A two-point method for determining the soil water characteristic of typical northern temperate boreal soils

Data from Scottish soils were used to test a method to estimate the soil water characteristic from just two measured soil water retention points plus a measure of the water content at saturation. The method produced a good approximation of the measured soil water characteristic for the majority of the samples analysed (R2 = 0.947; mean absolute error 0.019 m2 m− 2). However it was found that the method was not readily transferable to a group of soils that are very porous due to cryoturbation and have soil water characteristics not well approximated by a power function. It is concluded that the method has value in improving the cost effectiveness of obtaining soil water characteristic data. The assessments of the method, which now span a wide range of different soil materials, give sufficient indication of expected accuracy and precision to enable users to assess if the method is suitable for their particular applications.