Soil Physics III.

Water Retention in Soil

3. WATER RETENTION IN SOIL
3.1 Properties of water and its relation to soil

3.1.1 Properties of water

Knowledge of the basic physical properties of water is essential for an understanding of its
behavior and function in nature, its interaction with the soil, and its state and movement in the
soil-plant-atmosphere system as a whole.

Water is an unusual fluid and has much different physical properties than other substances
with equal molecular weight: high boiling and melting point, low fluid density, high heat of
melting and vaporization, high specific heat, large dielectric constant, and good solvent.

A molecule as small as water – one cubic centimeter of liquid water contains about 3.4 x 10 22
-8
(34000 billion billion) molecules, the diameter of which is about 3 Â (3 x 10 cm)- should
be a gas but, instead, water is a liquid at room temperature. Water has an extremely high
specific heat and its heat of vaporization is the highest of any known substance. Solid phase
water (ice) is less dense than the liquid phase, causing ice to float. High surface tension gives
water its tendency to bead up or form drops rather than spread over a greater area. The
physical and biological processes on earth are inseparably linked to the peculiar properties of
water.

Soil is a leaky water reservoir. When too much water is added, the excess runs off over the
surface or into deeper layers. Why does the soil hold some of the water yet allows part of it to
drain deeper? To understand the answer to this question, one must understand the force
causing the attraction between soil and water.

Water is held in soils because of hydrogen bonding, which accounts for most of the
anomalous properties of water. Oxygen and a few adjacent elements on the chemical periodic
table exhibit strong electro-negativity. This means that they retain more than an equal
allotment of the shared electrons in a covalent bond and, therefore, retain a partial negative
charge. In soils, hydrogen bonding explains the attraction of positively charged hydrogen
(H+) of water to electronegative oxygen of other water molecules and to the oxygen on the
surfaces of soil minerals and organic matter. This bonding of water to the surfaces of soil
particles is termed adsorption or adhesive bonding (attraction unlike molecules). The bonding
 Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
of water molecules to another water molecule is termed cohesive bonding. When fatty or oily
substances that are low in oxygen coat soil particles, hydrogen of the water are not attracted
to the coated surface (mostly carbons and hydrogen exposed). Such soils are called Water
repellent soils. They are formed in nature under many plant covers and after forest fires,
which tend to drive vaporized oils and resins into the soil where they coat the soil particles
and cause them to resist wetting because of the C-H surfaces they expose to water.

Positive side of
molecules

Negative side
of molecules

Strong combined adhesion and cohesion forces cause water films of considerable thickness to
be held on the surface of soil particles. Because the forces holding water in soil are surface-
attractive forces, the more surface (the more clay and organic matter) a soil has the greater is
the amount of adsorbed water.

3.1.2. Cohesion and adhesion

Hydrogen bonding accounts for two basic forces responsible for water retention and
movement in soils; the attraction of water molecules for each other (cohesion) and the
attraction of water molecules for solid surfaces (adhesion). By adhesion (also called
adsorption), some water molecules are held rigidly at the soil solid surfaces. In turn, these
tightly bound water molecules hold by cohesion other water molecules further removed from
the solid surfaces. Together, the forces of adhesion and cohesion make it possible for soil
solids to retain water and control its movement and use. Adhesion and cohesion also make
possible the property of plasticity possessed by clays.

3.1.3 Surface tension

Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Suction or tension – term equivalent to negative pressure used to avoid negative numbers
when describing the status of water. Surface tension is a phenomenon occurring typically at
the interface of a liquid and a gas. The liquid behaves as if it were covered by an elastic
membrane in a constant state of tension which tends to cause the surface to contract. If we
draw an arbitrary line on a liquid surface, there will be a force F pulling the surface to the
right of the line and an equal force pulling the surface leftwards. The ratio F/L is the surface
tension and its dimension are those of force per unit length (dynes per centimeter). The same
phenomena can also be described in terms of energy which remains stored in the enlarged
surface just as energy can be stored in a stretched spring, and it can perform work if the
enlarged surface is allowed to contract again. An explanation for occurrence of surface
tension is given below.

