Spatial relationship between soil hydraulic and soil physical properties in a farm field

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Biswas ◽  
B C Si
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Shape Parameter ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Hydraulic Parameters ◽  
Curve Shape ◽  
Scaling Parameter

The relationship between soil properties may vary with their spatial separation. Understanding this relationship is important in predicting hydraulic parameters from other soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to identify spatially dependent relationships between hydraulic parameters and soil physical properties. Regularly spaced (3-m) undisturbed soil samples were collected along a 384 m transect from a farm field at Smeaton, Saskatchewan. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, the soil water retention curve, and soil physical properties were measured. The scaling parameter, van Genuchten scaling parameter α (VGα), and curve shape parameter, van Genuchten curve shape parameter n (VGn), were obtained by fitting the van Genuchten model to measured soil moisture retention data. Results showed that the semivariograms of soil properties exhibited two different spatial structures at spatial separations of 20 and 120 m, respectively. A strong spatial structure was observed in organic carbon, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), sand, and silt; whereas a weak structure was found for VGα and VGn. Correlation circle analysis showed strong spatially dependent relationships of Ks and VGα; with soil physical properties, but weak relationships of θs and VGn with soil physical properties. The spatially dependent relationships between soil physical and soil hydraulic parameters should be taken into consideration when developing pedotransfer functions. Key words: Spatial relationship, geostatistics, linear coregionalization model, principal component analysis, pedotransfer function

Identification of functional horizons to predict physical properties for soils from alluvium in Canterbury, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Series ◽  
Conductivity Data ◽  
Water Release ◽  
Physical Data

Lack of soil physical data, particularly soil water release data and hydraulic conductivity data, is recognised as one of the greatest limitations to the widespread application of simulation models, needed to address environmental issues. Because of the expense of generating new soil physical data pedotransfer functions may be used to predict soil physical data from existing information, notably soil morphology. Pedological horizon descriptions can then be used to estimate soil physical properties for many points in the landscape. The soils used in this study were derived from a systematic sampling of soil profiles for soil physical characteristics for 8 soils series within 2 drainage sequences on the post-glacial and glacial surfaces of the Canterbury Plains. Soil series in each sequence varied from shallow sandy loam, well-drained soils to deep clay loam, poorly drained soils. Each soil series was represented by 9 profiles. Three horizons in each soil profile were sampled for soil porosity values, particle size, and saturated- and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. Pedological horizons were grouped into functional horizons on the basis of soil morphologic attributes expected to have closest relationships with soil physical properties (ped size, ped type, packing class, consistence and presence of argillic horizons). For topsoils, functional horizons based on ped size were found to have greatest predictive ability and provided separation between horizons for bulk density, macroporosity, clay content, wilting point, readily available water, and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. For subsoils, horizons with clay content >35% had distinct relationships with soil physical properties and needed to be separated from other subsoil horizons. For the remaining horizons, separations in soil water release characteristics and some hydraulic conductivity data were obtained by functional horizons based on packing class and the presence of argillic horizons. Adding ped size to the functional horizon definition provided further separation of horizons for hydraulic conductivity. This study demonstrates that a range of pedological horizons, derived from a wide range of soil types, can be grouped into 4 functional topsoil horizons and 3–5 functional subsoil horizons on the basis of simple morphological attributes or merged pedological horizons. The functional horizons, thus created, enable statistical distributions of soil water release and hydraulic conductivity data to be predicted for map units.

Quantifying variability of soil physical properties within soil series to address modern land-use issues on the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand

Soil Research ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. H. Webb ◽  
J. J. Claydon ◽  
S. R. Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Total Porosity ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Series ◽  
Available Water ◽  
Wilting Point

