Question

Differentiate between capillary water and gravitational water

Answer 1

Gravitational Water

Gravitational water is free water moving through soil by the force of gravity. It is largely found in the macropores of soil and very little gravitational water is available to plants as it drains rapidly down the water table in all except the most compact of soils.

Capillary Water

Capillary water is water held in the micropores of the soil, and is the water that composes the soil solution. Capillary water is held in the soil because the surface tension properties (cohesion and adhesion) of the soil micropores are stronger than the force of gravity. However, as the soil dries out, the pore size increases and gravity starts to turn capillary water into gravitational water and it moves down.

Capillary water is the main water that is available to plants as it is trapped in the soil solution right next to the roots if the plant.

Answer 2

Differnce between capillary water and gravitational water:

Capillary water:

Water that remains in the soil after gravitational water is drained out, that is subject to the laws of capillary movement, and that is in the form of a film around the soil grains.

Gravitational water:

Water that moves through soil under the influence of gravity and must be removed from the soil before this can attain field capacity.