scholarly journals The Influence of a Water Absorbing Geocomposite on Soil Water Retention and Soil Matric Potential

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Śpitalniak ◽  
Krzysztof Lejcuś ◽  
Jolanta Dąbrowska ◽  
Daniel Garlikowski ◽  
Adam Bogacz
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Soil Matric Potential ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Control Samples

Climate change induces droughts that are becoming more intensive and more frequent than ever before. Most of the available forecast tools predict a further significant increase in the risk of drought, which indicates the need to prepare solutions to mitigate its effects. Growing water scarcity is now one of the world’s leading challenges. In agriculture and environmental engineering, in order to increase soil water retention, soil additives are used. In this study, the influence of a newly developed water absorbing geocomposite (WAG) on soil water retention and soil matric potential was analyzed. WAG is a special element made from geotextile which is wrapped around a synthetic skeleton with a superabsorbent polymer placed inside. To describe WAG’s influence on soil water retention and soil matric potential, coarse sand, loamy sand, and sandy loam soils were used. WAG in the form of a mat was used in the study as a treatment. Three kinds of samples were prepared for every soil type. Control samples and samples with WAG treatment placed at depths of 10 cm and 20 cm were examined in a test container of 105 × 70 × 50 cm dimensions. The samples had been watered and drained, and afterwards, the soil surface was heated by lamps of 1100 W total power constantly for 72 h. Soil matric potential was measured by Irrometer field tensiometers at three depths. Soil moisture content was recorded at six depths: of 5, 9, 15, 19, 25, and 30 cm under the top of the soil surface with time-domain reflectometry (TDR) measurement devices. The values of soil moisture content and soil matric potential were collected in one-minute steps, and analyzed in 24-h-long time steps: 24, 48, and 72 h. The samples with the WAG treatment lost more water than the control samples. Similarly, lower soil matric potential was noted in the samples with the WAG than in the control samples. However, after taking into account the water retained in the WAG, it appeared that the samples with the WAG had more water easily available for plants than the control samples. It was found that the mechanism of a capillary barrier affected higher water loss from soil layers above those where the WAG had been placed. The obtained results of water loss depend on the soil type used in the profile.

scholarly journals Measurement systems of soil water matric potential and evaluation of soil moisture under different irrigation depths

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. G. Beraldo ◽  
José E. Cora ◽  
Edemo J. Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Matric Potential ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Measurement Systems ◽  
Neutron Attenuation ◽  
New Methodologies

The development of new methodologies and tools that enable to determine the water content in soil is of fundamental importance to the practice of irrigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil matric potential using mercury tensiometer and puncture digital tensiometer, and to compare the gravimetric soil moisture values obtained by tensiometric system with gravimetric soil moisture obtained by neutron attenuation technique. Four experimental plots were maintained with different soil moisture by irrigation. Three repetitions of each type of tensiometer were installed at 0.20 m depth. Based on the soil matric potential and the soil water retention curve, the corresponding gravimetric soil moisture was determined. The data was then compared to those obtained by neutron attenuation technique. The results showed that both tensiometric methods showed no difference under soil matric potential higher than -40 kPa. However, under drier soil, when the water was replaced by irrigation, the soil matric potential of the puncture digital tensiometer was less than those of the mercury tensiometer.

Analysis of spatial variability of soil water retention using the cumulative distribution function matching

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Nizami Gummatov ◽  
Yakov A. Pachepsky
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Cumulative Distribution ◽  
Cumulative Probability ◽  
Soil Matric Potential ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Matric Potential ◽  
Water Contents

The importance of modeling dependencies of spatial variability of soil water content on soil matric potential grows due to the proliferation of ensemble modeling, data assimilations, and other soil water modeling applications. The objective of this work was to investigate conversions between cumulative distribution functions of water contents at different matric potentials. In total, 80 samples were taken in the nodes of the grid to measure soil water retention using sand and sand–kaolin capillarimeters at absolute values of soil matric potential of 0.001, 0.003, 0.010, 0.020, and 0.050 MPa, and with the water vapor desorption method at 3, 21, 39, 82, and 142 MPa. The probabilities of distributions of both non-transformed and log-transformed soil water contents being normal appeared to be larger than 0.05 in most cases. Using the probit function to represent the observed variability allowed us to match cumulative probability distributions at different soil water potentials. Slopes of dependencies of probits on non-transformed and log-transformed water contents had one-parametric linear dependencies on the logarithms of the absolute value of soil matric potential in capillary and adsorptive potential ranges.

