We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Field Capacity?

Malcolm Tatum
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 20,028
Share

Field capacity is a measurement that has to do with the ability of soil in a given area to absorb water, once all excess and surface water has been drained from the area. Assessing the field capacity of soil is very important in determining the type of crops to grow in a particular section of land, as well as judging the capacity of that land to support buildings of various types. The result of these assessments is usually presented as a percentage.

Calculating field capacity is a process that normally takes a couple of days. The soil is saturated to the point that there is some water left standing on the ground surface. The standing water is removed, then the remaining water is allowed to seep into the soil and eventually drain away. After anywhere from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, the moisture content of the soil is tested. This process makes it possible to get a good idea of how much moisture the soil can retain while still remaining viable for planting or as a site for constructions.

One of the benefits of testing a tract of land using this process is that it can help growers to determine what types of crops to plant in the area. Depending on the actual soil moisture field capacity, it may be advantageous to go with crops that require less water retention in the soil in order to thrive. A high water content will indicate that the soil is better suited for planting crops that require a great deal of moisture in order to grow properly. A calculation of this type is often known as a field capacity wilting point, since the idea is to determine what plants will grow and not wilt and decay due to exposure to the higher moisture content in the soil.

Determining the field capacity is also helpful when planning construction in an area. Soil that can retain a great deal of moisture and still remain solid is often a good choice for construction ranging from storage facilities to multi-story buildings. In this application, the soil analysis helps builders to determine the best approach to laying a foundation and making sure the building with not shift and crack due to the average amount of ground saturation that occurs through the calendar year. Taking the time to run a field capacity test before erecting any kind of building will enhance the chances of the building being safe and useful for many years without the need to shore up a failing foundation.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Malcolm Tatum
By Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing to become a full-time freelance writer. He has contributed articles to a variety of print and online publications, including HomeQuestionsAnswered, and his work has also been featured in poetry collections, devotional anthologies, and newspapers. When not writing, Malcolm enjoys collecting vinyl records, following minor league baseball, and cycling.
Discussion Comments
By anon122358 — On Oct 27, 2010

What are the units? Gravimetric would be grams of water per grams of soil? Volumetric would be liters of water per liter of soil. Often I see field capacity expressed as a percent but you don't know if it was measured volumetrically or gravimetrically which yield very different results.

By anon114705 — On Sep 29, 2010

What are the units of field capacity?

Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum
Malcolm Tatum, a former teleconferencing industry professional, followed his passion for trivia, research, and writing...
Learn more
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-field-capacity.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.