Plant Available Water Calculator

Field Capacity (FC) %:

Wilting Point (WP) %:

Calculate
Plant Available Water (PAW) %:

Plant Available Water (PAW) is a measure of the water available to plants in the soil. It represents the amount of water held in the soil that plants can absorb and use for their growth. PAW is an important concept in agriculture and horticulture as it helps farmers and gardeners understand how much water is available to their crops, enabling better irrigation management.

How to Use the Plant Available Water Calculator

1. Enter the Field Capacity (FC) of the soil, which is the maximum amount of water that the soil can hold after excess water has drained away.
2. Enter the Wilting Point (WP), which is the moisture content at which plants can no longer extract water from the soil.
3. Click the “Calculate” button to get the Plant Available Water (PAW).

Formula

The formula to calculate Plant Available Water (PAW) is:

PAW = FC – WP

Where:

• FC is the Field Capacity.
• WP is the Wilting Point.

This formula gives you the amount of water available in the soil that can be used by plants.

Example Solve

Imagine the Field Capacity (FC) of the soil is 25%, and the Wilting Point (WP) is 10%. Here’s how you would calculate the Plant Available Water (PAW):

PAW = 25% – 10% = 15%

This means that 15% of the water in the soil is available for the plants to use.

FAQ’s

What is Field Capacity (FC)?
Field Capacity is the amount of water the soil can hold after excess water has drained away.

What is Wilting Point (WP)?
Wilting Point is the moisture level at which plants can no longer extract water from the soil.

Why is Plant Available Water important?
PAW is crucial for understanding how much water is available for crops, helping in efficient irrigation and crop management.

Can PAW vary for different soil types?
Yes, PAW can vary significantly between different soil types due to their water-holding capacity and texture.

Conclusion

Understanding Plant Available Water (PAW) is essential for efficient irrigation and water management in agriculture. By using the PAW calculator, you can determine how much water is available to your plants and adjust your irrigation practices accordingly. This can lead to healthier crops and more efficient water use.