GATE AG 2019 • Q21 MCQ • 1 Mark

Section 5: Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Soil-Water-Plant Relationship

Subtopic: Water requirement of crops

Question Statement:

Soil-Water-Plant Relationship: Water requirement of crops; consumptive use and evapotranspiration; measurement of infiltration, soil moisture and irrigation water infiltration. Tensiometer installed in the soil measures

Options:

  • (A) osmotic suction of soil moisture
  • (B) soil permeability
  • (C) soil moisture content
  • (D) capillary potential of the soil

Official Answer Key:

D

Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation

A tensiometer consists of a porous cup connected to a vacuum gauge/manometer; it directly measures the soil-water matric (capillary) potential/tension — the suction the soil exerts on water — not the volumetric moisture content itself, not permeability, and not osmotic (solute-related) suction. Answer: (D) capillary potential of the soil.

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