Why is soil water holding capacity important and why do organic matters improve the water holding capacity in a soil?
Soil water holding capacity is crucial for plant growth as it determines the amount of water soil can retain for roots. Organic matter enhances this capacity due to its sponge-like structure. It increases soil porosity, allowing better water infiltration and retention, vital for sustained plant hydration and nutrient uptake.
A soil's water storage characteristics are very important for irrigation management. Since the size and number of pores in soils are directly related to soil texture (particle sizes), soil texture is the indicator for the amount of water a soil can hold. Too much water can also be a problem, leading to standing water, erosion, and nutrient loss. A soil with a low water holding capacity will have a narrow window between too much and not enough moisture. Both conditions lead to poor plant growth. It is important to know the water holding capacity of the soil to determine how much water storage capacity the field has, and to determine how much supplemental irrigation should be applied. Water-holding capacity (WHC) of meat and meat products determines the visual acceptability, weight loss, and cook yield as well as sensory traits on consumption. The maximum amount of water that a given soil can retain is called field capacity, whereas a soil so dry that plants cannot liberate the remaining moisture from the soil particles is said to be at wilting point. Soil water storage and movement are controlled by the size and spatial distribution of macro-pores, through which water can move rapidly but which drain under gravity, and micro-pores, through which water moves more slowly but can retain water against gravity. The addition of organic matter to the soil usually increases the water holding capacity of the soil. This is because the addition of organic matter increases the number of micro pores and macro pores in the soil either by “gluing” soil particles together or by creating favorable living conditions for soil organisms. Organic matter causes soil particles to bind and form stable soil aggregates, which improves soil structure. With better soil structure, water infiltration through the soil increases and improves the soil's ability to absorb and hold water as well as reduces the potential for surface crusting of the soil. Organic matter particles have a charged surface that attracts water so that it adheres to the surface, like static cling, but may also have pores and charges that repel water.
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