Molecule A inside the liquid is attracted in all direction by equal cohesive forces, while
molecule B at the surface of the liquid is attracted into the denser liquid phase by a force
greater than the force attracting it into the gaseous phase. This unbalanced force draws the
surface molecules inward into the liquid and the results in the tendency for the surface to
contract.

Surface tension is associated with the phenomenon of capillarity. When the interface of the
liquid and the gas is not planar but curved (concave or convex), a pressure difference between
the two phase is indicated, since the surface tension forces have a resultant normal to the
surface which in equilibrium must be counteracted by a pressure difference across the
interface. If we stretch a rubber membrane as a boundary between two air cells of different
pressure, this membrane will bulge into the side having the lower pressure. Similarly, a liquid
with an interface which is convex toward the atmosphere is under a pressure greater than
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
atmospheric; a liquid with an interface concave toward the gaseous phase is at a pressure
smaller than atmospheric, and a liquid with a flat interface is at the same pressure as the
atmosphere.

Different liquids differ in their surface tension values, as illustrated in the following list:
 Water – 72.7 dynes/cm = 0.072 N/m
 Ethyl alcohol – 17 dynes/cm
 Mercury – 430 dynes /cm
Surface tension values also depend on temperature (inversely) and the presence of soluble
substances – e.g. a 1.0% NaCl concentration increases the surface tension by 0.17 dynes cm-1.

3.1.4 Curvature of water surfaces and hydrostatic pressure

In order to illustrate the relationship between surface curvature and pressure, we shall carry
out a hypothetical experiment as illustrated in the following figure.

C
B

A R

R+dR

This figure shows that a bubble of gas A, blown into a liquid B through a capillary C. If we
neglect the influence of gravitation and the special conditions occurring at the edge of the
tube, we can expect the bubble to be spherical (a shape that is obtained because it affords the
smallest surface area for a given volume), with radius R.

If we now add a small amount of gas by lowering the piston D under a pressure greater than
atmospheric by a magnitude P, the radius of the bubble will increase to R + dR. This will in
turn increase the surface area of the bubble by (neglecting the
second order differential terms). Increasing the surface area of the bubble required the
investment of work against the surface tension , and the amount of this work is .
Simultaneously, we have increased the volume of the bubble by
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

This increase in volume against the pressure P involved work in the amount The
two expressions for the quantity of work performed must be equal, i.e.,
Therefore,

This important equation shows that the difference P between the pressure of the bubble and
the pressure of the water surrounding it is directly proportional to the surface tension and
inversely proportional to the radius of the bubble; thus, the smaller the bubble is, the greater
is its pressure. If the bubble is not spherical, then instead of the above equation we obtain

Where R1 and R2 are the principal radii of curvature for a given point on the interface. This
equation reduces to the previous one whenever R1=R2.

3.1.5. Contact angle of water on solid surfaces

If we place a drop of liquid upon a dry solid surface, the liquid will usually displace the gas
which covered the surface of the solid and spread over that surface to a certain extent. Where
its spreading will cease and the edge of the drop will come to rest, its interface with the gas
will form a typical angle with its interface with the solid. This angle, termed the contact angle
is illustrated as follows.

Viewed two-dimensionally on a cross-sectional plane, the three phases meet at a point A and
form three angles with the sum of 360o. If we assume the angle in the solid to be 180o, and if
we designate the angle in the liquid as , the angle in the gaseous phase will be .

We can simplify the matter by stating that, if the adhesive forces between the solid and liquid
are greater than the cohesive forces inside the liquid itself, and greater than the forces of
attraction between the gas and solid, then the solid-liquid contact angle will tend to be acute
and the liquid will wet the solid. A contact angle of zero would mean the complete flattening
of the drop and perfect wetting of the solid surface by the liquid. It would be as though the
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
solid surface had an absolute preference for the liquid over the gas. A contact angle of 180 oC
(if it were possible) would mean a complete non wetting or rejection of the liquid by the gas-
covered solid, i.e. the drop would retain its spherical shape without spreading over the surface
at all (assuming no gravity effect).

