The smaller pore space in silts results in more water being held in these soils, therefore more water is available for plant growth.

A general graphical representation of the amount of water available for plant use (plant available water) is shown as the area between the field capacity line (water held in the soil after gravitational water has been removed) and the permanent wilting point line (water that cannot be extract by plant roots). The largest amount of plant available water occurs when the soil texture is in the loam to silty clay loam range. Adding organic matter will increase the amount of plant available water