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Some soils have a large volume of pore space, but the individual pores are too small to allow water to pass through.

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Q: Why do some soils have high porosity but low permeability?
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Porosity is the amount of pore space in soils. Permeability is the ability of water to pass through the soil. Why do some soils have high porosity but low permeability?

Some soils have a large volume of pore space,but the individual pores are too small to allowwater to pass through.


What is the permeability and porosity of the soil in Antarctica?

Well, in Antarctica, the soil is called Permafrost. It is very silty/sandy-like.The porosity is very low, the soil cannot hold very much water. And as you may know, if soil has low porosity, then it must have high permeability.Now I'm not really going to get into details, but that is the main idea. If you are looking for more of a detailed explanation, then I will link a website you can get some more information on.Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost


What type of soil does south texas have?

The state of Texas has many types of soils. Some of the soils are Trans-Pecos, Upper Pecos, High Plains and Rolling Plains soil.


What are some examples cohesive soils?

best example of cohesive soil is the soil which have high content of clay or clay.


Why soil porosity important to farmers?

It is important for soil to hold water for plants to grow, but the soil cannot be so porous that no water is retained for plants to grow in (especially those with shallow root systems), nor can the soil be not porous since plants drown from access to too much water. The majority of crops rely on soils that have some porosity in them versus ones that have no porosity or too much porosity since, for the former, crops like corn and wheat have very shallow root systems that do not grow deep enough to reach water, and for the latter are intolerant of too much water (exceptions are rice patties).

Related questions

Porosity is the amount of pore space in soils. Permeability is the ability of water to pass through the soil. Why do some soils have high porosity but low permeability?

Some soils have a large volume of pore space,but the individual pores are too small to allowwater to pass through.


What are the phyical properties of sand?

Sand has several physical properties. Some of the most important are porosity, mineral composition, grain size, grain shape, and permeability.


Some ponds are designed to increase the amount of water seeping into the ground. These types of ponds will fail to work properly in -?

soils with low permeability


What is the permeability and porosity of the soil in Antarctica?

Well, in Antarctica, the soil is called Permafrost. It is very silty/sandy-like.The porosity is very low, the soil cannot hold very much water. And as you may know, if soil has low porosity, then it must have high permeability.Now I'm not really going to get into details, but that is the main idea. If you are looking for more of a detailed explanation, then I will link a website you can get some more information on.Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost


Is sand and soil the same?

Sand content is part of many different native "soils", but they are not exactly the same thing. Loam soil - the best kind for growing things - is made up of fairly equal proportions of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Some soils are high in clay (called "heavy" soils). Some soils are high in sand content - the soil in my own yard for example. So in a sentence: Sand is a component of most soils - it is not "soil" by itself.


What type of soil does south texas have?

The state of Texas has many types of soils. Some of the soils are Trans-Pecos, Upper Pecos, High Plains and Rolling Plains soil.


When some substances can pass across them but others can not what are biological membranes said to have?

selective permeability or semi-permeability


When some substance can pass across them but others can not biological membranes are said to have?

selective permeability or semi-permeability


When some substances can pass across them but other can not biological membranes are said to have?

selective permeability or semi-permeability


What are some examples cohesive soils?

best example of cohesive soil is the soil which have high content of clay or clay.


Why soil porosity important to farmers?

It is important for soil to hold water for plants to grow, but the soil cannot be so porous that no water is retained for plants to grow in (especially those with shallow root systems), nor can the soil be not porous since plants drown from access to too much water. The majority of crops rely on soils that have some porosity in them versus ones that have no porosity or too much porosity since, for the former, crops like corn and wheat have very shallow root systems that do not grow deep enough to reach water, and for the latter are intolerant of too much water (exceptions are rice patties).


What feature of the plasma membrane that keeps some substances out?

Selective Permeability