Abstract
This study was conducted to clarify the soil moisture environment in orchard over the course of a year by observing the soil moisture conditions and the properties of water consumption. Locations where Japanese pears and Japanese persimmons planted were selected for study.
Furthermore, the soil moisture environment in the orchards was compared with that in the artificial forest had been reviewed by applying the average of soil moisture tension through all soil layers measured. The results are as follows.
Dry situations of soil layer in the both locations were observed only within 40cm soil layer during the summer season even as well as other general orchards.
Soil moisture conditions during the winter season were maintained to be overwet in both places, probably the drainage should be necessary to improve the bad conditions.
The highest daily consumption occured during August or September. On the other hand, the ratio of the consumption in the upper layer, that is, surface soil layer above 40cm depth, was found to exceed 80%.
Finally, comparing the soil moisture environment in the orchard with that in the artificial forest, the average of soil moisture tension through all soil layers measured in the latter was above pF 2.5 at summer season, but that in the former below pF 2.0. However, both were overwet during the winter season.
