DETERMINATION OF THE PERMANENT WILTING POINT IN AN INCEPTISOL AND AN OXISOL USING DIFFERENT INDICATOR PLANTS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36725/agries.v12i1.11390

Keywords:

Inceptisol, Oxisol, physical method, physiological method, gravimetric moisture

Abstract

The permanent wilting point (PWP) represents the minimum soil moisture level at which plants irreversibly
lose their ability to absorb water, being a key parameter for water management. This study aimed to
determine soil moisture at the PWP using different indicator plants (maize, soybean, and sorghum) in
Inceptisol and Oxisol, and to compare the physiological method with the standard physical method (1500
kPa). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design in a 3 × 2
factorial scheme (crops × soils), with five replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and
Tukey’s test (p≤0.05), and methods were compared using the t-test. A significant interaction between crops
and soils was observed, with higher PWP moisture values in the Oxisol. Differences in water extraction
capacity among crops were also identified, especially in the Oxisol, with maize showing superior
performance. The comparison between methods indicated equivalence for soybean and sorghum in the Oxisol, whereas significant differences were observed in the Inceptisol and for maize. The results
demonstrate that PWP is not a fixed value, varying according to soil type, plant species, and determination
method, highlighting the need for context-specific approaches in irrigation management.

Author Biographies

  • Maria Eduarda Coelho Amaral, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"/mestranda

    Mestranda em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo).

  • Evandro Reina, AFYA Faculdade Porto Nacional/Professor

    Professor Doutor do curso de Agronomia.

  • Cibelle Christine Brito Ferreira, Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins/Professora

    Professora Doutora do curso de Agronomia no Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins.

  • Roberta Zani da Silva, Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins/Professor

    Professora Doutora do curso de Agronomia no Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins.

  • Thadeu Teixeira Júnior, Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins/Professor

    Professor Mestre do curso de Agronomia no Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins.

  • Alexandre Barreto Almeida dos Santos, Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins/Professor

    Professor Mestre do curso de Agronomia no Centro Universitário Católica do Tocantins.

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Published

2026-06-11

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2026): Agri-Environmental Sciences

Section

Scientific paper

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How to Cite

DETERMINATION OF THE PERMANENT WILTING POINT IN AN INCEPTISOL AND AN OXISOL USING DIFFERENT INDICATOR PLANTS. (2026). AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, 12(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.36725/agries.v12i1.11390

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