The use of equations for predicting some soil properties is important for reducing time and laboratorial costs, especially for rapid and precise application of those values in agricultural projects. The estimation of one soil property through other properties which are obtained in a daily routine ought to be considered. The objective of this work was to obtain equations based on soil texture, soil organic matter content and bulk density that allow to estimate with good precision the grade of drainable porosity and the water-holding capacity. The methods for measuring these parameters are used in the routine of most laboratories of soil analisys. Soil texture, organic matter, and bulk density were measured in 36 samples from zero to 40 cm depth of an Inceptsol from the region of Campos das Vertentes, MG, Brazil. The results were compared to drainable porosity and water-holding capacity though the Backward procedure of SAS program. The final equations allowed a good estimate of both parameters, which can the useful for suport of future studies in the region analysed.
water retention; water availability; soil hydraulic properties; mathematical models