3.1.6 Capillarity

A capillarity tube dipped in a body of water will form a meniscus as the result of the contact
angle of water with the walls of the tube. The curvature of this meniscus will be greater (i.e.
the radius of curvature smaller) the narrower the tube. The occurrence of curvature causes a
pressure difference to develop across the liquid-gas interface. A liquid with an acute contact
angle (e.g. water on glass) will form a meniscus concave toward the air, and therefore the
liquid pressure under the meniscus P1 will be smaller than the atmospheric pressure (P o). For
this reason, the water inside the tube, and the meniscus, will be driven up the tube from its
initial location by the greater pressure of the free water outside the tube and the water under
the flat surface outside the tube is relieved by the counter hydrostatic pressure of the water
column in the capillary tube.

In a cylindrical capillary tube, the meniscus assumes a spherical shape. When the contact
angle of the liquid on the walls of the tube is zero, the meniscus is a hemisphere (and in two-
dimensional drawing can be represented as a semicircle) with its radius of curvature equal to
the the radius of the capillary tube. If, on the other hand, the liquid contacts the tube at an
angle greater than zero but smaller than 90 oC, then the diameter of the tube (2r) is the length
of a chord cutting a section of a circle with an angle of , as shown below. Thus

Where R is the radius of curvature of the meniscus, r the radius of the capillary, and the
contact angle.
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

The pressure difference P between the capillary water (under the meniscus) and the
atmosphere, therefore, is

and the height of capillary rise h is

Where is the density of the gas (which is generally neglected), the density of the liquid, g
the acceleration of gravity, r the capillary radius, the contact angle, and the surface tension
between the liquid and the air.

When the liquid surface is concave, the center of curvature lies outside the liquid and the
curvature, by convention, is regarded as negative. Thus, for a concave meniscus such as that
of water in a clean glass capillary, P is negative with reference to the atmosphere indicating a
capillary pressure deficit (or sub pressure). For a convex meniscus (such as that of mercury in
glass, or of water in an oily or otherwise water-repellent tube), P is positive and capillary
depression, rather than capillary rise, will result.

When the contact angle of the liquid on the walls of the tube is zero, the meniscus is
hemispherical
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Using typical values for and yields a simple useful approximation

, where h is m and r is

Q3.1
Calculate the height of capillary rise of water in a clean glass tube of 70 inner diameter.
The surface tension of water ( ) at 20 oC is 0.07 N m-1.

3.1.7. Adsorption of water on solid surfaces

Adsorption is another type of interfacial phenomenon resulting from the differential forces of
attraction or repulsion occurring among molecules of different phases at their contact
surfaces. As a result of these cohesive and adhesive forces, the contact zone may exhibit a
concentration or a density of material different from that inside the phases themselves.
According to the different phases which may come into contact, various types of adsorption
can occur, such as the adsorption of gases upon solids, of gases upon liquid surfaces, of
liquids upon solids, etc. In some cases, it is possible to distinguish between chemical
adsorption and physical adsorption, with the former representing an irreversible chemical
interaction between the adsorbed and adsorbing phases. However, this distinction is often
arbitrary.

The interfacial forces of attraction or repulsion may themselves be of different types,

including electrostatic or ionic forces, inter molecular forces known as van der Waals forces,
and short – range repulsive forces. The adsorption of water is the mechanism causing the
strong retention of water by clay soils at high suctions.

The interaction of the charges of the solid with the polar water molecules may impart to the
adsorbed water a distinct and rigid structure in which the water dipoles assume an orientation
dictated by the charge sites on the solids. This adsorbed water layer may have mechanical
properties of strength and viscosity which differ from those of ordinary liquid water at the
same temperature. The adsorption of water upon clay surfaces is an exothermic process,
resulting in the liberation of an amount of heat known as the heat of wetting.

