Soil/ Ground Materials

Parameter

Description

Type of material

General category for the soil type (Natural Soil or Artificial soil). Influences default physical and hydrological behavior in ENVI-met.

Water content at saturation

Maximum volumetric water content (m³ water per m³ soil) when pores are completely filled with water.

Water content at field capacity

Volumetric water content remaining in the soil after gravitational water has drained away; water available for plants under normal conditions.

Water content at wilting point

Minimum volumetric water content at which plants can still extract water; below this, plants wilt.

Matrix potential

Soil water potential (in MPa or similar units) at field capacity, representing the suction force with which soil holds water. Negative values mean water is held against gravity.

Hydraulic conductivity

Rate at which water can move through saturated soil (mm/day or cm/day depending on ENVI-met unit settings). High values mean water drains quickly.

Volumetric heat capacity

Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit volume of soil by 1 K (MJ/m³·K). Determines how much energy the soil can store.

Clapp & Hornberger Constant

Empirical parameter controlling the shape of the soil water retention curve; affects how soil releases water at different tensions.

Heat conductivity

Thermal conductivity of the soil (W/m·K) — determines how fast heat is transferred through it.