Hydraulic Characteristics of Certain Conditioners and their Effect on Plant Growth.

Abstract

Moisture-tension curves of the conditioners hygromol and peatmoss indicated the loss of more than 90% of their water at low tensions, particularly hygromol at 0.1 atm. tension. The work (W) as calorie squired to remove the available moisture from peatmoss treated soils was at least 1.6 times that of hygromol treated soil. But the work required to remove equal water content from both hygromol and peatmoss treated soils at low tensions were nearly the same, whereas at higher tensions, the work was higher for the hygromol than the peatmoss. The addition of the two conditioners to the sandy soil up to 30% by volume did not appreciably increase the available moisture in absolute quantities. However, the statistical analysis of the results of the length, diameter and fresh weight of the stem of the transplanted cassia tenitiva in pots for five months, as well as the length of roots showed significant difference for all treatments of the two conditioners with the control.