Soil water repellency in sandy soil depends on the soil drying method, incubation temperature and specific surface area

•Soil water repellency (SWR) remained constant up to a threshold soil water content.•SWR increased with increasing soil water content when above the threshold.•Different drying methods resulted in different SWR response to soil water content.•Incubation temperature only influenced SWR response when above the threshold.•Different sieved soil fractions had different threshold soil water contents.