RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOIL PHYSICAL CONSTANTS AND SOIL PHYSICAL COMPONENTS OF SOME MANITOBA SOILS

Abstract

The relationships between soil physical constants and soil components of Manitoba soils were investigated on 112 samples varying widely m physical composition. The physical constants bulk density, field capacity, permanent wilting percentage, available moisture on a weight basis, and available moisture on a volume basis were related to the soil components fine sand, very fane sand, silt, clay, organic matter and calcium carbonate. The results showed that a highly significant relationship existed between soil components and each soil physical constant. In the case of bulk density, field capacity and permanent wilting percentage, the relationships were sufficiently close to permit their use for prediction purposes. The large standard error of estimate for the regression equations of the other two soil physical constants limited their usefulness for this purpose.