Soil water

Soil water is water held in the pores between soil particles and aggregates. Its movement and availability shape plant growth, soil organisms, and the transport of dissolved substances.

Infiltration (hydrology): Infiltration is the entry of water from the ground surface into soil. It determines how rainfall or irrigation becomes soil water rather than surface runoff.
Soil pore space: Soil pore space is the network of gaps between and within soil particles and aggregates. Its size and connectivity determine where soil water is stored and how it moves.
Plant-available water: Plant-available water is the portion of soil water that plants can extract, commonly estimated between field capacity and permanent wilting point. It translates soil water storage into a measure useful for assessing crop water supply.
Surface runoff: Surface runoff is water that flows over land rather than infiltrating into the soil. It is an alternative fate for precipitation that does not enter soil water storage.
Soil water potential: Soil water potential describes the energy state of water in soil relative to a reference state. Its gradients drive water movement and determine how readily roots can extract water.
Soil texture: Soil texture is the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay-sized mineral particles. Particle sizes influence pore sizes, water retention, and drainage.
Irrigation scheduling: Irrigation scheduling determines when and how much water to apply to meet crop needs. Soil water measurements help prevent both crop stress and unnecessary irrigation.
Saturated flow: Saturated flow is water movement through porous material whose pores are filled with water. It contrasts with the common unsaturated movement of soil water above the water table.
Capillary action: Capillary action is the movement of liquid through narrow spaces caused by surface tension and adhesion. It helps explain how water moves through small soil pores, sometimes against gravity.
Soil structure: Soil structure is the arrangement of soil particles into aggregates and the spaces between them. Aggregation creates larger pores that affect infiltration and water storage.

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