3.2. The state of soil water in the soil

3.2.1. Energy state of soil water

Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

Soil water, like other bodies in nature, can contain energy in different forms and quantities.
Two forms of energy in classical physics: kinetic energy (negligible) and potential energy.
The potential energy is of primary importance in determining the state and movement of
water in the soil. Differences in potential energy of water between one-point and another give
rise to the tendency of water to flow within the soil.

The spontaneous and universal tendency of all the matter in nature is to move from where PE
is higher to where it is low and for each parcel of matter to equilibrate with its surrounding.
In the soil, water moves constantly in the direction of decreasing potential energy. The rate of
decrease of potential energy with distance is in fact the moving force causing flow.

3.2.2. Soil water potential

Soil water is subjected to several force fields whose combined effects results in a deviation in
potential energy relative to the reference state called the total soil-water potential . ISSS
defined total soil water potential as amount of work that must be done per unit quantity of
pure water in order to transport reversibly and isothermally an infinitesimal quantity of
water from a pool of pure water at a specified elevation at atmospheric pressure to the soil
water – at the point under consideration).

The difference between energy of soil water and that of pure water in a standard reference
state is termed as soil-water potential ( ). The components of soil-water potential due to
differences in free energy resulting from gravitational, matric, and osmotic potential are
termed gravitational potential ( ) matric potential ( ), and osmotic potential ( .

The main advantages of the total potential concept so that it provides a unified measure by
which the state of water can be evaluated at any time and everywhere within the soil-plant-
atmosphere continuum.
3.2.3. Quantitative expression of soil water potential
Soil water expressing potential is expressed in either energy per unit mass, weight or volume.

Energy per unit of mass - this is considered fundamental

Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Energy per unit volume -gives the units of pressure because energy = pressure x volume.
The units include , bars, or atmosphere. This method is most convenient for the
osmotic and pressure potentials, but is seldom for the gravitational potentials
Energy per unit weight –hydraulic head (h) – whatever can be expressed in units of
hydraulic static pressure can also be expressed in terms of an equivalent head of
water, which is the height of a liquid column corresponding to the given pressure. For
instance one atmosphere is equivalent to a vertical water column, or hydraulic head of
1033 cm. This method is often simpler and more convenient.
Conversion between units –

3.2.4. Forms of soil water potential

I. Gravitational potential
Gravitational potential – the effects of vertical position on the ability of water to do work.
The more elevated water is relative to a reference plane, the greater is its ability to do work.
Gravitational potential is not affected by soil properties per se and can not be measured on a
soil sample brought to the laboratory; it is strictly field phenomenon.
The gravitational potential of soil water each point is determined by the elevation of the point
relative to some arbitrary reference level. At a height Z above a reference, the gravitational
potential energy Eg of mass (m) of water occupying a volume V is

II. Pressure potential

Pressure potential – the effects of pressure from gases or overhead water on the ability of
soil to do work. Pressure potential (positive) and matric potential (negative).
When soil water is at hydrostatic pressure greater than atmospheric, its pressure potential is
considered positive. When it is at a pressure lower than atmospheric (a subpressure potential
is considered negative). The hydrostatic pressure P of water with reference to the atmospheric
pressure is

where h is the submergence depth below the free water surface, also called piezometric head.
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

-ve

Patm

+ve

III. Matric Potential

Matric potential is the effects of surface adsorption on the ability of water to do work. Water
adsorbed to surfaces of soil particles or held in capillary pores by hydrogen bonding, is less
free to move or react than is water in a pool. Work must be done on it to make it free.
The negative pressure potential has often been termed as capillary potential and more
recently matric potential. This matric potential results from the capillary and adsorption
forces due to the soil matrix. These forces attract and bind water in the soil and lower its
potential energy below that of bulk water. The terms ‘matric potential’, ‘matric suction’ and
‘soil water suction’ have been used interchangeably. According to the ISSS committee, the
matric suction is defined as ‘the negative gauge pressure, relative to the external gas pressure
on the soil water, to which a solution identical in composition with the soil solution must be
subjected in order to be in equilibrium through a porous membrane wall with the water in the
soil.’

