Samples were first weighed at the sampling site and then
again, after being dried to constant weight in the oven at
105 C, in order to obtain water content, and thus volume
of pores filled with water. Then, selected dried samples
were saturated with water and weighed again in order to
obtain the total possible amount of water absorbed, and
thus the total volume of pores. The ratio between the two
volumes was considered as the fraction of water filled
pores