Loam Soil is best. A combination of sand, silt, and clay particles, this soil absorbs water readily and is able to store it for use by plants. Loam absorbs water at a rate between 1/4 and 2 inches per hour.

Does loam soil hold water?

Loam soil has about an 11 percent volumetric water content at wilting point. The soil still contains water but it is held too tightly for plant root extraction. A soil's water storage characteristics are very important for irrigation management.

How long does loam soil hold water?

If a crop is using 0.30” of water per day, the silt loam soil has about a 7 day supply of useable moisture. The sand soil has a little over 2 days. These are huge differences, and will affect how you irrigate, and how long plants can wait for the next rain or the next irrigation.