Comparison of Three Methods for Field Measurement of Solute Leaching in a Sandy Soil

Abstract

To identify the most suitable technique for measuring solute leaching in a sandy soil, we compared three methods in an irrigation experiment (irrigation rates: 5 and 2.4 mm h−1) using Cl− as a tracer. We tested tensiometer‐controlled suction plates, wick samplers, and ion‐exchange resin boxes installed between fiberglass pads. Ten samplers of each type were installed at a 52‐cm depth (suction plates) or a 60‐cm depth (wick and resin box samplers) into soil monoliths. The recovery of water and Cl− by the suction plates varied little with irrigation rate (107–118%). The wick samplers performed well during 5 mm h−1 irrigation (Cl− recovery: 111%; water recovery: 103%). However, at the irrigation rate of 2.4 mm h−1, the water recovery was significantly lower (70%), probably because the soil suction exceeded the maximum capillary force of the wicks. The wicks did not induce a retardation or additional dispersion of Cl− compared with suction plates. The recovery of Cl− by the resin boxes was only 6%. Tensiometer‐controlled suction plates allowed an overall satisfactory estimation of water and solute fluxes in the sandy soil.