What is the significance of soil moisture at field capacity?

The significance of soil moisture at field capacity primarily lies in its representation of the maximum water retention of the soil. At this point, the soil has absorbed all the water it can retain against the force of gravity, and any additional water will begin to drain away. Understanding field capacity is crucial for effective water management in agriculture, as it helps determine the amount of water available for plant use without the risk of waterlogging. It serves as a benchmark for understanding how much moisture is held in the soil and is accessible to crops, which is vital for optimizing irrigation scheduling and ensuring healthy plant growth.

While other points related to field capacity exist, they focus on different aspects. The starting point for irrigation is influenced by field capacity as it indicates when irrigation might be necessary, but it is not a direct representation of maximum water retention. The conditions for saturation leading to anaerobic conditions and how quickly soil dries out are considered important as well, but they do not define the concept of field capacity and its role in water management quite as effectively as the idea of maximum water retention does.