FIELD CAPACITY

Is the amount of water left in the soil after free drainage by gravity (larger soil pores are drained
by gravity).

Field capacity can be estimated in the laboratory by applying a vacuum. A suction of – 0.01
MPa (-0.1 atm) is applied to sandy soils and a suction of – 0.03 MPa (10.3 atm) is applied to clay
soils. Then, the soil is weighed, dried, and then reweighed in order to calculate gravimetric water
content at field capacity.

WILTING POINT
is the water content at which a crop cannot remove water from the soil quickly enough to prevent
wilting and tissue damage.

Permanent wilting point (PWP) is generally defined as a soil water potential equal to -1.5 MPa
(-15 atm).
In the laboratory, permanent wilting point is measured by placing the soil in a cylinder on a
porous plate, applying a positive pressure of 1.5 MPa (15 atm), and pushing the water from the
soil through the porous plate.

The total energy of water in soils is generally negative due to capillary suction. It becomes more
negative when the soils have high salinity because the salts hold the water by osmotic potential.
Thus, saline soils have less water available to the plant than non saline soil.

Chemical (osmotic), elevation (gravitation), and matric (hydraulic) potential energy are all
components of the total energy of water in soils, H.

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The equation that determines the negative hydraulic pressure (capillary potential) exerted by a
meniscus is based on the law of conservation of momentum: summation of forces equals zero.

Fig. Capillary force (matric potential)

Where

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EXAMPLE
Calculate the matric potential at which pores begin to drain in clay soils (R =1 *10-6 m) and
fine sand soils (R =50 microns).

The relationship between matric potential (moisture potential) and water content for typical soils
is shown in Fig.. The moisture potential axis has a log scale: moisture potential drops by 2 orders
of magnitude in Fig. between saturation and field capacity and then between field capacity and
permanent wilting point.

Fig. Depletion percentages for different soils versus soil water potential (Credit NRCS)

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In general, soil water content should remain above the 30 % depletion line (MAD = 30 %) i.e
70% available water under normal operation for drought sensitive crops. However it can be as
low as 50 % depletion for drought tolerant crops in order to avoid yield reduction.

The difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point is called available water
capacity. AWC is the fraction of soil volume between field capacity and permanent wilting
point.

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Management Lines
The objective of soil moisture based irrigation is to keep the measured value of the Root Zone
Summary between predefined high ('Full') and low ('Refill') levels. The region between Full and
Refill defines an 'Optimal' moisture zone (See Figure below).

The MAD is simply the driest we wish the soil to be on a sustained basis between irrigations.

Alternative presented as above

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Example ONE
The Moisture Content at Field Capacity of a Clay Loam Soil is 28% by weight while that at
Permanent Wilting Point is 14% by Weight. Root Zone Depth is 1 m and the Bulk Density Is 1.2
g/cm3. Calculate the Net and Gross Depth of Irrigation Required per hectare if the Irrigation
Efficiency is 70% and Maximum Allowable depletion is 50%.
Solution: Field Capacity = 28% by weight; Permanent wilting point = 14% by weight
• Available moisture (Pm ) = 28 - 14 = 14% by weight
• Bulk density (Db) = 1.2 g/cm3
• Root Zone depth (D) = 1 m = 1000 mm
• Equivalent depth of available water (d) = Pm. Db. D
= 0.14 x 1.20 x 1000 mm = 168 mm
But MAD = 0.5. Therefore, net irrigation requirement = 168mm/0.5 = 84mm.
This is the net depth of irrigation.
Specific gravity is the ratio of the mass of unit volume of soil at a stated temperature to the mass
of the same volume of gas-free distilled water at a stated temperature.
B
Specific gravity (Db) = Soil bulk density /density of water= Db = (No units)
W
Particle density is also called true specific gravity and bulk density is known as apparent
specific gravity.
• Gross Water Application is equal to: Net Irrigation/Efficiency = 84m/0.7 = 120 mm
Note: This is the actual water needed to be pumped for irrigation.
However, you are asked to determine the quantity of water required in one ha (1 ha = 10,000m2)
It is equivalent to: 120mm /1,000 mm x 10,000 m2 = 1,200 m 3 per hectare.
Example TWO
A crop has an effective root depth of 120 cm (1.20m). Prior to irrigation; soil samples were taken
from different depths to determine the moisture status of the soil.
Depth of root zone (m) Weight of soil sample (g) Weight of oven dry soil (g)
0 – 0.3 98.80 94.60
0.3 – 0.6 96.60 92.10
0.6 – 0.9 95.00 90.60
0.9 – 1.2 94.00 89.40
Water holding capacity of the soil at field capacity is 19.60 cm/m, the apparent specific gravity
of the soil is 1.60. Determine:

