Abstract
Hot-water-extraction of water repellent soils from Australia, Portugal and UK eliminated soil water repellency (SWR) in the soils studied. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis showed that the dominant compounds were aromatic acids, short chain dicarboxylic acids (C4-C9), sugars and esters of stearic and palmitic acids. Aromatics and dicarboxylic acid contents increased upon saponification due to cleavage of ester bonds of high molecular weight and polar compounds. Specific surface area and pore distribution showed that the sandy loam and loamy sand soils from Australia had micropores and adsorbed water more efficiently than the sands, while the sandy loam soil from Portugal having a higher content of aromatics in the hot-water-soluble extracts, was strongly water repellent. SWR may intensify upon drought. It has an effect upon soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and plant productivity, as well as the microbial community structure and the overall carbon balance.
Highlights
Soil water repellency (SWR) is a phenomenon which prevents water from penetrating into the soil and is recorded in soils of different types, texture, climates and land uses [6]
In longer term soil water repellency leads to reduced plant especially if especially if climate change leads to an increased soil drought and water scarcity
The sandy loam soils Po and ML, and the loamy sand AuS contain more free and organically complexed iron (Fecd and Fepyr) than the sandy NT, GP and United Kingdom (UK) soil. These data correspond to the larger specific surface area (SSA) and the higher content of total organic carbon (TOC) determined for the ML, AuS and PO soils (Table 1 and Table 2)
Summary
Soil water repellency (SWR) is a phenomenon which prevents water from penetrating into the soil and is recorded in soils of different types, texture, climates and land uses [6]. It is considered to be a soil organic matter (SOM) stabilization mechanism, enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing CO2 emissions. These benefits are due to the presence of specific organic compounds coating soil particles and presenting a hydrophobic surface towards the soil pores, preventing rapid microbial decomposition of SOM [11]. In longer term soil water repellency leads to reduced plant especially if especially if climate change leads to an increased soil drought and water scarcity. Hot water soluble carbon (HWSC) has been suggested as a sensitive indicator of the effects of climate change and soil management practices on carbon sequestration potential and
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
