At field capacity the soil contains

Options

A. Capillary and gravitational water
B. Capillary and runaway water
C. Capillary and hygroscopic water
D. Capillary, hygroscopic and bound water

Answer

To answer the question "At field capacity, the soil contains which of the following waters?", we need to understand the concept of field capacity and the types of water present in the soil.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Definition of Field Capacity**:
- Field capacity refers to the maximum amount of water that soil can hold after excess water has drained away and the gravitational flow has stopped. This is the point at which the soil is saturated but not waterlogged.

2. **Types of Water in Soil**:
- There are different types of water that can be found in the soil:
- **Gravitational Water**: This is the excess water that drains through the soil due to gravity. It is not retained in the soil and is not available for plants.
- **Capillary Water**: This is the water that is held in the micropores of the soil due to capillary forces. This type of water is available for plants and is what is primarily present at field capacity.
- **Hygroscopic Water**: This is the water that is absorbed by soil particles and is held tightly to them. It is not available for plant use.
- **Bound Water**: This is water that is chemically bound to soil particles, such as minerals. It is also not available for plants.

3. **Water Present at Field Capacity**:
- At field capacity, the soil primarily contains capillary water, which is available for plants. Hygroscopic water and bound water are also present but are not available for plant uptake.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, at field capacity, the soil contains capillary water, and to some extent, hygroscopic water and bound water, but gravitational water is not present as it has already drained away.

### Final Answer:
At field capacity, the soil contains capillary water.