The effects of biochar on the physical properties of bare soil

2012 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Ventura ◽  
Fiorenzo Salvatorelli ◽  
Stefano Piana ◽  
Linda Pieri ◽  
Paola Rossi Pisa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Experimental Scheme ◽  
Dark Colour ◽  
Key Factor

ABSTRACTThe pyrolysis conversion of vegetable residues into energy and biochar, and its incorporation in agricultural soil, reduces CO2emission and provides a longterm soil carbon sequestration. Moreover, biochar application in soil seems to increase nutrient stocks in the rooting layer, improving crop yield. Compared with the numerous studies assessing the positive effect of biochar on yield, however, little research has been published elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the reported benefits. Few studies cited soil moisture as the key factor, attributing the increased yield to the higher soil water availability.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar on the physical and hydraulic properties of a bare Padana Plain (Cadriano, Bologna) agricultural soil. A preliminary plot experiment in 2009 explored the influence of 10 and 30 kg ha–1of biochar on soil moisture, without effects from plants. Results of the first experiment suggested using higher biochar rates in a similar experimental scheme. During the second experiment, 30 and 60 t ha–1doses were investigated. Soil water content, bulk density, electrical conductivity and soil water retention were measured. The comparison between treated soils and the control indicates that the biochar rate is directly correlated to electrical conductibility and inversely correlated with bulk density. The effect on the density of soil can be very positive in case of heavy soils. The dark colour of the char increased the surface temperature with respect to the control, while no differences were detected at 7·5 cm depth. No influences were found on other soil characteristics, including soil pH, moisture and water retention.

scholarly journals Study on Variation of Surface Runoff and Soil Moisture Content in the Subgrade of Permeable Pavement Structure

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lijun Hou ◽  
Yuan Wang ◽  
Fengchun Shen ◽  
Ming Lei ◽  
Xiang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Asphalt Pavement ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Runoff Coefficient ◽  
Flood Peak

The self-designed indoor simulated rainfall device was used to rain on five types of pavement structures with 4 types of rainfall intensity (2.5 mm/min, 3.4 mm/min, 4.6 mm/min, and 5.5 mm/min). The effect of rainfall intensity on the surface runoff, the relation between the subgrade soil moisture content changes, and the influence of initial soil water content on rain infiltration rate are studied. The test results show that the surface runoff coefficient of densely asphalted pavement is greater than 90% in drainage pavements and it has little influence on the reducing and hysteresis of the flood peak. The surface runoff coefficient of large-void asphalt pavement (permeable) is less than 40%. Although the large-void asphalt pavement (permeable) can reduce a small amount of surface runoff, it has no obvious effect on the reduction and hysteresis of the flood peak. In semipermeable pavement, with the increasing of the thickness of base (graded gravel), the surface runoff coefficient decreases at different rainfall intensities, parts of the surface runoff are reduced, and the arrival of flood peaks is delayed. In permeable roads, almost no surface runoff occurred. As time continued, the soil moisture content quickly reached a saturated state and presented a stable infiltration situation under the action of gravity and the gradient of soil water suction. As the initial moisture content increases, the initial infiltration rate decreases and the time to reach a stable infiltration rate becomes shorter. The drier the soil, the greater the initial infiltration rate and the higher the soil moisture content after infiltration stabilization. Permeable roads can greatly alleviate the pressure of urban drainage and reduce the risk of storms and floods.

Heat-Transfer in the Soil During Very Low-Intensity Experimental Fires - the Role of Duff and Soil-Moisture Content

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 225 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Valette ◽  
V Gomendy ◽  
J Marechal ◽  
C Houssard ◽  
D Gillon
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Temperature Rise ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Lethal Temperatures ◽  
Maximum Temperatures

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of duff thickness and moisture content, and of soil moisture content on the transfer of heat in the soil. The experimental design used intact soil blocks with their duff layer, subjected to controlled fires of variable very low intensities of up to 100 kW m-1. The fuel on the surface was composed of needles and twigs of Pinus pinaster. The maximum temperatures measured within the fuel were of the order of 650 degrees C and were independent of the fireline intensities. For fires with fireline intensity of the order of 30 kW m-1, the presence of the duff layer reduced from 330 degrees C the temperature rise at the soil surface. Duff thickness played only a secondary role, but increasing moisture content reinforced its insulating effect, so that the temperature rise was 2.5 times less at 1 cm depth in the duff when the moisture content exceeded 70% dry weight, than when the moisture content was less than 30%. For more intense fires (> 50 kW m-1) that produced longer-lasting surface heating, duff thickness and moisture content played an important role in significantly reducing the temperature rise at the soil surface (range 140 degrees C to 28 degrees C). Because of low soil thermal conductivity, temperature attenuation with increasing depth was noticed. In the case of low intensity fires (< 30 kW m-1) in the absence of a duff layer, the maximum temperatures were reduced from 350 degrees C at the surface to 7 degrees C at 3.5 cm. The temperature rise in the soil decreased with depth according to a negative exponential relation. The rate constant of this relation was greater when the initial surface temperature and the soil moisture content were higher. For the soil studied, and under the moisture conditions encountered (between 7 and 19% of dry weight), the rate constant could be predicted with acceptable precision (r2 = 0.67), if the surface soil temperature rise and the soil moisture content were known. In these experimental fires, which were carried out when the air temperature did not exceed 20 degrees C, lethal temperatures (> 60 degrees C) were measured in the upper few centimetres of the duff layer in very low-intensity fires, and in the upper few centimetres of the soil (where nutrients are most concentrated and biological activity most intense) in the slightly more intense fires. The fire intensities were always very moderate, and of the order of magnitude df those encountered in the prescribed burns conducted on fuel-breaks of the french Mediterranean area. Their impact on the surface of the forest soil, in terms of lethal temperatures transmitted to the horizon rich in organic matter, are not negligible. In contrast, below 3 to 5 cm depth, prescribed burns, conducted under the conditions of the experiments, would not lead to significant change to nutrients or microfaunal or microfloral activity; in particular, root tips would not be subjected to heat stress sufficient to kill them.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Soil Moisture and LAI in Different Types of Soil in Central Eastern China

