What is the soil water held by negative matric pressure against soil particles and not freely drained by gravity called?

Correct answer: Matric-potential water or capillary water

Correct answer: B. Soil particles, especially clay and organic matter, attract water through adhesion, while surface tension holds water in small pores. These forces create a negative matric potential, so the water is held against the soil matrix rather than draining freely under gravity. Water in small pores is often called capillary water. Some of it is available to plant roots, although water held extremely tightly in very small pores may be difficult for plants to extract. Gravitational water occupies larger pores and drains downward relatively quickly after heavy rain, so A describes a different category. C is water moving across the land surface because of excess rainfall and is related to runoff and erosion, not water held in soil pores. D describes a possible quality condition, not a physical water-retention class. A useful distinction is: gravity drains large-pore water; matric forces retain water in smaller pores.