Factors controlling soil water storage in the hummocky landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Biswas ◽  
Henry W. Chau ◽  
Angela K. Bedard-Haughn ◽  
Bing C. Si
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Prairie Pothole Region ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Prairie Pothole ◽  
Wetness Index

Biswas, A., Chau, H. W., Bedard-Haughn, A. K. and Si, B. C. 2012. Factors controlling soil water storage in the hummocky landscape of the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 649–663. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) in North America is unique hummocky landscape containing hydrologically closed topographic depressions with no permanent inlet or outlet. Knowledge about the controls of soil water distribution in the landscape is important for understanding the hydrology in the PPR. In this study, we investigated the correlation between soil water storage and different controlling factors over time. Time domain reflectometry and neutron probe were used to measure soil water storage up to 1.4 m depth over 4 yr along a 576-m long transect at St. Denis National Wildlife Area, Saskatchewan, Canada, which represent a typical landscape of the PPR. Soil and vegetation properties were measured along the transect, and various terrain indices were calculated from the digital elevation map of the study area. Soil texture (e.g., correlation coefficient, r=−0.57 to −0.73 for sand) provided one of the best explanations for the variations in soil water storage by controlling the entry and transmission of water within soil in the semi-arid climate of study area. Bulk density (r=−0.22 to −0.56), depth of A horizon, (r=0.18 to 0.49), C horizon (r=0.29 to 0.69), and CaCO3 layer (r=0.31 to 0.79) influenced the water transmission through soil and were correlated to soil water storage. Beside soil properties, topographic wetness index (r=0.47 to 0.67), slope (r=−0.41 to −0.56), convergence index (r=−0.29 to −0.60), and flow connectivity (r=0.27 to 0.60) were also correlated to soil water storage. However, multiple linear regressions showed a consistent high contribution from soil properties such as sand, organic carbon, depth of CaCO3 layer, and bulk density in explaining the variability in soil water storage. A substantial contribution from topographic variables such as wetness index, gradient, and solar radiation was also observed. Therefore, unlike other geographic regions, the soil-water storage variations in the PPR are controlled by a combination of soil and terrain properties with dominant control from soil characteristics at the field scale.

scholarly journals Temporal changes of an alfalfa succession and related soil physical properties on the Loess Plateau, China

2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Li She ◽  
Ming An Shao ◽  
Luis Carlos Timm ◽  
Klaus Reichardt
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Natural Vegetation ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
The Loess Plateau

The objective of this work was to investigate the relationship between changes in the plant community and changes in soil physical properties and water availability, during a succession from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to natural vegetation on the Loess Plateau, China. Data from a succession sere spanning 32 years were collated, and vegetative indexes were compared to changes related to soil bulk density and soil water storage. The alfalfa yield increased for approximately 7 years, then it declined and the alfalfa was replaced by a natural community dominated by Stipa bungeana that began to thrive about 10 years after alfalfa seeding. Soil bulk density increased over time, but the deterioration of the alfalfa was mainly ascribed to a severe reduction in soil water storage, which was lowest around the time when degradation commenced. The results indicated that water consumption by alfalfa could be reduced by reducing plant density. The analysis of the data also suggested that soil water recharge could be facilitated by rotating the alfalfa with other crops, natural vegetation, or bare soil.

scholarly journals Comparison of the monitored and modeled soil water storage of the upper soil layer: the influence of soil properties and groundwater table level

2010 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Július Šútor ◽  
Vlasta Štekauerová ◽  
Viliam Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Layer ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Groundwater Table ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water Storage

Comparison of the monitored and modeled soil water storage of the upper soil layer: the influence of soil properties and groundwater table levelIn the study ofTomlain(1997) a soil water balance model was applied to evaluate the climate change impacts on the soil water storage in the Hurbanovo locality (Southwestern Slovakia), using the climate change scenarios of Slovakia for the years 2010, 2030, and 2075 by the global circulation models CCCM, GISS and GFD3. These calculations did not take into consideration neither the various soil properties, nor the groundwater table influence on soil water content. In this study, their calculated data were compared with those monitored at the same sites. There were found significant differences between resulting soil water storage of the upper 100 cm soil layer, most probably due to cappilary rise from groundwater at sites 2 and 3. It was shown, that the soil properties and groundwater table depth are importat features strongly influencing soil water content of the upper soil layer; thus the application of the soil water balance equation (Eq. (1)), neglecting the above mentioned factors, could lead to the results far from reality.

scholarly journals Impact of soil compaction on water content in sandy loam soil under sunflower

2018 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viliam Nagy ◽  
Peter Šurda ◽  
Ľubomír Lichner ◽  
Attila J. Kovács ◽  
Gábor Milics
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Penetration Resistance ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Soil Penetration Resistance ◽  
Loam Soil