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 2733-2742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Liu ◽  
Renhe Zhang ◽  
Zhiyan Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Central Eastern ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract As important parameters in the land–atmosphere system, both soil moisture (SM) and vegetation play a significant role in land–atmosphere interactions. Using observational data from clay and sand stations over central eastern China, the relationship between leaf area index (LAI) and SM (LAI–SM) in different types of soil was investigated. The results show that the LAI–SM correlation is significantly positive in clay but not significant in sand. The physical causes for the discrepant LAI–SM correlations in different types of soil were explored from the perspectives of evapotranspiration (ET) and soil water retention. In clay stations, increasing LAI is associated with greater soil-water-retention capacity. Although the increasing LAI corresponds to increasing ET, the impact of ET on SM is weak because of the small particle size of soil. Consequently, the LAI–SM relationship in clay is significantly positive. In sand stations, ET is negatively correlated with SM owing to the large soil particle size, resulting in a negative LAI–SM correlation in sand. However, soil water retention is weakened by the increased LAI, which may be an important factor causing the insignificant LAI–SM correlation in sand.

scholarly journals Soil Water, NH4, and NO3 Retention in Low-maintenance Annual Landscape Beds Amended with a Hydophilic Polymer

HortScience ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 896D-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Boatright ◽  
J.M. Zajicek ◽  
W.A. Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Plant Growth ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Drain Pipe

Two experiments were conducted in which a polyacrylamide gel (Hydrosource, Western Polyacrylamide) was incorporated into 56 × 38-cm, raised, concrete beds, 20 cm deep, with a drain pipe in the center of each bed. In Expt. 1, treatments included (in grams of i.a. N) 0, 186, 372, or 558 plus 0 or 366 g hydrogel/m2, for a total of eight treatments. Each treatment was replicated three times. Petunia plants were transplanted into each plot for a total of 30 plants per treatment. Plants were kept well watered. Polymer incorporation had no effect on soil water retention, soil NO3 or NH4 retention, or plant growth. Expt. 2 included treatments of 0 or 186 g of ai N and 0 or 366 g hydrogel/m2. Each treatment was replicated six times with 10 plants per replication, resulting in a total of 60 plants per treatment. Minimal irrigation was imposed on treatments. This study demonstrated that under suboptimal conditions of minimal irrigation and fertilization, polymer incorporation significantly increased soil moisture (17%), NH4 retention (83%), and NO3 retention where additional N was added (64%) compared to soils without polymer.

scholarly journals Estimated soil water storage within a historical bunker during the growth period of vegetation

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Łukasz Pardela ◽  
Tomasz Kowalczyk
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Vegetation Period ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Soil Profiles ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Volumetric Soil Moisture

AbstractThe objective of the study was to estimate the variation of soil water retention on the site of a historical bunker, an element of the former Wrocław Fortress in Poland. Measurements of soil moisture in the study area were taken in the period from March to September, 2017. Measurements of volumetric soil moisture were taken by means of a hand-held gauge, type FOM/mts with an FP/mts probe, operating on the basis of the reflectometric technique TDR. Soil moisture measurements realized in the vegetation period demonstrated that soil moisture resources in profiles situated in the section of the bunker varied within the range of 37–135 mm in the layer of 50 cm, and 66–203 mm in the layer of 100 cm. The maximum differences of the average value of soil moisture of the soil profiles studied in the period covered by the measurements were 31 mm and 56 mm, respectively. This indicates a significant differentiation of the retention properties of soils used for the construction of individual shelter areas.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT AND SOIL SURFACE REFLECTANCE

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 1979-1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Kaleita ◽  
L. F. Tian ◽  
M. C. Hirschi
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Surface Reflectance
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