Soil Water Retention: Equilibrium saturation of a soil sample in contact with a porous ceramic membrane

Abstract

Consider a soil sample incontact with a porous ceramic membrane that allows the passage of the soilsolution but not the soil particles. This plate is connected to a burette witha flexible water filled tube, and the height of the burette is adjusted so thatthe water level is at the same level as the soil surface. In this state, thesoil will be saturated under equilibrium conditions.