Science · 6 pages · 12 min
How soil holds water
Soil keeps water in small pores and as films on grains after the large pores drain.
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From the opening
Soil holds water in the pores between particles and as thin films stuck to the grains. After gravity has drained the largest pores, a great deal of water remains because capillary forces and adhesion keep it from falling out. The opening covers films and small pores after drainage, field capacity and the wilting point, and why a wet soil can lack air.
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Inside
- Films and small pores after drainage
- Field capacity and the wilting point
- Why a wet soil can lack air
- What a dry surface can hide
- Where the idea stops applying
- A distinction worth keeping
Sources
- Capillary water and soil-water potential
- Field capacity and the permanent wilting point