field capacity

noun

: the water-retaining capacity of a soil usually including both the hygroscopic and capillary water of the soil and being expressed as a percentage of the dry weight of the soil
a silty loam with a field capacity of 35 percent

called also field moisture capacity

Word History

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of field capacity was in 1908

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Dictionary Entries Near field capacity

Cite this Entry

“Field capacity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/field%20capacity. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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