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The lowest amount of water in the soil that a plant requires to maintain its turgidity is known as:
  • a)
    Field Capacity
  • b)
    Available Water Capacity
  • c)
    Permanent Wilting Point
  • d)
    Total Soil Water Storage Capacity
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
The lowest amount of water in the soil that a plant requires to mainta...
  • Permanent wilting point (PWP) or wilting point (WP) is defined as the minimum amount of water in the soil that the plant requires not to wilt. If the soil water content decreases to this or any lower point a plant wilts and can no longer recover its turgidity when placed in a saturated atmosphere for 12 hours. Turgidity is the state of being turgid or swollen, especially due to high fluid content. Turgidity is essential in plant cells to make them keep standing upright. Plant cells that lose much water have less turgor pressure and tend to become flaccid.
  • The matric potential at this soil moisture condition is commonly estimated at -15 bar. Most agricultural plants will generally show signs of wilting long before this moisture potential or water content is reached (more typically at around -2 to -5 bars) because the rate of water movement to the roots decreases and the stomata tend to lose their turgor pressure and begin to restrict transpiration.
  • This water is strongly retained and trapped in the smaller pores and does not readily flow. The volumetric soil moisture content at the wilting point will have dropped to around 5 to 10% for sandy soils, 10 to 15% in loam soils, and 15 to 20% in clay soils.
  • Hence option (c) is the correct answer
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The lowest amount of water in the soil that a plant requires to mainta...

Permanent Wilting Point

The Permanent Wilting Point is the lowest amount of water in the soil that a plant requires to maintain its turgidity. When the soil moisture drops below this point, the plant wilts permanently and may not recover even if water is added to the soil. It is an important parameter for determining the water needs of plants and understanding their drought tolerance.

Factors affecting Permanent Wilting Point:
- Soil Type: Different types of soil have different water holding capacities, which can affect the Permanent Wilting Point.
- Rooting Depth: Plants with deeper root systems may be able to access water below the Permanent Wilting Point.
- Climate: Hot and dry climates may lead to a lower Permanent Wilting Point for plants.

Importance of Permanent Wilting Point:
- Helps in determining irrigation needs for crops.
- Indicates the drought tolerance of different plant species.
- Provides insights into soil water availability for plant growth.

In conclusion, the Permanent Wilting Point is a critical parameter for understanding the water requirements of plants and plays a significant role in agriculture and ecology.
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The lowest amount of water in the soil that a plant requires to maintain its turgidity is known as:a)Field Capacityb)Available Water Capacityc)Permanent Wilting Pointd)Total Soil Water Storage CapacityCorrect answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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