Question

Which of the following category of soil water is most readily available to plants?

• A. Hygroscopic water and gravitational water
• B. Capillary water and chemically combined water.
• C. Only capillary water
• D. Only gravitational water

Answer 1

The correct option is C Only capillary water

Hygroscopic water forms very thin film around the soil particles this water is not available for the plant because the soil particles tightly bound it by adhering forces so the plant is not able to absorb this water. gravitational water is free moving water in the soil is also not available for plants because it quickly goes down the water table.

Capillary water is the water held by micropores of soil. this water is available for the plant because it gets trap in soil solution near the root of the plants. And some water is retained in mineral salts by chemical bonds but it does not increase the absorption capacity of roots. This is called chemically combined water.

thus the only water available for the plant is capillary water so the correct option is C.