Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC)

Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC)
SWHC refers the amount of water that can be stored in the soil. SWHC is
critical for scheduling of water in fields.
SWHC can be grouped into three stage: saturated, field capacity and wilting
point.
(i) Saturated Soil

All pores are filled with water and it is lost by gravitational force. The depth
where soil is always saturated is called water table.
(ii) Field Capacity

Soil holds water that is available for plant growth.
(iii) Wilting Point

Soil holds water that is no more available to plants.
Soil Water Terms
(i) Soil Water Potential/Tension/ Moisture Tension
A measure of the strength with which the soil holds
water. It is the amount of work required per unit
quantity of water to transport water in the soil(bars)
Soil Water Tension is the negative potential.
(ii) Management Allowable Depletion (MAD)

The greatest amount of water that can be removed by
plants before irrigation is required to avoid undesirable
crop water stress.
(iii) Consumptive Use

Amount of water that is used by plants. Normally equals ET
Characteristics of Soil Types
Available Water For Plant Growths
i. Hygroscopic Water
It is the remaining water adheres to soil parts
and is unavailable to plants.
(ii) Capillary Water

It the available water held by micro pores that
can be absorbed by plant roots
(iii) Gravitational Water

It is the water that moves downward freely in soils
under the force of gravity. It drains out of the root
zone.
Methods / Devices to Measure Soil Moisture
Soil Moisture can be measured using:
i. Tensiometer
ii. Electrical Resistant Block
iii. Neutron Probe
iv. Thermal Dissipation Block
v. Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) and Frequency
Domain Reflectometer (FDR)
vi. Carbide Soil Moisture Tester
vii. Feel and Appearance
viii.Gravimetric Method
(i) Tensiometer
• Measures soil suction relating to soil moisture

• Requires careful installation and field
measurement
• Most applicable when soil moisture is
between 50-75% of field capacity.
• Medium to fine textured soils with frequently
irrigation.
(ii) Electrical Resistance Block
• Measures electrical resistance which is related

to soil water content via calibration curve
• Inexpensive and easy to use
• Give accurate reading over wider moisture
range than tensiometers
• Limited medium to coarse soil texture
• Most accurate when soil moisture is below
field capacity
(iii) Neutron Probe
• Measures thermalized neutrons which are

related to volumetric soil water content by a
calibration curve
• Most accurate and precise method
• Requires calibration using gravitational
procedures
• Requires licensed operator due radioactive
• Expensive
(iv) Thermal Dissipation Block
• Moisture determined based on the

relationship between heat conductance and
soil water content
• Work across a wide range of soil water
content
• Requires calibration
(v) Time Domain Reflectometer
• Senses the dielectric property of soil which is

related to water content
• Requires careful installation
• Works a wide range of soil texture, bulk
density and salinity
• Results may be skewed as salinity increases
(vi) Carbide Soil Moisture Tester
• Measures gas pressure from reaction of

calcium carbide with water in soil sample
• Works in fields
• Practice is necessary for reliable results
• Provide percentage water content of soil
(vii) Feel and Appearance
• Sample is compared to figure and tables that

give moisture characteristics of different soil
textures
• Experienced individuals can estimate 10% of
true values
• Tables and figures can estimate 25% of the
true values
(viii) Gravimetric Method
• Wet samples from field are weighed

• Samples are then oven dried in the lab
• Dried samples are then weighed after 24
hours
• Accurate method of soil moisture
• Requires accurate sensitive weigh scales,
drying method and known or estimated bulk
density to calculate % volume of water.
Bonus: Soil Texture Triangle

Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC)

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Soil Water Holding Capacity (SWHC)

(i) Saturated Soil

(ii) Field Capacity

(iii) Wilting Point

(ii) Management Allowable Depletion (MAD)

(iii) Consumptive Use

(ii) Capillary Water

(iii) Gravitational Water

• Measures soil suction relating to soil moisture

• Measures electrical resistance which is related

• Measures thermalized neutrons which are

• Moisture determined based on the

• Senses the dielectric property of soil which is

• Measures gas pressure from reaction of

• Sample is compared to figure and tables that

• Wet samples from field are weighed

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