What term describes the amount of moisture in the soil below which plants will not be able to obtain sufficient water and wilting occurs?

What term describes the amount of moisture in the soil below which plants will not be able to obtain sufficient water and wilting occurs?

• A. Field capacity
• B. Wilting point
• C. Soil moisture deficit
• D. Soil moisture recharge

Answer: (B)

The key idea is a threshold of soil moisture that determines whether plants can pull enough water from the soil. When the soil is moist enough, roots can take up water to keep the plant turgid. The point at which the water in the soil is held so tightly that roots can no longer obtain sufficient water and the plant wilts is the wilting point. Above this point, water is still present in the soil but is held loosely enough to be accessible to roots, up to the field capacity where drainage has ceased. The difference between field capacity and the wilting point represents the plant-available water, the amount plants can actually use. If the soil moisture falls below the wilting point, wilting occurs and recovery depends on bringing moisture back through rain or irrigation. Other terms describe related concepts: field capacity is the moisture level after drainage, soil moisture deficit refers to how much water is needed to reach a desired moisture level, and soil moisture recharge is the process of replenishing soil moisture after drying periods.

The key idea is a threshold of soil moisture that determines whether plants can pull enough water from the soil. When the soil is moist enough, roots can take up water to keep the plant turgid. The point at which the water in the soil is held so tightly that roots can no longer obtain sufficient water and the plant wilts is the wilting point. Above this point, water is still present in the soil but is held loosely enough to be accessible to roots, up to the field capacity where drainage has ceased. The difference between field capacity and the wilting point represents the plant-available water, the amount plants can actually use. If the soil moisture falls below the wilting point, wilting occurs and recovery depends on bringing moisture back through rain or irrigation. Other terms describe related concepts: field capacity is the moisture level after drainage, soil moisture deficit refers to how much water is needed to reach a desired moisture level, and soil moisture recharge is the process of replenishing soil moisture after drying periods.