Importance of maintaining Field Capacity Condition through Drip Irrigation

Importance of maintaining Field Capacity Condition through Drip Irrigation

Date: 15-05-2023

What is the Field Capacity Condition in the soil?

Earlier we have gone through the study of different Soil Particles on the basis of size viz. Clay Particles, Silt Particles & Sand Particles. We also studied the micro or capillary pores formed due to clay particles & macro pores formed due to silt & sand particles.

Physical Particles forming Soil are

• Sand (0.02 – 2.00 mm)
• Silt (0.002 – 0.02 mm)
• Clay (< 0.002 mm )

After the completion of the Irrigation a stage arises when there is a water in micro pores & water in macro pores got infiltrated in the soil is call Field Capacity condition.

Importance of Field Capacity condition in Drip Irrigation

Plant being the living thing on the earth, needs air & water on daily basis. Drip Irrigation is designed with aim of keeping the soil around the plant root zone at Field Capacity for 24 Hours maintaining the proper ratio of soil & water. This is the most favorable condition for the plant growth. In Field capacity plant is always at the stage of absorbing nutrients, less susceptible for the diseases & showing the maximum growth.

Field Capacity Conditions in different types of Soil
On the basis of particle size the soil is broadly divided in 4 types

Soil Type	Sand (%)	Silt (%)	Clay (%)
Sandy	95	1	4
Sandy-Loam	80	5	15
Silt-Loam	27	58	15
Clay	17	17	66

Broadly the sandy Loam & silt Loam soil is categorized under Medium Soil.

The field capacity condition i.e. the % of air & water is different for different soil types which is broadly as mentioned below.

Sr.No	Soil Type	Water	Air	Wilting Point Water
1	Heavy Soil	28%	72%	14%
2	Medium Soil	20%	80%	10%
3	Light Soil	10%	90%	5%