Rothamsted Studies of Soil Structure V.

Summary Three pairs of soils were chosen, each with one difficult and one easily manageable soil with similar texture. Mechanical composition and organic matter content greatly affected the measured physical properties some of which related to the field behaviour of each pair. Soils from all horizons were stable to water slaking except some subsoils on the Ragdale, Hanslope, Salop, and Flint series. Dry and total mechanical slaking were less and breaking strengths more for the Denchworth, Evesham, Ragdale and Hanslope series than for the Salop and Flint soils. Water‐holding capacity was largest for the Denchworth and Evesham soils, but slow penetration of water into their dense clods could influence regeneration of tilth.