What is the term for soil, following drainage?

The term "field capacity" refers to the amount of soil moisture remaining in the soil after excess water has drained away and the rate of water uptake by plants has decreased. It represents a balance between the water held in the soil particles and the water that has saturated the soil. Field capacity occurs when soil has retained enough moisture for plants to utilize, yet there is no longer any free or gravitational water moving through the soil profile.

Understanding field capacity is essential for managing water in trees and plants effectively. It indicates the optimal moisture level for root uptake after heavy rainfall or irrigation, ensuring that the soil is neither too dry nor too saturated. This concept is critical for arborists and those in the field of plant care, as it directly impacts tree health and growth.

Other choices such as aeration capacity, hydration level, and soil saturation relate to soil moisture dynamics, but they refer to different aspects of soil-water relationships. Aeration capacity pertains to the soil’s ability to hold air in its pores, while soil saturation is the condition where all soil pores are filled with water. Hydration level is a more general term that might refer to the moisture content in terms of plant health or soil moisture, but it lacks the specific definition that field capacity provides in this