ABSTRACT
CHARACTERIZATION AND RELATION OF THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF IRRIGATED SOILS OF THE SANTIAGO PROVINCE. I. SOIL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Emilio Ruz J.1, Jorge García-Huidobro P. de A.2 y Sergio Alcayaga C.3
 

In eight soil series fram the Santiago province a physical characterization was carried out. Soil texture, bulk density, real density, porasity, field capacity, moisture equivalent, moislmre desorption curve and infiltration were determined.
Soil texture varied hetween moderately fine and fine. Bulk density fluctuated between 1.11 grcm-3 and 1.81 grcm-3; field capacity varied between 14% and 36% and available moisture between 6.7 and 13%.
Moisture relase curves show that the soils Polpaico, Mapocho, Batuco and Agua del Gato, have a similar behaviour at different tensions presenting a greater amount of water retainedat 0.3 bar and 15 bar.
It is possible to group the soils series studied according to their infiltration capacities in the following sequence: Maipo, Mapocho, Batuco > Alto Jahuel, Agua del Gato, Melipilla > Lo Herrera> Polpaico.

Keywords:
1Ing. Agr., Departamento de Suelos, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad.· Católica de Chile. Actualmente, Programas de Fertilidad de Suelos y Agrometeorología, Estación Experimental Kampenaike (INIA) Casilla 616, Punta Arenas, Chile.
2Ing. Agr., M. Phil., Departamento de Suelos, Facultad de Agronomia, Universidad Católica de Chile. Actualmente, Programas Riego y Agrometeorología, Estación Experimental La Platina (INIA), Casilla 5427, Santiago, Chile.
3Ing. Agr., M. S., Unidad Estudios Básicos, Departamento de Agricultura y Agroindustrias, GORPO, S