Soil water content increasing order:

[A] Field capacity

[B] Oven dry

[C] Hygroscopic

[D] Permanent wilting

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is B

Correct option: (b) (B), (C), (D), (A)
Explanation of increasing soil water content:
· Oven dry (B):
· Soil contains no water.
· Lowest possible soil water content.
· Hygroscopic water (C):
· Thin film of water adsorbed on soil particles.
· Not available to plants.
· More water than oven dry soil.
· Permanent wilting point (D):
· Soil water held so tightly that plants cannot extract it.
· Higher moisture content than hygroscopic water.
· Field capacity (A):
· Maximum water held against gravity after drainage.
· Highest water content among the given options.
➡️ Thus, the correct increasing order is: Oven dry → Hygroscopic → Permanent wilting → Field capacity
❌ Why other options are incorrect
Option (a): (A), (B), (C), (D)
· Starts with field capacity, which actually has the highest moisture.
· Order is reversed.
Option (c): (B), (A), (D), (C)
· Field capacity is incorrectly placed immediately after oven dry.
· Hygroscopic water should come before permanent wilting.
Option (d): (C), (B), (D), (A)
· Hygroscopic water cannot be less than oven dry.
· Incorrect initial sequence.
�� Key Points to Remember
· Soil water availability increases from oven dry to field capacity.
· Hygroscopic and permanent wilting water are unavailable to plants.
· Field capacity represents optimum water status for plant growth.