Abstract Soil compaction causes important physical modifications at the subsurface soil, especially from 10 to 30 cm depths. Compaction leads to a decrease in infiltration rates, in saturated hydraulic conductivity, and in porosity, as well as causes an increase in soil bulk density. However, compaction is considered to be a frequent negative consequence of applied agricultural management practices in Slovakia. Detailed determination of soil compaction and the investigation of a compaction impact on water content, water penetration depth and potential change in water storage in sandy loam soil under sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was carried out at 3 plots (K1, K2 and K3) within an experimental site (field) K near Kalinkovo village (southwest Slovakia). Plot K1 was situated on the edge of the field, where heavy agricultural equipment was turning. Plot K2 represented the ridge (the crop row), and plot K3 the furrow (the inter–row area of the field). Soil penetration resistance and bulk density of undisturbed soil samples was determined together with the infiltration experiments taken at all defined plots. The vertical bulk density distribution was similar to the vertical soil penetration resistance distribution, i.e., the highest values of bulk density and soil penetration resistance were estimated at the plot K1 in 15–20 cm depths, and the lowest values at the plot K2. Application of 50 mm of water resulted in the penetration depth of 30 cm only at all 3 plots. Soil water storage measured at the plot K2 (in the ridge) was higher than the soil water storage measured at the plot K3 (in the furrow), and 4.2 times higher than the soil water storage measured at the most compacted plot K1 on the edge of the field. Results of the experiments indicate the sequence in the thickness of compacted soil layers at studied plots in order (from the least to highest compacted ones): K2–K3–K1.

scholarly journals Regression Models for Soil Water Storage Estimation Using the ESA CCI Satellite Soil Moisture Product: A Case Study in Northeast Portugal

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Tomás de Figueiredo ◽  
Ana Caroline Royer ◽  
Felícia Fonseca ◽  
Fabiana Costa de Araújo Schütz ◽  
Zulimar Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
The Relationship

The European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative Soil Moisture (ESA CCI SM) product provides soil moisture estimates from radar satellite data with a daily temporal resolution. Despite validation exercises with ground data that have been performed since the product’s launch, SM has not yet been consistently related to soil water storage, which is a key step for its application for prediction purposes. This study aimed to analyse the relationship between soil water storage (S), which was obtained from soil water balance computations with ground meteorological data, and soil moisture, which was obtained from radar data, as affected by soil water storage capacity (Smax). As a case study, a 14-year monthly series of soil water storage, produced via soil water balance computations using ground meteorological data from northeast Portugal and Smax from 25 mm to 150 mm, were matched with the corresponding monthly averaged SM product. Linear (I) and logistic (II) regression models relating S with SM were compared. Model performance (r2 in the 0.8–0.9 range) varied non-monotonically with Smax, with it being the highest at an Smax of 50 mm. The logistic model (II) performed better than the linear model (I) in the lower range of Smax. Improvements in model performance obtained with segregation of the data series in two subsets, representing soil water recharge and depletion phases throughout the year, outlined the hysteresis in the relationship between S and SM.

scholarly journals Energy balance closure on a winter wheat stand: comparing the eddy covariance technique with the soil water balance method

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Imukova ◽  
J. Ingwersen ◽  
M. Hevart ◽  
T. Streck
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Soil Water Balance ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Water Balance Method ◽  
Closure Method

Abstract. The energy balance of eddy covariance (EC) flux data is typically not closed. The nature of the gap is usually not known, which hampers using EC data to parameterize and test models. In the present study we cross-checked the evapotranspiration data obtained with the EC method (ETEC) against ET rates measured with the soil water balance method (ETWB) at winter wheat stands in southwest Germany. During the growing seasons 2012 and 2013, we continuously measured, in a half-hourly resolution, latent heat (LE) and sensible (H) heat fluxes using the EC technique. Measured fluxes were adjusted with either the Bowen-ratio (BR), H or LE post-closure method. ETWB was estimated based on rainfall, seepage and soil water storage measurements. The soil water storage term was determined at sixteen locations within the footprint of an EC station, by measuring the soil water content down to a soil depth of 1.5 m. In the second year, the volumetric soil water content was additionally continuously measured in 15 min resolution in 10 cm intervals down to 90 cm depth with sixteen capacitance soil moisture sensors. During the 2012 growing season, the H post-closed LE flux data (ETEC =  3.4 ± 0.6 mm day−1) corresponded closest with the result of the WB method (3.3 ± 0.3 mm day−1). ETEC adjusted by the BR (4.1 ± 0.6 mm day−1) or LE (4.9 ± 0.9 mm day−1) post-closure method were higher than the ETWB by 24 and 48 %, respectively. In 2013, ETWB was in best agreement with ETEC adjusted with the H post-closure method during the periods with low amount of rain and seepage. During these periods the BR and LE post-closure methods overestimated ET by about 46 and 70 %, respectively. During a period with high and frequent rainfalls, ETWB was in-between ETEC adjusted by H and BR post-closure methods. We conclude that, at most observation periods on our site, LE is not a major component of the energy balance gap. Our results indicate that the energy balance gap is made up by other energy fluxes and unconsidered or biased energy storage terms.

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