Basic Practical Course on the Physics of Water Flow in Soils and Plants
Lecturer: Dr. Tina Köhler
This module equips students with the skills and knowledge required to measure water dynamics across the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and the processes impacting it in the field. Upon successful completion of this module, students will have the following skills:
1. To measure the fundamental physical properties of soils in the field, including type, texture, and structures to understand how those factors affect soil water dynamics (drying and wetting).
2. To measure and monitor soil water dynamics (water potential and water content) throughout the growing season in the field to understand how it responds to water input (precipitation) and water depletion (evapotranspiration).
3. To measure and monitor indicators of plant water status (transpiration, stomatal conductance, leaf xylem water potential) throughout the growing season in the field to understand how it is affected by atmospheric water demand and soil water availability.
4. To measure plant architectural properties (leaf area, root length density) to understand how they contribute to plant water demand and supply.