Abstract
Preferential flow in soils can manifest itself in several ways. To illustrate this, we analyzed solute transport during a step tracer experiment in two soils expected to differ in their governing transport processes: a loamy sand and a silty soil. By combining electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), time domain reflectometry, and effluent measurements, we observed different preferential flow phenomena. The transport process was characterized using voxel‐ and column‐scale effective convective–dispersive equation (CDE) parameters, local velocities, and leaching surfaces. At the column scale, transport in the loamy sand was dominated by a homogenous convective–dispersive transport behavior, but at the scale of the voxel, preferential transport was observed. Transport in the silty soil was considerably more heterogeneous. Preferential flow was identified using ERT, voxel‐ and column‐scale effective CDE parameters, local velocities, and leaching surfaces. In these soils, a clear influence of soil layering on solute transport was observed.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
