium pores, as well as low hydro-adsorption capacity (2–3% of the mass). Therefore, light soils are characterized by high water storage (the water storage coefficient can reach up to 0.5). The content of moisture capable of movement at humidity levels below the field capacity is low in light soils, since moisture in medium and large pores is predominantly in a disconnected state. For this reason, in light soils with shallow groundwater, up to 100 mm of moisture can freeze, while with deep groundwater, less than 10 mm freezes. Due to the high water storage, the drop in groundwater level in light soils from October to March barely reaches 0.2 m, and the vertical thickness of the freezing layer does not exceed 0.5 m.

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