Cracking patterns in the vertisols of the Sudan Gezira at the end of dry season
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1
Water Management and Irrigation Institute, University of Gezira, P.O. Box 20, Wad Medani, Sudan
2
Land and Water Research Centre, Agricultural Research Corporation, P.O. Box 126, Wad Medani, Sudan
3
Institut für Öcologie und Biologie, Technische Universität-Berlin, Salzufer 11-12, D-10587 Berlin, Germany
Acceptance date: 2000-06-07
Int. Agrophys. 2001, 15(3): 151-155
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ABSTRACT
Cracking patterns have been investigated in field conditions at three different sites in the Vertisols of the Sudan Gezira. The selected sites differed in particle size distribution with the clay content increasing from the north to south of the region. The natural soil moisture regime was also differentiated with the rainfall rate increasing from the north to the south. However, the three sites have been under irrigation for over 70 years. In this study, the intensity of cracking was expressed as crack depth, width and length as well as distances between cracks at the end of dry season. Approximated calculations of the cracks' volume based on field measurements were made. The intensity of cracking was increasing from the north to the south which indicates that cracks' intensity in the Gezira Vertisols is associated with the soil clay content and water regime.