Water holding capacity of soils with contrasting textural properties and organic matter content

Abstract

The water holding capacity of soil is a function of soil texture, soil structure and organic matter content; the last two factors being affected to some extent by soil management. The water holding capacity was determined for a number of soils from Malta having contrasting textural characteristics and organic matter content. This study has shown that the level of organic matter plays a significant role in determining the water holding capacity of soil. Soils relatively low in clay content but with high content of organic matter had a water holding capacity higher than soils with high clay content but poor in organic matter.