Sustainable Soil Management
Glossary
W
WATER DEFICIT. The amount of available water removed from the soil within the vegetation’s active rooting depth, or the amount of water required to bring the soil to field capacity.
WATER TABLE. The upper surface of groundwater or that level below which the soil is saturated with water.
WATERSHED. All land and water that drains runoff to a stream or other surface water body.
WEATHERING. Physical, chemical, and biological processes that breakdown and transform rocks and minerals.
WETTING FRONT. The boundary between the wetted soil and dry soil during infiltration of water.
WINDBREAK. Planting of trees, shrubs, or other vegetation perpendicular, or nearly so, to the principal wind direction to protect soils, crops, homesteads, etc., from wind and snow.
