Water is vital for plant growth: it drives many physiological processes and is the main component of plants, about 80% in herbaceous plants<\/strong> and 50% in woody plants<\/strong>. Solar energy controls how much water plants use through transpiration<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soil anchors plants and creates the conditions for them to grow, supplying the nutrients they need. It is also home to many organisms: bacteria, fungi, algae, mites, earthworms, nematodes, ants and more. It is made up of organic matter, minerals, water and air. Soil and water are therefore interconnected resources: soil stores water, and water dissolves the minerals that plants take up through their roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These forms match three thresholds: maximum capacity<\/strong> (saturated soil, excess water percolates), field capacity<\/strong> (capillary water available to plants remains) and the wilting point<\/strong> (only hygroscopic water remains).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeds, with a water content of 5\u201315%<\/strong>, barely respire in dry soil. As water increases, respiration rises and germination begins. Root growth also depends heavily on water: pressure inside the cells provides the force that drives cell elongation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Water enters the production system through irrigation or rainfall. When the supply stops, air replaces water in the larger pores, while the smallest pores (5\u201375 \u03bcm<\/strong>) stay filled with water held by soil particles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using technology to monitor soil water is now essential in farming. CRNS (Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor)<\/strong> sensors are the state of the art for area-wide soil moisture measurement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FAO<\/strong> recommends this technology for monitoring water in agricultural soils and managing water resources more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The relationship between water and soil in agriculture Water is vital for plant growth: it drives many physiological processes and is the main component of plants, about 80% in herbaceous plants and 50% in woody plants. Solar energy controls how much water plants use through transpiration. Key figures Indicator Value Water in herbaceous plants about […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","factsheet-category":[27],"class_list":["post-823","resources-factsheet","type-resources-factsheet","status-publish","hentry","factsheet-category-agriculture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKey figures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/th> Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Water in herbaceous plants<\/td> about 80%<\/td><\/tr> Water in woody plants<\/td> about 50%<\/td><\/tr> Water content of seeds<\/td> 5\u201315%<\/td><\/tr> Pores that stay water-filled after irrigation or rain<\/td> 5\u201375 \u03bcm<\/td><\/tr> Forms of soil water<\/td> 3: gravitational, capillary, hygroscopic<\/td><\/tr> Soil\u2013water relationship factors<\/td> 5: porosity, permeability, texture, effective depth, drainage<\/td><\/tr> Soil moisture states<\/td> 3: maximum capacity, field capacity, wilting point<\/td><\/tr> Area measured by a CRNS sensor<\/td> radius of about 120 m<\/td><\/tr> Depth measured by a CRNS sensor<\/td> 50 cm<\/td><\/tr> CRNS sensor features<\/td> Passive \u00b7 contactless \u00b7 self-powered \u00b7 maintenance-free \u00b7 long service life<\/td><\/tr> International recognition<\/td> Technology recommended by the FAO for monitoring water in agricultural soils<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Properties of water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The role of soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Forms of water in soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Soil\u2013water relationship factors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Water, germination and roots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Measuring soil water: CRNS sensors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The Finapp impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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