Presentation.

Ecology.
Topic.
Contents. States Of Water In Soil.
Introduction
Types Of Soil Water
By
Azhar Ud Din Azad
STATES
OF
WATER
IN
THE SOIL.
 INTRODUCTION.
 Soil water is the water which is found in naturally
occurring soil.
 Soil water is also called as rhizic water.

 Soil
particles are close to each other but there is
some space between these particles that spaces
are called as pore space.
 Introduction Continue
40-60% of total soil volume is composed of
pore space.
The pore space in the soil remains filled with
water.
Due to the porous nature of soil it allows
some water to pass through it and retains
some water.
 Types Of Soil Water
 The water present in the soil may be classified into the
following groups.

 A. GRAVITATIONAL WATER
 B. CAPILLARY WATER
 C. HYGROSCOPIC WATER
 D. COMBINED WATER
 E. WATER VAPOUR
 GRAVITATIONAL WATER
 Any water that moves downward through a moist soil in response to gravity is
called as gravitational water.
 After heavy rain or after irrigation the surface layer of soil is temporarily
saturated with water. Due to the force of gravity the water in this saturated zone
descends rapidly through the dry layers of the soil leaving moist zone in its
way. If water is sufficient it penetrates deeply to the permanently saturated
zone of the soil called as ground water. The upper surface of this layer is called
as water table.
 This water is available to the plants only when showers follow one another in
rapid succession.
 Capillary Water
 The water which exists between the soil particles in the
small capillary pores is called as capillary water. In
other words it is the amount of water which is retained in
the soil after gravitational water has drained out.
 Thisstate of water in soil moves by capillary
forces(Cohesion, Adhesion and surface tension).
 It
is the major source of water available to the plant
body.
 Hygroscopic Water
 Due to evaporation from the soil surface and absorption by
the roots the capillary water held by soil is gradually
depleted. As this process continues the remaining water is
tightly bounded with the soil particles, this water is called as
hygroscopic water.
 This water is held to the particles of soil by adhesive forces, so
this type of water is not available to the plant body for
absorption.
 Combined Water
 The amount of water which is chemically
combined with the compounds present in
the soil is called as combined water.
 These compounds are carbonates, oxides
etc.
 This type of water is not available to the plant
body for absorption.
 Water Vapor
 Portion of the pore space in a soil that is not
occupied by liquid water contains a soil
atmosphere that always includes water vapor.
 As long as capillary water exists in the soil this
soil atmosphere is almost saturated with water
vapors.