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Subjects · Leaving Cert Agricultural Science

Leaving Cert Agricultural Science: Soil water, air & compaction

How often Soil water, air & compaction comes up on the Agricultural Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Soil water, air & compaction, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Soil water, air & compaction.

(a)The water content of a soil after free drainage has stopped is called...
  1. Saturation point
  2. Field capacity
  3. Permanent wilting point
(b)Available water in a soil is the difference between...
  1. Saturation and permanent wilting point
  2. Saturation and field capacity
  3. Field capacity and permanent wilting point
(c)A soil sample goes from 120 g fresh to 90 g after drying. What is its % water (fresh basis)?
  1. 25%
  2. 75%
  3. 33.3%
Show the answers

(a) Field capacity

(b) Field capacity and permanent wilting point

(c) 25%

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Soil water, air & compaction.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q14, Q14c, Q14d
2024Q4
2023Q13, Q13c, Q13d
2022Not asked
2021Q2b, Q6a

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Soil water, air & compaction questions

Soil water, air & compaction, 3 marks

Which practice best reduces soil compaction by machinery?

  1. Heavier machines to firm the soil
  2. Travelling more often over the field
  3. Low-pressure tyres and staying off wet soil
Show the answer

Low-pressure tyres and staying off wet soil

Compaction is worst on wet soil under heavy loads. Low tyre pressures spread the weight and avoiding wet conditions protects the large pores.

Soil water, air & compaction, 3 marks

Water held in small pores against gravity, which plants can use, is called...

  1. Hygroscopic water
  2. Capillary water
  3. Gravitational water
Show the answer

Capillary water

Capillary water is held by surface tension in small pores and is the main water plants use. Gravitational water drains away from large pores.

Soil water, air & compaction, 3 marks

Water held so tightly on soil particles that plants cannot take it up is...

  1. Hygroscopic water
  2. Capillary water
  3. Gravitational water
Show the answer

Hygroscopic water

Hygroscopic water is a very thin film bound to particle surfaces. It remains even in air-dry soil and is not available to plants.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q5
2024Q7
2023Q15
2022Not asked
2021Q5, Q16c

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Soil water, air & compaction questions

Soil water, air & compaction, 2 marks

The water a soil holds after excess water has drained away is called?

  1. Saturation
  2. Permanent wilting point
  3. Field capacity
Show the answer

Field capacity

At saturation all pores are full. After gravity drains the big pores, the soil is at field capacity, holding water in small pores.

Soil water, air & compaction, 2 marks

The point at which plants can no longer take water from the soil is?

  1. Full saturation
  2. Permanent wilting point
  3. Field capacity point
Show the answer

Permanent wilting point

Some water is still there but held too tightly in tiny pores. Available water is the water between field capacity and wilting point.

Soil water, air & compaction, 3 marks

Why does compacted soil have a lower infiltration rate?

  1. It has fewer and smaller pores
  2. It has more earthworms in it
  3. It has more large air spaces in it
Show the answer

It has fewer and smaller pores

Heavy machines or animals on wet soil squash the pores. Water cannot soak in, so it ponds or runs off, and roots struggle to grow.

Other Agricultural Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Agricultural Science