An additional factor which may affect the pressure of soil water is a possible change in the
pressure of the ambient air. In general, this effect is negligible, as the atmospheric pressure
remains nearly constant, small barometric pressure fluctuation notwithstanding. However, in
the laboratory, the application of air pressure to change soil-water pressure or suction is a
common practice. Hence this effect was recognized and termed the pneumatic potential. In
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
unsaturated soil can be taken as equal to the sum of the matric ( ) and pneumatic ( )
potentials.

IV. Osmotic potential

Solute or osmotic potential – the effects of dissolved substances on the ability of water to do
work. Water containing solutes (i.e. salts) is less able to do work than is pure water. For
instance, it cannot pass as readily through a membrane, nor can it boil at the standard
boiling point. Work (i.e. energy) is required to remove salts from water. Solute potential
values are always negative.
Osmotic potential ( ) - is attributable to the presence of solutes in the soil – in other words
the soil solution. The solutes reduce the free energy of water, primarily because the solute
ions or molecules attract the water molecules. It has no much effect on water movement but
on plant-water uptake. Solutes lower the vapor of soil water.

Where Cs solute concentration, mol m-3. Absolute temperature (oK), Universal gas constant
8.314 x 10-3 kPa m-3 mol-1 .K-1. A useful approximation which may be used to estimate in

kPa from electrical conductivity of the soil solution at saturation in dSm-1 is

3.2.5. Measurement of soil water potentials

Measurement of soil wetness alone is not sufficient to provide a description of the state of
soil water, to obtain a description, evaluation of the energy status of soil water (soil-moisture)
potential, or suction) in necessary.

Tensiometer – for measuring soil potential made of ceramic having very fine pores,
connected to vacuum gauge or transducer through water. This is used to measure (0 to -80
kPa or (0.8 bars = - 800 cm)
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

The tensiometer equation is

The vertical distance from the gauge plane (z-gauge) to the cup (z- cup) must be added to the
matric potential measured by the gauge (expressed as a negative quantity to obtain the matric
potential at the depth of the cup when potentials are expressed per unit of weight.
Alternatively, the equation in terms of head is given us:-

- depth of the tensiometer cup below the soil surface, - the height of the gauge above
soil surface.
Piezometer
Piezometer is used to measure the hydrostatic pressure. The piezometer is a hollow tube
placed in the soil to depths below the water table. It extends to the soil surface and is open to
the atmosphere. Bottom is perforated to allow water to enter.
Soil psychrometer
Under equilibrium conditions the soil water potential is equal to the potential of water vapor
in the surrounding soil air. A psychrometer measures the relative humidity (RH) of the water
vapor which is related to the water potential of the vapor, through the Kelvin equation.

Where e- is the water vapor pressure, e o – is the saturated water vapor pressure, M o –
molecular mass of water – 0.018 kg mol-1, R - is the ideal gas constant (8.31 J K -1 mol-1), T –
is absolute temperature, - is the density of water (103 kg m-3 at 20 oC). In the absence of
solutes, the liquid and vapor phases in an unsaturated porous medium are related at
equilibrium by
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Where h is the relative humidity, R the gas constant for water vapor, and T the absolute
temperature. Upon rearrangement, we can write

Where and . Rearranging the above equations

The psychrometer – consists a thermocouple of a fine wire chromel-contantan or other

bimetallic thermocouple.

Measures contribution of matric and osmotic potential to soil water vapor pressure. Valid for
-1 to -30 bar.

3.3. Soil water content and energy relations

3.3.1. Soil water characteristic
A soil water characteristic (SWC) curve describes the functional relationship between soil
water content ) or and soil water potential (matric potential) under equilibrium
conditions. The SWC – is an important soil property related to the distribution of pore space
(size, interconnectedness) which is strongly affected by texture and structure as well as
related factors including organic matter content.

