A numerical solution of the moisture flow equation was devised and programmed for an IBM 650 computer. Solutions obtained for infiltration into a loam over a silt loam and vice versa showed that infiltration was governed by flow through the less permeable soil, provided the wetting front had extended well into the second layer. Solutions were also obtained for vertical upward and vertical downward infiltrations and for horizontal infiltration into two soils. The numerical solution was found to give excellent results when compared with the methods of E. J. Scott et al. and J. R. Philip for horizontal infiltration into homogeneous soils at a uniform initial water content.
The absorbance at 1.94µ by a soil‐methanol extract was used for measuring the soil water contents of three different textured soils. A linear relation between absorbance and soil water content was adequate for moisture determinations ranging from air dry to the moisture equivalent. For Quincy loamy sand and Barnes loam soils, calibration based only on laboratory standards was sufficient. For Houston Black clay, calibration against oven‐dry samples was necessary. Determination time was approximately 1 hour.
Observation from an unrelated field bean experiment indicated that certain seed orientations might reduce emergence. Consequently, studies were initiated to determine if orientation variations occur in planting and if these variations influence emergence.
Orientation of bean seeds, dropped into both “V” and flat‐bottom furrows, were classified and tabulated. In “V” furrows almost all orientations were possible; 36% assumed the “lay‐flat” orientation. In the flat‐bottom furrow 85% of the beans were in the “lay‐flat” position. The influence of 11 different seed orientations on emergence was evaluated in greenhouse studies. With crusted soils seeds planted “hypocotyl end down” produced significantly less emerged seedlings (1% level) and a lower emergence rate. Orientation effects were observed to a lesser degree in noncrusted soils.
The adverse influence of “hypocotyl end down” orientations was attributed to seed rotation within the soil. For controlled plantings the “lay‐flat” orientation is recommended due to both its high frequency of occurrence and high emergence.
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