1. VitiNotes
www.crcv.com.au 2006
Vineyard activities 6: Measuring soil porosity
Current titles in this Soils need large pores and channels EQUIPMENT
Vineyard activities for adequate aeration and good • Shovel
series include: drainage. Large pores that can be
1. Taking soil samples seen by the human eye are known • Fuse wire (0.1mm and 0.5mm
as macropores. diameter)
2. Measuring soil pH
Mesopores and micropores are too • Recording sheet and pen
3. Measuring soil small to be seen by the human eye
salinity TIMING
and are respectively responsible for
4. Measuring organic storing plant available water and This measurement is best
carbon in soil holding the water that is unavailable undertaken when soil sampling
to plant roots. The movement of air is conducted. See Vinyeard
5. Assessing soil activities 1 - Taking soil samples.
through micropores is very slow.
structure
For good plant growth, the soil METHOD
6. Measuring soil
needs a balance of macro-, meso-
porosity Extract a moist sample of soil and on
and micro-pores. Soil with too many
7. Measuring soil micro-pores will drain poorly and an undisturbed face on a clod, select
strength result in waterlogging. a representative 25mm2 section (i.e.
25mm x 25mm) and count all pores
8. Measuring the Clay subsoils often restrict water in the size range 0.1–0.5mm using
infiltration rate of movement to depth and have a low the two wires as a guide. Repeat
water into soil porosity. Therefore, the porosity of three times at each site/depth where
9. Examining grapevine the subsoil is often a good indicator soil sampling is occurring.
root systems of potential waterlogging of the
surface soil. Note: If the topsoil is very crumbly
10. Monitoring soil
moisture Soil management can modify (friable), then the macroporosity is
the porosity of a soil. Tillage and good, even though it is difficult to
trafficking, particularly of wet soil, count the number of pores.
can destroy macro- and mesopores,
while cover crops and mulches can Irrigation classifications according
maintain and stabilise these pores. to soil porocity are provided in the
There is a simple field method to table over the page.
measure soil porosity by counting
the number of pores on a face of a
clod of soil. This is described below
in more detail.
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2. Number of soil pores Soil water conductivity Irrigation classification
(per 25mm x 25mm area) (mm/h)*
10 0.6 Poor
15 1.3
20 2.3
25 3.5
30 4.9
40 8.5
50 12.9 Excellent
*See Cockroft for details
FURTHER INFORMATION
Product or service information is provided to Both of these publications are available
inform the viticulture industry about available from Winetitles, 08 8292 0888, or visit
resources, and should not be interpreted as an www.winetitles.com.au.
endorsement. Also see:
The information in this Vitinote has been trialed by • Cockroft B, (1970) Estimation of soil permeability
viticulturalists as part of the Cooperative Research from counts of visible pores, Australian Journal
Centre for Viticulture’s Viticare On Farm Trials of Experimental Agriculture and Animal
project. For information about On Farm Trials, visit Husbandry 10 (45), pp460-1.
www.crcv.com.au/viticare/
Water management for grapevine production:
A key reference on these topics is: Research to Practice® and Grapevine nutrition:
• Nicholas P, (Ed.) (2004) Soil, irrigation and Research to Practice® are training programs
nutrition, Grape Production Series 2, SARDI, whose delivery can be fine-tuned to suit each
Adelaide. region. They include topics on soil management
issues.
Another useful reference is:
• Nicholas P, Magarey PA and Wachtel M, (Eds.)
(1994) Diseases and pests, Grape Production ©2006 Cooperative Research Centre for
Series 1, Hyde Park Press, Adelaide (a glove Viticulture
box edition of this book is also available).
The CRC for Viticulture is a joint venture between the following core participants,
working with a wide range of supporting partners.
www.crcv.com.au 2