Saturation point
When all pore spaces are filled with water - there is no air.
Most plants can’t grow in these conditions
Field capacity
The water that remains when all gravitational water has drained away - optimal growing conditions
Permanent wilting point
The point that plants will wilt due to lack of water
PWP is reached sooner on sandy soils compared to clay
Available water content
The difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point.
The difference in water when the soil has lost all the water it held at FC.
Soil moisture deficit
The amount of water needed to be added to restore the FC