Permanent wilting percentage (PWP) is the highest in

Options

A. Silt
B. Sandy soil
C. Loam
D. Clay soil

Answer

To solve the question regarding which type of soil has the highest permanent wilting percentage (PWP), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand Permanent Wilting Percentage (PWP)**:
- PWP is defined as the minimum amount of water that must be present in the soil for plants to avoid wilting. If the soil moisture drops below this level, plants will begin to wilt.

2. **Identify Soil Types**:
- The options provided are:
- Silt
- Sandy soil
- Loam
- Clay soil

3. **Analyze Water Retention in Different Soil Types**:
- **Sandy Soil**: Sandy soil has larger particles and tends to drain quickly, which means it does not retain water well. Therefore, it has a lower water retention capacity and a higher PWP.
- **Silt**: Silt has smaller particles than sand and retains more moisture than sandy soil, but less than clay.
- **Loam**: Loam is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay, and it retains moisture well, making it ideal for plant growth.
- **Clay Soil**: Clay has very small particles and retains water very well, resulting in a lower PWP compared to sandy soil.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Since sandy soil has the least water retention capability, it has the highest permanent wilting percentage. Thus, the correct answer to the question is **sandy soil**.

### Final Answer:
The permanent wilting percentage (PWP) is the highest in **sandy soil**.