Field capacity in black soil region, Northeast China

In this work, 23 black soil profiles were surveyed and 113 soil samples were collected to determine the field capacity (FC) of the black soil in Northeast China. The effectiveness of three methods measuring FC, the Wilcox method (WM), the undisturbed soil pressure plate method (PUM) and the air-dried sieved soil pressure plate method (PDM) were compared to select a suitable laboratory measurement method. Results show that the FC values measured by PDM are greater than those measured by PUM, and the values measured by PUM are greater than those measured by WM. PUM is more suitable for the determination of FC in the study area. One regression equation between PUM and PDM has been established through which undisturbed soil can be replaced by air-dried sieved soil, which is easier to get, to measure FC. FCs vary from 23.50% to 37.00%, with an average of 31.65%, which differ greatly among the 23 black soil profiles. FC is found to be significantly positively correlated with the silt content, clay content and bulk density of the soil, but significantly negatively correlated with the sand content. An empirical pedotransfer function is established to estimate the FC using available soil physical and chemical properties.