Pedotransfer functions adapted for soils from La Plata, Argentina

Available data for agricultural soils are texture, organic matter content and bulk density. Determining other variables such as saturated hydraulic conductivity and the relationship between water content and soil-water potential can be expensive and time consuming. Pedo-transfer functions (PTF) translates available data into results we need. The objectives of this work were to evaluate the applicability of PTF available in the literature to soils of the area of La Plata (Argentina) and generate new PTF for these soils. Results obtained experimentally from the water characteristic function of soils of La Plata surroundings were used. The PTF selected to evaluate were two: a parametric PTF (PTF of Saxton et al., 1986), and a point estimation PTF (PTF of Rawls et al., 1982). For the PTF of Saxton et al. (7), there were significant differences between measured and estimated values for two water potentials. The PTF of Rawls et al. (6) estimated values significantly different from those measured for all water potentials tested. A point estimation PTF was generated for La Plata soils which was effective for 33, 100 and 1500 kPa.