The SWC is a primary hydraulic property required for modeling water flow, or irrigation
management and for many additional applications related to managing or predicting water
behavior in the porous system.
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

Soil-water characteristic curve (Soil – water retention curve) is measured by simultaneous

measurement of water content and pressure potential. As soil drains, the largest soil pores
empty first since the capillary forces are smallest in these pores. As the soil drains further, the
maximum diameter of the water filled pores further decreases, corresponding with pores that
have decreasing values for the pressure potential (water is held by larger capillary forces; Soil
water retention is unique and is a function of pore size distribution. At a pressure potential of
zero, the soil’s volumetric water content is defined as the saturated water content. The
maximum pressure potential at which soil begins to de-saturate (starting at saturation) is
defined as the air entry value of the soil, and is determined by the largest pores in the soil.
3.3.2. Measurement of the soil moisture characteristic curve
The functional relation between soil wetness and matric suction is often determined by means
of a tension plate assembly (below) in the low suction (< 1 bar) range, and by means of a
pressure plate or pressure membrane apparatus in the higher suction range. These instruments
allow the application of successive suction values and the repeated measurement of the
equilibrium soil wetness at each suction.

Soil
-33 kPa

-800,000 kPA
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
i. Buchner funnels – can be used upto about -300 cm

ii. Pressure Cell (Tempe Cell)

This is good to -98 kPa (-1 bar) to 3000 kPa. This takes a long time to reach equilibrium in
an undisturbed full size core. This is used by applying positive air pressure to soil core.

iii. Pressure plate

This pressure plate apparatus consists of a pressure chamber enclosing a water saturated
porous plate, which allows water, but prevents air flow, through its pores. The porous plate is
open to atmospheric pressure at the bottom, while the top surface is at the applied pressure of
the chamber.

This is good to -1500 kPa (-15 bar). Not convenient for large, undisturbed cores. Soil can be
disturbed because the water present in the drier range occurs in soil micropores instead of the
normal pore structure. The conductivity of plate too small for wet range determination.
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil

The maximum suction value obtainable by porous plate devices is limited to 1 bar if the soil
air is kept at atmospheric pressure and the pressure differences across the plate is controlled
either by vacuum or by a hanging water column. Matric suction values considerably greater
than 1 bar (say 20 bars or even more) can be obtained by increasing the pressure of the air
phase. This requires placing the porous plate assembly inside a pressure chamber. The limit
of matric suction obtainable with such a device is determined by the design of the chamber
(i.e. its safe working pressure) and by the maximal air pressure difference that saturated
porous plate can bear without allowing air to bubble through its pores. Ceramic plates
generally do not hold pressures greater than about 20 bars, but cellulose acetate membranes
can be used with pressures exceeding 100 bars.

Soil moisture retention in the low suction range (0-1 bar) is strongly influenced by soil
structure and pore-size distribution. Hence, measurements made with disturbed samples (e.g.
dried, screened, and artificially packed samples) cannot be expected to represent field
conditions. The use of undisturbed soil cores is therefore preferable. On the other hand, soil
moisture retention in the high suction range is due primarily to adsorption and this is
correlated with the specific surface of the soil material rather than with its structure.

3.3.3. Fitting parametric SWC expressions to measured data

Measuring a SWC is laborious and time consuming. Measured pairs are often
fragmentary, and usually constitute relatively few measurements over the wetness range of
interest. For modeling and analysis purpose and for characterization and comparison between
different soils and scenarios, it is therefore beneficial to represent the SWC in a continuous
and parametric form. An effective and commonly used parametric model for relating water
content for the matric potential was proposed by Van-Genuchten. This given as
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Where - residual water content; - saturated water content; , n, and m are parameters

directly dependent on the shape of the curve. Assumption is also made .

Thus the parameters required for estimation of the model are - , , and n..
- is usually known and is easy to obtain experimentally with good accuracy leaving only
three unknowns parameters ( , , and n) to be estimated from experimental data. Another
well known parametric model was proposed by Brooks and Corey and is denoted as BC

for

for

- is parametric related to the soil matric potential at air entry - - representing bubbling
pressure, related to the soil pore size distribution.
pF – Curve
Logarithmic scale similar to pH scale of centimeters of hydraulic head. The value of
where is called the PF value, and the graph showing the relationship
between the pF value and is known as the pF curve of a soil.
Q3.4.
a. Give the pF values corresponding with the following hm values for

