Digital soil suitability map of Switzerland - Water storage capacity

The term refers to water which is retained in the soil by tension forces and can easily be taken up by plants (soil moisture tension 0.1 - 1 Atm). Estimates show that there is likely to be 1 mm of easily available water (soil moisture tension 0.1 - 1 Atm) for each 1 cm of physiological root penetration depth. The physiological root penetration depth is determined by the entire layer that can be penetrated by roots, with deductions for stones and large cavities in sand and gravel soils, together with deductions for compact structures and soil horizons with a low oxygen content. (Details: Soil suitability map of Switzerland, March 1980).