Field study on macropore flow in typical Black soils of northeast China

Abstract

Jiang, X., Wang, E., Chen, X., Xia, X. and Shi, C. 2012. Field study on macropore flow in typical Black soils of northeast China. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 559-566. Macropores are important preferential pathways for the transport of water and contaminants in soil. A series of hood infiltration experiments were conducted using dye tracers (Brilliant Blue FCF) at pressure heads of -5.0 cm, -3.0 cm, and -1.0 cm at a conventional tilled site on Keshan Farm, northeast China. The study objective was to combine the test method of dye tracing with a hood infiltrometer to analyze soil subjected to conventional tillage methods. Dye staining patterns and macroporous networks were analyzed by excavation, mapping, photography, and image analysis. Results showed that macropore flow began very near the soil surface under three pressures heads of -5.0 cm, -3.0 cm and -1.0 cm, and that a pressure head of -1.0 cm resulted in more lateral flow. Soil deeper than 40.0 cm was less disturbed, which resulted in good continuity. At p...