Soil moisture drainage is **the process by which water is removed from soil**. It is an important aspect of soil management as it affects plant growth, nutrient availability, and soil stability.

What is the best measure of moisture?

The best measure of moisture is soil moisture tension. This is the **force with which water is held in the soil**. Soil moisture tension can be measured using a tensiometer.

Other methods of measuring moisture are:

• Gravimetric moisture content
• Volumetric moisture content
• Neutron scattering
• Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR)

Factors affecting soil moisture drainage

Soil moisture drainage is affected by a number of factors, including:

• Soil texture
• Soil structure
• Slope
• Vegetation
• Rainfall
• Evaporation

Management of soil moisture drainage

Soil moisture drainage can be managed through a variety of practices, including:

• Tillage
• Cover crops
• Drainage systems
• Irrigation

Benefits of good soil moisture drainage

Good soil moisture drainage has a number of benefits, including:

• Improved plant growth
• Increased nutrient availability
• Reduced soil erosion
• Improved soil stability