I'm aware on how soil organic matter improves the structure of a soil, increasing its hydrologic properties. That said, I suppose that peat's water holding capacity is only slightly related -if not unrelated- to this, as I don't think we can apply this mechanism to a soil with such a high fibrous content. Which alternative mechanisms concurr to peat having such a good WHC and water retention curve?
The peat has the ability to hold water to a greater degree than sandy soils, and it makes the water more ready for absorption by plants compared to clay soils.
Since peat or organic matter have capacity to hold amount of water equal to 10 times of its weight ,while the mineral soil hold about 0.5 or half of its weight.
Because of its physical properties and nature that acts exactly like a sponge
yes organic matter hold also water by imbibition process like sponge
The high water retention capacity is due to the high porosity (the ratio of pore volume to total volume). Peat with a low degree of decomposition has a porosity of 80 -95%, while in sand it is about 50%.
Peat contains a very high amount of humus. According to the famous soil science book by Scheffer and Schachtschabel (2016), humus can store about 3-5 times its own weight in water.
Peat are rich in organic compounds, they have functional moieties that easily to hold and release the water molecules
peat is partial decomposed litter so it contains high organic matter and since it is byproduct of plant water holding capacity is high
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