Water Movement Based on Soil Moisture Levels
a. Wet Soil:
- Water occupies larger pores and is not tightly bound to soil particles.
- Water molecules have high energy (close to free water) and greater freedom of movement.
b. Dry Soil:
- Water is held in small pores and thin films, tightly adsorbed by soil particles.
- Water molecules have low energy and restricted movement.
c. Water Movement:
- When wet and dry soils come into contact, water flows from wet (high energy) to dry (low energy) soil until equilibrium is reached.
- This movement is driven by differences in soil water potential, where water always moves from higher to lower potential.