The term soil water bank account is a metaphor describing how soil stores water, much like a bank account holds money. Water is "deposited" in the soil through precipitation and irrigation, and "withdrawn" by plants through uptake and by evaporation. When conditions are favorable, the soil bank account is replenished; during drought, withdrawals outpace deposits, steadily depleting the reserve12.
steadily drains the soil water bank account, leading to several critical consequences:
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: Drought means less precipitation to recharge the soil, so the available water for plants drops significantly. This can lead to plant stress, poor crop yields, and even plant death if the drought is prolonged34.
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Increased Soil Water Repellence: Extended dry periods can make soils, especially sandy types, more water-repellent. This means that when rain does arrive, it may not infiltrate efficiently, exacerbating water shortages for crops and increasing runoff and erosion risks3.
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Lowered Soil Microbial Activity: Soil microbes require moisture to thrive. As the soil dries, microbial activity slows, which can impair nutrient cycling and soil health. Some microbes die off, but populations can recover if organic matter remains and moisture returns3.
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: Drought can cause soil to crack, especially in clay-rich soils, exposing roots to air and further drying. These cracks can also change how water infiltrates the soil when rain returns5.
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: After a drought, soils—especially those with high clay content—may need significant rainfall to restore moisture levels above the wilting point, enabling seeds to germinate and plants to grow again3.
Healthy soils act as a more resilient water bank:
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: Soils rich in organic matter can hold more water, making them more drought-resistant. Organic matter acts like a sponge, increasing the soil’s water-holding capacity and helping plants survive dry spells67.
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: Well-structured soils allow water to infiltrate and be stored more efficiently, reducing runoff and making more water available to plants during drought67.
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: Maintaining or increasing soil organic matter, reducing tillage, and using cover crops can help soils store more water and recover faster after drought67.
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: Technologies such as soil moisture sensors help farmers track the "balance" in their soil water bank account, allowing for better irrigation and drought response2.
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Drought steadily drains the soil water bank account, reducing available moisture for plants, harming soil biology, and making recovery more difficult when rain returns314.
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—rich in organic matter and well-managed—are better equipped to store water and withstand drought stress67.
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are essential tools for building resilience against ongoing and future droughts62.
- https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/geoglabmanualv2/chapter/surface-water-budget/
- https://www.farmprogress.com/technology/sensor-system-monitors-soil-water-bank-account-
- https://soilcrc.com.au/resources/managing-soils-during-and-after-drought-in-cropping-systems/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7911879/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1759
- https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/hedge-against-drought-why-healthy-soil-water-bank
- https://consciousplanet.org/en/save-soil/news/soil-and-water-unravelling-the-nexus
- https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/weather/canadian-drought-monitor/current-drought-conditions
- https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjps-2022-0210
- https://www.drought.gov/topics/soil-moisture
- https://stories.uq.edu.au/policy-futures/2022/water-banking-for-drought-resilience/index.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater_banking
- https://online.ucpress.edu/elementa/article/10/1/00043/194830/How-does-building-healthy-soils-impact-sustainable
- https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/groundwater-banking
- https://www.alberta.ca/drought-information-for-water-licence-holders-and-municipalities
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038071724000932
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969722082456
- https://www.csiro.au/en/about/challenges-missions/drought-resilience/water-banking
- https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/soil-water-dynamics-103089121/
- http://agriculture.canada.ca/en/agricultural-production/soil-and-land/soil-and-water
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