Question

Define hygroscopic and capillary waters? Which is not available to plants and why?

Answer 1

Hygroscopic water:

1. Hygroscopic water occurs in form of thin films around colloidal soil particles.
2. Hygroscopic Water is retained even when all of the capillary water is lost from the soil.
3. Hygroscopic water is unavailable to the plants since the water molecules are held firmly by the soil particle by the attractive forces acting on it.

Capillary waters:

1. Whereas the water which is retained in minute interstitial spaces in form of thin films surrounding the soil particles is called capillary water.