Which term describes the water content held in soil after drainage has ceased and downward movement slows?

Which term describes the water content held in soil after drainage has ceased and downward movement slows?

• A. Available water capacity
• B. Field capacity
• C. Wilting point
• D. Saturated hydraulic conductivity

Answer: (B)

Field capacity describes the water content left in soil after drainage has ceased and downward movement slows. Once gravity drainage finishes, water is retained in the smaller pores by capillary and adsorptive forces, and that remaining moisture represents field capacity. It sets the baseline for how much water the root zone can hold against gravity and serves as the reference for plant-available water. The amount of water plants can use is the difference between field capacity and wilting point, which is the lower limit at which plants can no longer extract water. The saturated hydraulic conductivity is about how easily water moves through saturated soil, not about how much water is held.

Field capacity describes the water content left in soil after drainage has ceased and downward movement slows. Once gravity drainage finishes, water is retained in the smaller pores by capillary and adsorptive forces, and that remaining moisture represents field capacity. It sets the baseline for how much water the root zone can hold against gravity and serves as the reference for plant-available water. The amount of water plants can use is the difference between field capacity and wilting point, which is the lower limit at which plants can no longer extract water. The saturated hydraulic conductivity is about how easily water moves through saturated soil, not about how much water is held.