ABSTRACT
Matric potential, t, is a component of water potential, C, but has different meanings in plant physiology vs. soil science. A rigorous definition of t requires a reference to principles of thermodynamics (both classical and irreversible thermodynamics). A rigorous treatment is beyond the scope of this brief overview. Readers interested in a detailed definition are advised to read the article of Ref.[1], but should be prepared to wade through 227 equations in a terse, 25-page article requiring a firm grasp of thermodynamics. Less detailed treatments can be found in Ref.[2] for soils and Ref.[3]
for plant tissue.
