Water repellency under natural conditions in sandy soils of southern Spain

Soil Research ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. Moral Garcíía ◽  
Louis W. Dekker ◽  
Klaas Oostindie ◽  
Coen J. Ritsema

The occurrence and consequences of fire-induced water repellency have been studied in several regions of Spain since 1989. The occurrence of water repellency formed under natural conditions, however, has only been described for a few areas in Spain since 1998. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the severity of naturally occurring water repellency in the sandy soils of the Natural Park of Doñana in southern Spain. The persistence and degree of soil water repellency were measured on field-moist and dried sandy soil samples taken beneath Pinus pinea trees. Around 50% of the field-moist soil samples taken at 0–0.10 m depths exhibited (actual) water repellency. Potential water repellency, measured after drying the samples at 60°C, showed for 68% of the samples slight to extreme water repellency. The organic matter content was found to be positively correlated with persistence and with degree of potential water repellency.

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Pereira ◽  
X. Úbeda ◽  
J. Mataix-Solera ◽  
M. Oliva ◽  
A. Novara

Abstract. Fire is a natural phenomenon with important implications on soil properties. The degree of this impact depends upon fire severity, the ecosystem affected, topography of the burned area and post-fire meteorological conditions. The study of fire effects on soil properties is fundamental to understand the impacts of this disturbance on ecosystems. The aim of this work was to study the short-term effects immediately after the fire (IAF), 2, 5, 7 and 9 months after a low-severity spring boreal grassland fire on soil colour value (assessed with the Munsell colour chart), soil organic matter content (SOM) and soil water repellency (SWR) in Lithuania. Four days after the fire a 400 m2 plot was delineated in an unburned and burned area with the same topographical characteristics. Soil samples were collected at 0–5 cm depth in a 20 m × 20 m grid, with 5 m space between sampling points. In each plot 25 samples were collected (50 each sampling date) for a total of 250 samples for the whole study. SWR was assessed in fine earth (< 2 mm) and sieve fractions of 2–1, 1–0.5, 0.5–0.25 and < 0.25 mm from the 250 soil samples using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) method. The results showed that significant differences were only identified in the burned area. Fire darkened the soil significantly during the entire study period due to the incorporation of ash/charcoal into the topsoil (significant differences were found among plots for all sampling dates). SOM was only significantly different among samples from the unburned area. The comparison between plots revealed that SOM was significantly higher in the first 2 months after the fire in the burned plot, compared to the unburned plot. SWR of the fine earth was significantly different in the burned and unburned plot among all sampling dates. SWR was significantly more severe only IAF and 2 months after the fire. In the unburned area SWR was significantly higher IAF, 2, 5 and 7 months later after than 9 months later. The comparison between plots showed that SWR was more severe in the burned plot during the first 2 months after the fire in relation to the unburned plot. Considering the different sieve fractions studied, in the burned plot SWR was significantly more severe in the first 7 months after the fire in the coarser fractions (2–1 and 1–0.5 mm) and 9 months after in the finer fractions (0.5–0.25 and < 0.25 mm). In relation to the unburned plot, SWR was significantly more severe in the size fractions 2–1 and < 0.25 mm, IAF, 5 and 7 months after the fire than 2 and 9 months later. In the 1–0.5- and 0.5–0.25 mm-size fractions, SWR was significantly higher IAF, 2, 5 and 7 months after the fire than in the last sampling date. Significant differences in SWR were observed among the different sieve fractions in each plot, with exception of 2 and 9 months after the fire in the unburned plot. In most cases the finer fraction (< 0.25 mm) was more water repellent than the others. The comparison between plots for each sieve fraction showed significant differences in all cases IAF, 2 and 5 months after the fire. Seven months after the fire significant differences were only observed in the finer fractions (0.5–0.25 and < 0.25 mm) and after 9 months no significant differences were identified. The correlations between soil Munsell colour value and SOM were negatively significant in the burned and unburned areas. The correlations between Munsell colour value and SWR were only significant in the burned plot IAF, 2 and 7 months after the fire. In the case of the correlations between SOM and SWR, significant differences were only identified IAF and 2 months after the fire. The partial correlations (controlling for the effect of SOM) revealed that SOM had an important influence on the correlation between soil Munsell colour value and SWR in the burned plot IAF, 2 and 7 months after the fire.


2003 ◽  
pp. 121-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.J. Moral Garcia ◽  
L.W. Dekker ◽  
K. Oostindie ◽  
C.J. Ritsema

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 309-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A.L. Leelamanie

Abstract The wetting rate of soil is a measure of water repellency, which is a property of soils that prevents water from wetting or penetrating into dry soil. The objective of the present research was to examine the initial water repellency of organic manure amended soil, and its relation to the soil organic matter (SOM) depletion rates in the laboratory. Soil collected from the Wilpita natural forest, Sri Lanka, was mixed with organic manure to prepare soil samples with 0, 5, 10, 25, and 50% organic manure contents. Locally available cattle manure (CM), goat manure (GM), and Casuarina equisetifolia leaves (CE) were used as the organic manure amendments. Organic matter content of soils was measured in 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days intervals under the laboratory conditions with 74±5% relative humidity at 28±1°C. Initial water repellency of soil samples was measured as the wetting rates using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) test. Initial water repellency increased with increasing SOM content showing higher increasing rate for hydrophobic CE amended samples compared with those amended with CM and GM. The relation between water repellency and SOM content was considered to be governed by the original hydrophobicities of added manures. The SOM contents of all the soil samples decreased with the time to reach almost steady level at about 30 d. The initial SOM depletion rates were negatively related with the initial water repellency. However, all the CE amended samples initially showed prominent low SOM depletion rates, which were not significantly differed with the amended manure content or the difference in initial water repellency. It is explicable that the original hydrophobicity of the manure as well has a potentially important effect on initiation of SOM decomposition. In contrast, the overall SOM depletion rate can be attributed to the initial water repellency of the manure amended sample, however, not to the original hydrophobicity of the amended manure. Hydrophobic protection may prevent rapid microbial decomposition of SOM and it is conceivable that hydrophobic substances in appropriate composition may reduce organic matter mineralization in soil. These results suggest the contribution of hydrophobic organic substances in bioresistance of SOM and their long-term accumulation in soils


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1413-1423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicasio T. Jiménez‐Morillo ◽  
José A. González‐Pérez ◽  
Antonio Jordán ◽  
Lorena M. Zavala ◽  
José María Rosa ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.A.M. PEREIRA ◽  
L.H. BARCELLOS JR. ◽  
V.A. GONÇALVES ◽  
D.V. SILVA ◽  
A.T. FARIA ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Knowledge of herbicides sorption by colloids predicts its movement in the soil profile and its effectiveness in controlling weeds and crops poisoning when directly applied to the soil. This knowledge becomes even more important for herbicides which have long persistence in the soil. In this research, clomazone sorption was estimated by the biological method in Brazilian soil samples with different physical and chemical characteristics, cultivated with sugarcane crops. As an indicator of the presence of clomazone in the soil, Sorghum bicolor was used. The data relating to assessments of poisoning and accumulation of dry matter of the plants were subjected to multivariate analysis of similarity among variables. After that, clomazone doses that caused 50% of intoxication in sorghum plants grown (C50) as well as sorption ratio (SR) of the herbicide in different soil types were estimated. There was similarity greater than 80% for data regarding the percentage of intoxication and accumulated dry matter, with the option to use only those related to the first variable. RS and C50 were higher in Organosol and lower in red-yellow Latosol with and without changing the pH. It was concluded that the clomazone dose to be recommended must be differentiated for different soils, since the value of clomazone sorption in the soil is dependent on its attributes, and the organic matter content is of the utmost importance.


2003 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edemar Joaquim Corazza ◽  
Michel Brossard ◽  
Takashi MuraokaI ◽  
Maurício Antonio Coelho Filho

Studies on soil phosphorus (P) of low productivity cultivated pastures in Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna) areas and surveys on other possible problems related to P are scarce. The spatial variability of soil phosphorus content of a Rhodic Ferralsol was studied in a low productivity pasture of Brachiaria brizantha (BB) grown for 10 years, without fertilizer application, in an experimental area at Planaltina (GO), Brazil. Soil samplings were performed on a regular grid of 10 by 10 meters, with 98 sampling points before (between tussocks and under tussocks) and after the establishment of the experiment (after fertilizing). On the same grid, forage plants were collected and separated into fractions for N and P content analyses. Soil available phosphate was determined by the resin method (Pr) and complemented by the 32P isotopic exchange kinetics analysis. Descriptive statistical and geostatistical analyses were utilized to describe the spatial variability. The Pr content on soil samples under tussocks presented mean and median values 45% larger than in soil samples taken between tussocks. The higher variation is probably related to the greater concentration of BB roots, soil organic matter content and soil P recycled through the plants tussocks. The spatial variability of Pr in this soil was high especially after fertilizer application. This variable did not present spatial dependence for the regular 10 m sampling. The generated knowledge on P variability of soils under low productivity cultivated pastures revealed problems related to the sampling methodology traditionally utilized and to P application.


Soil Research ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 1291 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Ismail ◽  
K. Kalithasan

The mobility of metsulfuron-methyl in 5 soil series with different organic contents was determined in a greenhouse as well as under natural conditions. In these studies, the movement and biological activity of metsulfuron-methyl were determined by the bioassay method using long bean as a bioassay species. Bioactivity and movement of the herbicide down the soil profile were inversely related to the organic matter content of the soil. Phytotoxic levels of metsulfuron-methyl were restricted to the 10-cm depth of the column containing Selangor Series soil except when it received 40 mL of water daily (depth, 10–15 cm). In Munchung Series, the phytotoxic level was also mainly in the 5–10 cm layer. However, when the column received 40 mL daily or every 4 days, the residue was detected in 15–20 cm and 10–15 cm zones, respectively. The phytotoxic level moved downward to the 20–25 cm layer both in Sogomana and Holyrood Series when 40 mL of water was given daily. A phytotoxic level of metsulfuron herbicide was detected in the 20–25 cm layer when the soil column containing Serdang Series was leached with 40 mL of water every 4 days or with 20 mL daily; the phytotoxic level was detected at a depth of 25–30 cm when this soil was watered daily with 40 mL. The downward movement of metsulfuron under natural conditions showed a pattern similar to that found under simulated conditions. Phytotoxic effects of the residue could be detected in the 25–30 cm and 15–20 cm zone of Serdang and Holyrood Series, respectively, after exposure to 20 days of rainfall (total 111·9 mm). Phytotoxic residue in both Sogomana and Munchung Series soil was detected in the 10–15 cm layer, and in the 5–10 cm layer for Selangor Series soil, after exposure to 20 days of rainfall. After exposure to 40 days of rainfall (total 152·8 mm) under natural conditions, the residue could be detected in the 15–20 cm layer of Selangor Series. The phytotoxic level moved deeper in soil with low organic matter after exposure to 40 days of rainfall. Fresh weight reduction was greater in the 20–30 cm layer in Serdang Series than in the top layer.


Soil Research ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 603 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Harper ◽  
RJ Gilkes

Marked variations in hardsetting occur in the sandy surface horizons of duplex deep sandy soils in a semi-arid area of Western Australia. Hardsetting by definition only occurs in dry soils and increases with field texture. Soil strength measured on remoulded samples in the laboratory conformed with field assessments of strength (consistence). Most (79%) of the variation in strength between Ap horizon samples was explained by clay content, with small differences in clay content resulting in large differences in strength. Half of the maximum measured strength in the Ap horizons was achieved at a clay content of only 8%. The A2 horizons were markedly stronger than corresponding Ap horizons, despite similar clay contents, and this difference in strength is related to the larger organic matter content of the Ap horizons. Hardsetting of these sandy soils may be explained in terms of the cementing action provided by clay which forms bridges between particles. Organic material weakens these bridges. Hardsetting may affect the wind erodibility of sandy soils, through differences in surface conditions (i.e. loose v. compact) and by increasing the resistance to abrasion by saltating sand. It is not clear what effect it will have on plant performance. Hardsetting is a continuous, rather than discrete soil attribute, and if it is to be described in the field, and used in soil classification schemes, objectives class limits should be defined, perhaps using dry consistence ratings.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Abayomi Ogunmokun ◽  
Rony Wallach

&lt;p&gt;Soil water repellency is a common feature of dry soils under permanent vegetation and drought conditions. Soil-water hydrology is markedly affected by soil-water repellency as it hinders infiltration, leading to enhanced surface runoff and soil erosion. Although this phenomenon was primarily ascribed to sandy soils, it has been observed in loam, clay, and peat soils in dry and humid regions. One detrimental effect of soil water repellency on plants is the reduction of soil water availability that stems from the non-uniform water retention and flow in preferential pathways (gravity-induced fingers) with relatively dry soil volume among these paths. It was recently discovered that prolonged irrigation with treated wastewater, a widely used alternative in Israel and other Mediterranean countries due to the limited freshwater, triggers soil water repellency which invariably resulted in preferential flow development in the field. Due to climate change events, the use of treated wastewater for irrigation as a means of freshwater conservation is expected to widen, including in countries that are not considered dry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While a vast amount of research has been devoted to characterizing the preferential flow in water repellent soils, the effect of this flow regime on the spatial distribution of salt and fertilizers in the root zone was barely investigated. Results from a commercial citrus orchard irrigated with treated wastewater that includes the spatial and temporal distribution of preferential flow in the soil profile measured by ERT will be demonstrated. The associated spatial distribution of salinity, nitrate, phosphate, and SAR in the soil profile will be shown as well.&amp;#160; We investigated the efficacy of two nonionic surfactants application to remediate hydrophobic sandy soils both in the laboratory and field. The effect of the surfactant application to the water repellent soils in the orchards on the spatial distribution of soil moisture and the associated agrochemicals will be presented and discussed.&lt;/p&gt;


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