I - --ii

crops extended deeper than under winter-sown crops, but that moisture extraction
did not occur to the same depth. This is presented in more detail in Figures
2A and 2B, which show the temporal distribution of moisture within discrete
depth intervals under winter- and spring-sown chickpea at Jindiress. Here it can
be seen that under winter-sown ILC 482 recharge in any given horizon reached a
maximum value, but due to the established root system and crop canopy, the
recharge pattern reverted rapidly to discharge from early March onwards. This
uptake of moisture by the crop grealy reduced redistribution of moisture by slow
drainage into deeper horizons. ii contrast, under spring-sown chickpeas where
the crop canopy and root system had not developed, depth intervals became
recharged and maintained high contents of soil moisture for several months
before discharge occurred in April. Under these conditions, much greater mois­
ture redistribution by slow drainage occurred, and recharge was observed to
(A) Spring-Sown ILC 482
S3.9
45-60
4.3 60-75
I4.7
9i4.9 105
10- 120
120­
5.3
5.4 '-"135- 150
5.2
150-165
4.7-'
5.0
5/12/80
-
165 -180
I I I I I
151
22/1 5/3 8/4 11/5 1/6 124/6/81
Date Emergence Harvest
Figure 2A
Temporal distribution of moisture within discrete soil horizons under
spring-sown chickpea at Jindiress, 1980-81.