Lack of accurate data to estimate soil physical properties for soil types is limiting the wide application of simulation models to address modern environmental and land-use issues. In this study, systematic sampling of soil profiles for soil physical characteristics has provided an improved basis upon which to estimate a number of soil physical properties for 4 soil series. The selected soils form a soil drainage sequence on the post-glacial surface of the Canterbury Plains and vary from shallow sandy loam, well-drained soils to deep clay loam, poorly drained soils. Three profiles within 3 map units were sampled for each of 4 soil series. Three horizons in each soil profile were sampled for soil porosity values, particle size, and saturated and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity. Variability in all data, as shown by coefficient of variation, increased in the order: total porosity = field capacity < wilting point < total available water = clay content < readily available water < macroporosity < sand content < hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity exhibited high variability within horizons, between profiles, and within soil series. Temuka subsoils had extremely high variability in saturated hydraulic conductivity and this could be explained by their coarse prismatic structure. Analysis of variance identified horizons that differed in soil physical properties between soil series. Horizons that do not differ between series may be given pooled soil property values for the pooled series. Total porosity, field capacity, wilting point, clay content, and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity had the greatest number of differences (60–70%) between series comparisons, while total available water had fewest differences (5%). The series with greatest differences in drainage class (Temuka compared with Eyre or Templeton soils) recorded the largest number of differences in water release characteristics and particle size. There were few differences between well-drained Eyre and moderately well-drained Templeton series. Subsoils of Eyre series differed in hydraulic conductivity from subsoils for the other 3 series, but few differences in hydraulic conductivity were found between horizons of Templeton, Wakanui, and Temuka series. Hydraulic conductivity estimates for these series can therefore be pooled.

Soil puddling for rice production under glasshouse conditions—its quantification and effect on soil physical properties

Soil Research ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kirchhof ◽  
H. B. So
Keyword(s):  
Oryza Sativa ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Silty Loam ◽  
Soil Dispersion ◽  
Soil Volume ◽  
Submerged Conditions

The effect of soil puddling on soil physical properties of 3 different textured soils (clay, loam, and silty loam) and growth of rice (Oryza sativa) on these soils was investigated under glasshouse conditions. Puddling intensity was expressed as the ratio of soil volume subjected to the puddling implement and the total soil volume in the puddled layer, thus integrating the effects of speed and time of the puddling operation. This parameter was well related to soil dispersion, bulk density, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. However, following prolonged periods of submerged conditions during rice growth, saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased with a decrease in soil dispersion, in contrast to an expected reduction in saturated hydraulic conductivity with increased dispersion. There was indication that continuous waterlogging reduced the effect of soil puddling, in particular on heavy-textured soils.

The ability of Distichlis spicata to grow sustainably within a saline discharge zone while improving the soil chemical and physical properties

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Sargeant ◽  
C. Tang ◽  
P. W. G. Sale
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Conductivity ◽  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Nitrogen ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Distichlis Spicata ◽  
Discharge Zone ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation

Landholder observations indicate that the growth of Distichlis spicata in saline discharge sites improves the soil condition. An extensive soil sampling survey was conducted at the Wickepin field site in Western Australia, where D. spicata had been growing for 8 years, to test the hypothesis that this halophytic grass will make improvements in chemical and physical properties of the soil. Soil measurements included saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregates, root length and dry weight, electrical conductivity, pH, and soil nitrogen and carbon. Results confirm that marked differences in soil properties occurred under D. spicata. For example, a 12-fold increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity occurred where D. spicata had been growing for 8 years, compared to adjacent control soil where no grass had been growing. There were also improvements in aggregate stability, with the most notable improvements in the top 0.10 m of soil, again with the greatest improvements occurring where 8 years of growth had occurred. Soil nitrogen and carbon increased under the sward, with the biggest increases occurring in the top 0.10 m of soil. Electrical conductivity measurements were more variable, mostly due to the large spatial and temporal variation encountered. However, the findings generally support the proposition that the growth of D. spicata does not lead to an accumulation of salt within the rooting zone.

scholarly journals Stabilization of soil hydraulic properties under a long term no-till system

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1281-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Alberto Lozano ◽  
Carlos Germán Soracco ◽  
Vicente S. Buda ◽  
Guillermo O. Sarli ◽  
Roberto Raúl Filgueira
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Hydraulic Properties ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Crop Sequence