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 (a) The moisture content in the root zone at different depths,
(b) Total depth of water available in the root zone and the soil moisture deficit
(a)
Depth of root zone (m) Mass of water (g) Percentage water content (p)
0 – 0.3 98.80-94.6 = 4.2 4.2/94.60 x 100 = 4.44 %
0.3 – 0. 6 96.60 – 92.10 = 4.50g 4.5/92.10 x 100 = 4.89%
0.6 – 0.9 95.00 – 90.60 = 4.40 4.40/90.60 X 100 = 4.86 %
0.9 – 1.2 94.00 – 89.40 = 4.60 4.6/89.40 X 100 = 5.14 %
(b)Layer 1 (0-0.3m)
The depth of water, “d1” = Db x D x p = 1.6 x 0.30 x 0.0444 = 0.0213 m = 2.13 cm
Repeat the same for the remaining layers [Layers 2 (d2), 3(d3) and 4(d4)].
Total depth = d1 + d2 + d3 +d4
Example THREE
A soil sample weighed 230 g in a moisture box. The mass of the moisture box was 78 g. After drying at
105 degrees C to a constant mass, the soil and box weighed 204 g. The soil sample filled a 1000 cc
container as it was taken from the field. Find the moisture percentage in the soil by mass and by volume.
1. Water (%) by mass:
Wet mass of soil = (wet mass of soil + box)-(mass of box)
= 230 - 78 = 152 g
Dry mass of soil = (dry mass of soil + box)-(mass of box)
= 204 - 78 = 126 g
Water (%) by mass = (wet mass - dry mass / dry mass) x 100
= (26 / 126) x 100 = 21 %
Water (%) by volume: = (vol. of water / bulk vol. of soil) x 100 Vol. of water
= mass of water / density of water
= 26 g / 1 g per cc
= 26 cc
Hence: Water (%) by volume = (26 cc / 1000 cc) x 100
= 2.6 %
Example FOUR
The following data represent a soil sample:
Soil mass at field capacity = 85 g
Soil mass at wilting point = 71 g
Air-dry mass = 64 g
Oven-dry mass = 58g
Find

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 (a) Water (%) at field capacity (b) Water (%) at wilting point (c) Available water (%)
Solution
(a) Available water (%) = Field capacity - Wilting point
= 25 - 16 = 9%
(b) Hygroscopic water (%) = air dry water - oven dry water
= 12 - 11 = 1%
(c) Capillary water (%) = Field capacity - hygroscopic water
= 25 - 1 = 24%
Example FIVE

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Example 4

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Worked Example six

Tutorial
1. A soil has an average soil moisture content of 36.5% at field capacity and 13.5 % at
permanent wilting point on dry weight basis. The bulk density of the soil is 1.6g cm-3. Find
out the available soil per meter depth of soil profile. (ANS: 288 mm/ m depth of soil).
2. Bulk density = 1.32 g/ cm3 and particle density = 2.65 g /cm3. Calculate what part of the soil
is pore space (%). (ANS: 50.18 %)
3. A 400 cubic cm sample from the top 25 cm of a soil weighed 686 g when collected and 576 g
when oven dry. This soil contains 34%w water at field capacity. What is the bulk density?
What is the percent water? What is the field capacity deficit of this soil zone? (Ans: )
4. How does air-dry soil differ from oven-dry soil?

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Soil Water Processes
Infiltration/intake characteristics of soil
• Infiltration capacity: The maximum rate at which water can enter soil.
• Infiltration capacity curve: A graph showing the time-variation of infiltration capacity
if the supply were continually in excess of infiltration capacity.
• Infiltration rate
The rate at which infiltration takes place expressed in depth per unit time (m3/d)
Factors influencing infiltration are:
• Initial moisture content
• Condition of soil surface
• Hydraulic conductivity of soil profile
• Depth of water on the surface
• Viscosity/temperature of water
• Soil texture
Horton Equation

Where:
fo = Initial infiltration capacity
fp = Infiltration capacity
fc = Equilibrium infiltration capacity
If precipitation rate (L/T) < fc (L/T), then all rain
infiltrates

Cumulative infiltration

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Figure : Infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration variation with time
Estimating infiltration rate
The four infiltration methods commonly used are: the Horton Infiltration, the  index; the Philip
infiltration and the Green-Ampt in Filtration equations.

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Measuring Intake rate: Practical
• 25 cm diameter cylinder is driven upto 15 cm below soil surface
• Water is applied at surface. The radial flow at bottom of cylinder causes great change in
intake rate.
• Two concentric cylinders having same water level are used to create buffer ponds
• Depth of water for inner cylinder is recorded with time
Table: Tabulation of intake Data Obtained from Test Cylinder

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Soil moisture tension
In saturated soils, water is held in the soil matrix under negative pressure due to attraction of the
soil matrix for water Instead of referring to this negative pressure the water is said to be
subjected to a tension exerted by the soil matrix The tension with which the water is held in
unsaturated soil is termed as soil-moisture tension, soil-moisture suction. It is usually expressed
in atmospheres, the average air pressure at sea level. Other pressure units like cm of water or cm
or mm of mercury are also often used.
(1 atmosphere = 1023 cm of water = 76 cm Hg)

Fig: Typical curves of soil moisture variation with tension

Soil moisture characteristics
Moisture extraction curves, also called moisture characteristics curves, which are plots of
moisture content versus moisture tension, show the amount of moisture a given soil holds at
various tensions.

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Fig: Typical moisture characteristics curves

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