This usually occurs two to three days after rain or irrigation in pervious soils of uniform structure and texture.
The nominal definition of field capacity (expressed symbolically as θfc) is the bulk water content retained in soil at −33 kPa (or −0.33 bar) of hydraulic head or suction pressure.
Field capacity improves on the concept of moisture equivalent by Lyman Briggs.
Veihmeyer & Hendrickson proposed this concept as an attempt to improve water-use efficiency for farmers in California in 1949.
A relatively low rate of change indicates when macropore drainage ceases, which is called Field Capacity; it is also termed drained upper limit (DUL).