Water storage capacity is one aspect of the complex process of plant water balance. Other components are water extraction and water stress (see there in detail).
For optimum growth, vines require soils with good water storage capacity and a constant, but not excessive, water supply. A soil with this characteristic can store water efficiently and release it slowly, which enables even irrigation and reduces the risk of drought stress. The essential water seeps into the soil after precipitation (rain, hail, sleet, snow).
A small proportion also comes from surface precipitation formed by condensation (dew, frost), which is absorbed directly by the dew roots located just below the surface. The non-solid soil substance consists of pores of different sizes that are filled with air and/or water. The pores can make up around one third to two thirds (30-60%) of the total volume. The porosity - the ratio of the void volume to the total volume - depends on the pore volume. In dry soil, all pores are filled with air.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena