scholarly journals Effects of Thinning Intensities on Soil Infiltration and Water Storage Capacity in a Chinese Pine-Oak Mixed Forest

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Chen ◽  
Zhiyou Yuan ◽  
Hongbo Shao ◽  
Dexiang Wang ◽  
Xingmin Mu
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Qinling Mountains ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Deep Layers ◽  
Soil Infiltration Rate

Thinning is a crucial practice in the forest ecosystem management. The soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity of pine-oak mixed forest under three different thinning intensity treatments (15%, 30%, and 60%) were studied in Qinling Mountains of China. The thinning operations had a significant influence on soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity. The soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity in different thinning treatments followed the order of control (nonthinning): <60%, <15%, and <30%. It demonstrated that thinning operation with 30% intensity can substantially improve soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity of pine-oak mixed forest in Qinling Mountains. The soil initial infiltration rate, stable infiltration rate, and average infiltration rate in thinning 30% treatment were significantly increased by 21.1%, 104.6%, and 60.9%, compared with the control. The soil maximal water storage capacity and noncapillary water storage capacity in thinning 30% treatment were significantly improved by 20.1% and 34.3% in contrast to the control. The soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity were significantly higher in the surface layer (0~20 cm) than in the deep layers (20~40 cm and 40~60 cm). We found that the soil property was closely related to soil infiltration rate and water storage capacity.

scholarly journals Influence of Living and Dead Roots of Gansu Poplar on Water Infiltration and Distribution in Soil

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dashuai Zhang ◽  
Yao Dai ◽  
Lingli Wang ◽  
Liang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Preferential Flow ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Soil Porosity ◽  
Soil Permeability ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Porosity And Permeability

During rapid urbanization, it is necessary to increase soil permeability and soil porosity for reducing urban runoff and waterlogging risk. Woody plants are known to increase soil porosity and preferential flow in soil via living roots growth and dead roots decay. However, the primary results of dead woody plant roots on soil porosity and permeability have been discussed based only on the hypotheses or assumptions of different researchers. In this study, living and dead roots (decayed under natural conditions for more than 5 years) of Gansu poplar trees (Populus gansuensis) were selected. They were selected to compare the influence between living and dead roots on water infiltration rate and soil porosity in a cylindrical container (diameter = 20 cm, height = 66 cm) under laboratory conditions. Results indicated that the steady-state water fluxes at the bottom of the containers without roots (control), with living roots, and with dead roots were 54.75 ± 0.80, 61.31 ± 0.61, and 55.97 ± 0.59 cm d−1, respectively. Both living roots and dead roots increased the water infiltration rates in soil and also increased the water storage capacity of soil. The water storage capacities of soil without roots, with living roots, and with dead roots were 0.279, 0.317, and 0.322 cm3 cm−3, respectively. The results from SEM indicated that smaller pores (30–50 μm) were in living roots and larger pores (100–1000 μm) were in dead roots. The soil permeability was increased by living roots possibly due to the larger channels generated on the surface of the roots; however, water absorbed into the dead roots resulted in greater water storage capacity.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Water Conservation Function of Different Forest Types in Northeastern China

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4075
Author(s):  
Zheng ◽  
Chen ◽  
Gong ◽  
Yang ◽  
Kang
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Pinus Tabulaeformis ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Soil Infiltration ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Soil Infiltration Rate

Water conservation is an important function of forest ecosystems, but it is still unclear which forest types function best in this regard. We investigated the water conservation function indicators including the water-holding rate of branches and leaves (BLwr), water-holding capacity of litter (Lwc), water absorption rate of litter (Lwr), soil infiltration rate (Ir), soil and water content (SWC), soil water storage (SWS), and soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation of five forest types (Larix gmelinii forests, Pinus koraiensis forests, Robinia pseudoacacia forests, Pinus tabulaeformis forests, and mixed forests) and evaluated them using the gray correlation method (GCM). The results indicate that the BLwr of five stands in the study area varied from 18.3% to 33.5%. The SWC and SWS of the R. pseudoacacia stand were 13.76% and 178.9 mm, respectively, which was significantly higher than that of the other stands (p < 0.05). The SOM was similar for the R. pseudoacacia (0.23%), mixed forest (0.22%), and L. gmelinii (0.22%) sites. The BLwr, Lwc, Lwr, SWC, and SWS values of broad-leaved tree species were higher than those of the mixed species, followed by those for coniferous tree species. Soil infiltration rate followed the order L. gmelinii > P. koraiensis > mixed forest > P. tabulaeformis > R. pseudoacacia. Based on our results, the R. pseudoacacia stand had the highest water conservation ability, while the lowest performance was found for the P. tabuliformis site. This suggests that, in order to enhance the water conservation function of forests in northeastern China, the focus should be on the establishment of R. pseudoacacia forests.

scholarly journals Alternative Engineered Soils and Seed Mixes Used for Seepage Troughs

