chresard

From Ancient Greek χρῆσις (khrêsis, “use”) + ἄρδω (árdō, “to water, to irrigate”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɹiːˌsɑː(ɹ)d/

chresard (plural chresards)

1. (dated) The portion of the water in a sample of soil that is available to vegetation (e.g. plant roots)
   • 1929, Frederic Clements, Plant Competition: An Analysis of Community Functions, page 238:

     As in the previous series the chresard decreased progressively with the density, but the correspondence with depth was less consistent.

   • 2008, Susan Merriweather Harris, The Western Cross Timbers: Scenario of the Past, Outcome for the Future, page 12:

     The soil is typically light and sandy, and the oaks are relicts from a moist phase of the climatic cycle that have been able to maintain themselves against the competition of the grasses by virtue of the favored chresard of the sandy soil.

• echard

• holard

• Schrader