Water potential describes the tendency of water to move from one place to another. Water moves from areas of high water potential to areas of low water potential.
Water potential is dependent on the solute potential and the pressure potential.
Water potential = solute potential + pressure potential
Solute Potential: Solute potential describes the effect that dissolved solids have on the water potential. As solute is added to water, the value of the solute potential becomes more negative and the water potential decreases.
Pressure Potential: Pressure potential describes the effect that pressure has on the water potential. Positive pressure increases the water potential, while negative pressure decreases the water potential.
If the pressure is held constant, changes in the water potential will be dependent only on the change in the solute potential. The addition of more solute to the water results in a decrease in the water potential number.
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