Water holding capacity is a soil’s ability to hold a certain amount of water. The higher the soil’s water holding capacity, the better! Soils that can hold a lot of water can store it for when a plant needs it throughout the growing season. Water holding capacity is different than water productivity and water infiltration.
Water productivity is water’s ability to move through the soil to where it is needed. Water productivity allows soil to bring water to the root zone when crops are experiencing drought and move it away from the root zone when crops are experiencing flood conditions. Water productivity also allows soils to flush out salts and reduce root zone salinity as water moves through it.
Water infiltration is water’s ability to penetrate the surface of the soil to reach the root zone. Water infiltration is important as it allows water to enter the soil for the crop. Good water infiltration also reduces run-off and erosion in the field.
PhycoTerra improves water holding capacity, water productivity, and water infiltration by feeding the soil’s native beneficial microbes. These microbes improve soil structure, which is the key to optimizing water productivity, capacity, and infiltration for the benefit of the crop.
Learn more about how PhycoTerra supports crops on both ends of the soil moisture spectrum.