field capacity

American  

[feeld-kuh-pas-i-tee] / ˈfild kəˈpæs ɪ ti /

noun

1. Geology. the amount of water or moisture that a soil can retain after saturation and a period of usually 1–3 days of natural drainage.

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field capacity Scientific  

1. The maximum amount of water that a soil or rock can hold, as by capillary action, before the water is drawn away by gravity.

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Example Sentences

The data corresponds to the amount of rain needed to bring the soil moisture content back to field capacity and is now above 50mm in many areas, therefore growth is restricted.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

The lottery-based registration system is used to allow the maximum number of runners an opportunity to obtain an entry because the volume of interest exceeds the field capacity.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2019

“Since Congress last debated this, our field capacity has grown more sophisticated and our targeting and the range of voices speaking out have changed the game,” Henderson said.

From Washington Post • Jul. 31, 2013

Dry though the maritime Northwest summer is, we enter the growing season with our full depth of soil at field capacity.

From Gardening Without Irrigation: or without much, anyway by Solomon, Steve

The term "available moisture" refers to the difference between field capacity and the amount of moisture left after the plants have died.

From Gardening Without Irrigation: or without much, anyway by Solomon, Steve