Calculation of Evapotranspiration and Crop Water Requirements

Abstract

This chapter provides a basic description of soil properties and pro- cesses, stressing the concept that the soil is a dynamic entity where complex interactions among its biological, chemical and physical components take place. All these components and properties determine the functioning of the soil for different purposes; this functioning is included in the concept of “soil quality”. One of the most used definitions of soil quality is the capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environ- mental quality, and promote plant and animal health (https://www.soils.org/publi cations/soils-glossary). Land use and management can have a profound impact on many soil properties, thus indirectly affecting soil quality which can result in improvements or constraints for productivity of agricultural lands and for agricul- tural sustainability in the long term. 2.1