hm = -160 m ;

hm= -10 m;

hm = -0.01 m;

hm = 0 m; =
b. Do negative values exist
Yes, for -1.0 cm < hm<0
c. What is the pF value at the phreatic level.
pF=
Capillary binding of water can take place only at pF values of less than about 3 .
This is due to the fact that negative absolute pressures don’t exist. Matric heads smaller than
hm = -10 m are caused exclusively by the adhesive binding of water on solid surfaces and by
the osmotic binding of water in double layers.
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Most plants are unable to take up any more water when the matric head has decreased to h=-
160 m or pF = 4.2. This value is, therefore, called the permanent wilting point of a soil.
Water held at very high matric potentials is also not available to plants if it percolates through
the root zone to the subsoil under the influence of gravity. The water content in a soil profile
when deep percolation has nearly stopped after the soil was thoroughly wetted by heavy rain
or irrigation, is called the field capacity. The difference between the water content at field
capacity and wilting point is called the available soil-water for plants.
Hysteresis – the relation between and can be obtained in two ways – desorption or
sorption. The soil water characteristic curve produced by progressive extraction of soil water
from saturation (desorption) differs from that obtained by gradual addition of water to air –
dry soil (absorption or sorption). This phenomena is called hysteresis. The dependence of the
equilibrium content and state of soil water upon the direction of the process leading up to it is
called hystreses.
Hysteresis can be caused by a number of factors:
 to a large extent due to the irregular and composite size and shapes of soil pores,
 contact angle may be lower during wetting than during drying and causes hysteresis,
 during wetting usually some air is entrapped which keeps the water content lower that it
could be
 ‘Ink bottle’ effect. Pore necks (throats prevent completer drainage of soil pores

A B
r

A – capillary drainage – desorption

B – capillary rise – sorption
If initially saturated, this pore will drain abruptly the moment the suction exceeds where

For this pore to rewet, however, the suction must decrease to below where

where upon the pore abruptly fills. Since R > r, it follows that . Desorption depends on
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
the narrow radii of the connecting channels where as sorption depends on the maximum of
the large pores.
 Swelling or shrinking results in differential values

This figure shows so-called primary scanning curves inside the envelope formed by the
characteristic, main or boundary absorption and desorption curves of a soil. The latter are
obtained when the soil is dried from saturation to air-dryness, or wetted from air-dryness to
saturation, without reversal of the processes somewhere in between these two states.
Anywhere on a boundary curve one could reverse the processes from wetting to drying, or
vice versa and create a primary scanning curve. The relationship between matric potential and
volume fraction of water then depends on the value at which the reversal is made. Reversal
on a primary scanning curve produces a secondary scanning curve, etc. Thus the recent
history of wetting and drying must be known to be able to obtain the water content for a
particular matric potential, or vice versa from a given set of scanning curves. Hysteresis
effect is in general more pronounced in coarse textured soils in the low suction range, where
pores may empty at a much larger suction than that at which they fill. In the past, hysteresis
was generally disregarded in the theory and practice of soil physics. This may be justifiable in
the case of processes entailing monotonic wetting (e.g. infiltration), or drying (e.g.
evaporation). But the hysteresis effect may be important in the case of composite processes in
which wetting and drying occur simultaneously or sequentially in various parts of the soil
profile (e.g. redistribution).
Soil Physics III. Water Retention in Soil
Soil type PWP FC Plant available
water
% cm % cm % cm
Medium sand 1.7 0.7 6.8 3.0 5.1 2.3

Fine sand 2.3 1.0 8.5 3.7 6.2 2.7

Sandy loam 3.4 1.5 11.3 5.0 7.9 3.5

Fine sandy loam 4.5 2 14.7 6.5 10.2 4.5

Loam 6.8 3 18.1 8.0 11.3 5.0

Silt loam 7.9 3.5 19.8 8.7 11.9 5.2

Clay loam 10.2 4.5 21.5 9.5 11.3 5.0

Clay 14.7 6.5 22.6 10.0 7.9 3.5