Available Moisture in Relation to Water-stable Aggregates of Two Forest Soils

Available moisture release characteristics for two well aggregated clayey forest soils of West Bengal (INDIA) were determined with respect to different-sized water-stable aggregates. In situ determination of higher range of available moisture differed appreciably from classic 1/3 bar moisture retention, for the soils. Release of moisture at lower tensions (0.33 > bar) were mainly governed by the inter-aggregate pore size distribution while that at higher tension chiefly attributed to the texture of aggregates i.e. the intra-aggregate pore size distribution. The difference in moisture releasing capacity particularly in the range 0.33—15.0 bar amongst different sized aggregates, was due mainly to varying amount of clay and organic carbon in different-sized aggregates.