The area under the no-tillage system (NT) has been increasing over the last few years. Some authors indicate that stabilization of soil physical properties is reached after some years under NT while other authors debate this. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the last crop in the rotation sequence (1st year: maize, 2nd year: soybean, 3rd year: wheat/soybean) on soil pore configuration and hydraulic properties in two different soils (site 1: loam, site 2: sandy loam) from the Argentinean Pampas region under long-term NT treatments in order to determine if stabilization of soil physical properties is reached apart from a specific time in the crop sequence. In addition, we compared two procedures for evaluating water-conducting macroporosities, and evaluated the efficiency of the pedotransfer function ROSETTA in estimating the parameters of the van Genuchten-Mualem (VGM) model in these soils. Soil pore configuration and hydraulic properties were not stable and changed according to the crop sequence and the last crop grown in both sites. For both sites, saturated hydraulic conductivity, K0, water-conducting macroporosity, εma, and flow-weighted mean pore radius, R0ma, increased from the 1st to the 2nd year of the crop sequence, and this was attributed to the creation of water-conducting macropores by the maize roots. The VGM model adequately described the water retention curve (WRC) for these soils, but not the hydraulic conductivity (K) vs tension (h) curve. The ROSETTA function failed in the estimation of these parameters. In summary, mean values of K0 ranged from 0.74 to 3.88 cm h-1. In studies on NT effects on soil physical properties, the crop effect must be considered.

scholarly journals Characterizing Soil Physical Properties for Soil Moisture Monitoring with the North Carolina Environment and Climate Observing Network

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 933-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weinan Pan ◽  
R. P. Boyles ◽  
J. G. White ◽  
J. L. Heitman
Keyword(s):  
North Carolina ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
The North ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Soil Moisture Monitoring

Abstract Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.

scholarly journals Diagnostic role of soil physical properties of forest biogeocoenoses of the Ukrainian steppe zone

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Gorban
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Granulometric Composition ◽  
Steppe Zone ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Diagnostic Feature ◽  
Aggregate Composition

For the current stage of the development of soil science it is relevant to search for objectively existing interactions between the various soil properties. Solving this issue most appropriately should be based on the establishment of pedotransfer functions. Pedotransfer functions appeared at the time of the birth of quantitative soil science, when one of the properties of the soil tried to predict others when it became clear that everything in the soil is interrelated when it was established that there is a well-defined number of fundamental, basic properties of the soil, which is basically defines its other properties. Accordingly, the purpose of our work is to establish the diagnostic value of the individual soil physical properties of forest biogeocoenoses of the steppe by means of determining the existing interconnections between them and other properties and characteristics of these soils. The solution of this issue is one of the tasks of developing research on the soil physical properties of forest biogeocoenoses of the Ukrainian steppe zone. The diagnostic value of granulometric and structural-aggregate composition, density and permeability for determining the general state of soils due to the existence of certain interactions between the indicated parameters and other soil properties is considered. The granulometric composition is a fundamental soil characteristic that determines not only the physical state, but also all the main soil properties and regimes of forest biogeocoenoses of the Ukrainian steppe zone. The structural and aggregate composition is an important complex diagnostic feature of chernozem, which helps to reveal the peculiarities of their genesis under the influence of forest vegetation, in particular as a result of changes in the content and composition of organic matter, exchange cations, the influence of root vegetation systems, etc. The soil density, due to existing interactions with other soil properties, is an important diagnostic feature that reflects the features of their genesis and regimes, which determines the specificity of the ecological functions of the soils of forest biogeocoenoses of the Ukrainian steppe zone. Water permeability can be considered as a complex characteristic of soils, which to a certain extent reflects their granulometric composition, porosity, structural and aggregate composition, determines the features of the water-air regime. The differences of physical properties of zonal chernozems and chernozems, the genesis of which are connected with artificial and natural forest biogeocoenoses within the steppe zone of Ukraine, are analyzed. The relevance of the further search for relationships between physical indicators that are easily and promptly analyzed, and other soil properties for expanding diagnostic possibilities with respect to their genesis is pointed out.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document