BE-15 :: Water retention capacity of soil

Soil water retention is a major soil hydraulic property that governs soil functioning in ecosystems and greatly affects soil management. Soil moisture forms a major buffer against flooding, and water capacity in subsoil is a major steering factor for plant growth. The effects of changes in soil water retention depend on the proportions of the textural components and the amount of organic carbon present in the soil. Maintaining or even enhancing the water retention capacity of soils can play a positive role in mitigating the impacts of more extreme rainfall intensity and more frequent and severe droughts, e.g. due to climate change.
Research questions:
Land management
How to safeguard the sponge function of the soil?
How to foster/upgrade the water retention and water infiltration capacity of soil?