Techniques for reducing water evaporation from soil and other fresh water mediums, such as open bodies of water are provided that include forming a hydrophobic capillary layer thereon. The hydrophobic capillary layer includes a plurality of hydrophobic capillaries configured to push or otherwise direct water provided in the soil or the fresh water medium downward or back into the soil or the fresh water medium while allowing water vapor, oxygen and other gases to pass. This increases the diffusion resistance for the water molecules to pass through the hydrophobic capillary layer and thereby reduces the rate of evaporation of water from the underlying soil or fresh water medium. In an aspect, the hydrophobic capillary layer is formed via soil particles respectively coated with a hydrophobic coating. The reduction to water evaporation from a soil layer covered with the hydrophobic capillary layer results in an increased amount of water retention in the soil layer, which in turn enhances plant growth while conserving water.