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1152
Author(s):  
Oliver Weiss ◽  
Pia Minixhofer ◽  
Nadine Werner ◽  
Stefan Riedenbauer ◽  
Elisabeth Olesko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Pore Volume ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Cover Ratio ◽  
Rainwater Management

Green Infrastructure measures such as seepage troughs are an integral part of sustainable urban rainwater management. In Austria, seepage troughs are currently almost exclusively produced with a 30 cm thick active soil filter passage made of topsoil. A standard seed mix is used as vegetation, which usually consists of only three different turfgrass species. During a three-year trial, engineered soils with improved properties (increased water storage capacity, infiltration rate and pore volume) were tested for their suitability as seepage troughs compared to topsoil. In addition to the standard turf seed mix, a flowering turf seed mix (34 species) and flowering meadow seed mix (53 species) were applied. The engineered and reference soils were analyzed for infiltration rate, vitality, cover ratio and inflorescence. The results were further assessed with the evaluation chart showing quantitatively the suitability of the tested soils for rainwater management. The investigations showed that engineered soils in combination with flowering meadow seed mix lead to the best results. Therefore, this type of vegetation for seepage troughs is recommended for future applications. The reference alternatives cannot be recommended.

scholarly journals Laboratory model test study of the hydrological effect on granite residual soil slopes considering different vegetation types

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Xue-wen Lei ◽  
Han-lin Zhang ◽  
Zhi Lin ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Granite Residual Soil ◽  
Stem Leaf

AbstractThe problems caused by the interaction between slopes and hydrologic environment in traffic civil engineering are very serious in the granite residual soil area of China, especially in Guangdong Province. Against the background of two heavy rainfall events occurring during a short period due to a typhoon making landfall twice or even two typhoons consecutively making landfall, laboratory model tests were carried out on the hydrological effects of the granite residual soil slope considering three vegetation types under artificial rainfall. The variation in slope surface runoff, soil moisture content and rain seepage over time was recorded during the tests. The results indicate that surface vegetation first effectively reduces the splash erosion impact of rainwater on slopes and then influences the slope hydrological effect through rainwater forms adjustment. (1) The exposed slope has weak resistance to two consecutive heavy rains, the degree of slope scouring and soil erosion damage will increase greatly during the second rainfall. (2) The multiple hindrances of the stem leaf of Zoysia japonica plays a leading role in regulating the hydrological effect of slope, the root system has little effect on the permeability and water storage capacity of slope soil, but improves the erosion resistance of it. (3) Both the stem leaf and root system of Nephrolepis cordifolia have important roles on the hydrological effect. The stem leaf can stabilize the infiltration of rainwater, and successfully inhibit the surface runoff under continuous secondary heavy rainfall. The root system significantly enhances the water storage capacity of the slope, and greatly increases the permeability of the slope soil in the second rainfall, which is totally different from that of the exposed and Zoysia japonica slopes. (4) Zoysia is a suitable vegetation species in terms of slope protection because of its comprehensive slope protection effect. Nephrolepis cordifolia should be cautiously planted as slope protection vegetation. Only on slopes with no stability issues should Nephrolepis cordifolia be considered to preserve soil and water.

scholarly journals Urban water storage capacity inferred from observed evapotranspiration recession

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harro Joseph Jongen ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Jason Beringer ◽  
Andreas Christen ◽  
Krzysztof Fortuniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Water Storage Capacity

Urban water storage capacity inferred from observed evapotranspiration recession 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harro Jongen ◽  
Gert-Jan Steeneveld ◽  
Jason Beringer ◽  
Krzysztof Fortuniak ◽  
Jinkyu Hong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Water Storage Capacity ◽  
Vegetation Fraction ◽  
Local Climate Zones ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Neighborhood Scale

&lt;p&gt;The amount and dynamics of urban water storage play an important role in mitigating urban flooding and heat. Assessment of the capacity of cities to store water remains challenging due to the extreme heterogeneity of the urban surface. Evapotranspiration (ET) recession after rainfall events during the period without precipitation, over which the amount of stored water gradually decreases, can provide insight on the water storage capacity of urban surfaces. Assuming ET is the only outgoing flux, the water storage capacity can be estimated based on the timescale and intercept of its recession. In this paper, we test the proposed approach to estimate the water storage capacity at neighborhood scale with latent heat flux data collected by eddy covariance flux towers in eleven contrasting urban sites with different local climate zones, vegetation cover and characteristics and background climates (Amsterdam, Arnhem, Basel, Berlin, Helsinki, &amp;#321;&amp;#243;d&amp;#378;, Melbourne, Mexico City, Seoul, Singapore, Vancouver). Water storage capacities ranging between 1 and 12 mm were found. These values correspond to e-folding timescales lasting from 2 to 10 days, which translate to half-lives of 1.5 to 7 days. We find ET at the start of a drydown to be positively related to vegetation fraction, and long timescales and large storage capacities to be associated with higher vegetation fractions. According to our results, urban water storage capacity is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the known water storage capacity in natural forests and grassland.&lt;/p&gt;

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