Neco 2020 Agricultural Science Question 2

A soil‑water retention experiment is set up as shown in the illustration. The cylindrical column has an internal diameter of 10 cm and a height of 30 cm. The column is filled with a soil sample and fitted with a graduated collection tube at the base to record drained water. The procedure is: 1. Saturate the soil and allow free drainage until outflow stops – the volume of water collected is 1500 mL (field capacity). 2. After the soil dries to the permanent wilting point, add water until the column again reaches field capacity – the volume required is 200 mL. Using the data, determine: (a) The total volume of the soil column (in mL). (b) The volumetric water content at field capacity (expressed as a decimal to two places). (c) The volumetric water content at the permanent wilting point. (d) The available water holding capacity of the soil (difference between field capacity and wilting point, expressed as a decimal to two places).