Differentiate brtween hydroscopic water and capillary water ?

Hygroscopic water is the water that is absorbed by the soil particles and is held tightly by them. It is not available for plant uptake as it is held too tightly by the soil particles. Capillary water, on the other hand, is the water that is held in the soil pores and is available for plant uptake. It moves through the soil due to capillary action and is easily accessible to plant roots.

Hygroscopic water

- Adsorbed on the surface of soil particles as a thin film
- Held with great force
- Not available to plants
- Forms a monolayer on the soil particle surface

Capillary water

- Held in the capillary pores of the soil (pores less than 10 micrometers in diameter)
- Held by capillary forces
- Available to plants
- Forms a meniscus in the pores