Low Water Retention Research Articles

Groundwater recharge through internally drained basins in a semiarid climate, Western Australia

Study regionThe study site, the Mount Bruce Flats, is located in the Pilbara, a semiarid region of northern Western Australia. Study focusSemiarid climates are characterised by an extreme water deficit, with evaporation exceeding precipitation several-fold. Groundwater recharge is episodical and occurs only after infrequent but very large volume precipitation, while all other precipitation events are quickly lost to evaporation. We investigated the contribution of an internally drained basin to localised groundwater recharge by combining the results of calculations from various tracer methods. We developed a new mobile-immobile recharge transport model coupled with a probability model based on Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations that combines several age and hydrochemical tracers to estimate localised infiltration. New hydrological insights for the regionThe actual recharge varied greatly across the basin, being 4–5 times higher in the central part compared to the margins. The highest probability for recharge was calculated for 2.5 mm×y−1 and 12.6 mm×y−1, with a median value of 6.8 mm×y−1 while the median mobile effective porosity was low at ∼0.5 %. The flood plains overlying freshwater aquifers may contribute several times more to localised recharge than the upper parts of the catchments, which are characterised by fast runoff and a lower water retention time. Therefore, these endorheic basins could be a valuable source of water for groundwater recharge or constitute an additional hydrological challenge for mining.

Parameter Optimization of Constant Pressure Grouting Technology for Borehole Sealing with Inorganic Noncondensable Material in Tectonic Coalbed of South China

To solve the problem of a rapid attenuation of gas concentration along with drainage borehole collapse in the tectonic coalbeds of South China, a constant pressure grouting technology with inorganic, noncondensable material was proposed. Firstly, the slurry fluidity, water separation rate, and sealing performance of the inorganic sealing materials were tested under different water-cement ratios. The seepage model of slurry in a layer-through borehole was built with COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software, to explore the scopes of loose circles around drainage roadway and borehole, and to analyze the seepage capacity of the slurry under different grouting pressures. Eventually, the sealing performance of the slurry was investigated in the field. The results showed that the inorganic, noncondensable material with the water-cement ratio of 5 : 1 has a strong fluidity, low water retention, high permeability, and good sealing performance. After the excavations of No.2164 drainage roadway and layer-through borehole, there are obvious stress concentrations both at the shoulder corners of the roadway and at the borehole bottom, and the scope of the loose circle around the roadway is about 6.2 m. The effective seepage radius of the inorganic slurry gradually increases with a rising grouting pressure, and the slurry seepage range in the sandstone section is broader than that in the mudstone section. Adopting the constant pressure grouting technology with the slurry, the average drainage concentration of boreholes in Puxi coal mine is 51.5%, and the average gas flow rate is 0.005 m3/min, which are 1.35 times and 1.67 times than those with the cement grouting method.

Thermophysical Properties of Bentonite–Sand/Fly Ash-Based Backfill Materials for Underground Power Cable

The surrounding (backfill) materials around the underground power cable systems are essential for dissipating the heat away from it, during the exertion phases. The heat dissipation restrains the thermal instability and risk of progressive drying of the backfill materials, thus reducing the thermal stress on the power cable. Thermal instability indicates the reduction in thermal properties (conductivity or diffusivity) due to the migration of moisture because of heat accumulation. Thus, the backfill materials should have adequate thermal properties and water retention capacity to transfer the heat from the heat source to the surrounding area with minimal moisture migration. The bentonite has high water retention capacity, but low thermal conductivity, whereas sand/fly ash exhibits low water retention and has higher thermal conductivity than bentonite. The addition of bentonite promotes the water holding capacity and thermophysical properties of sand and fly ash. Therefore, this study presents the thermal properties of backfill materials, bentonite–fly ash (B–F) and bentonite–sand (B–S), at varying weight-percent of sand and fly ash with bentonite. Various compositions of the mixtures were compacted to varying dry densities, and water contents and thermal properties variation of backfill materials were measured using a dual thermal needle probe ‘KD2 Pro’ at room temperature. The study deals with the systematic evaluation of the volumetric specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity of backfill materials against varying dry density and water content. The threshold water content (TWC) has been determined from the thermal diffusivity–water content variation curve, and it has correlated with plastic limit (PL) and optimum moisture content (OMC). Thereafter, the efficacies of two thermal conductivity prediction models have also been evaluated statistically with respect to experimental results.

Revolutionizing biogas generation: Polyethylene tubular digesters for household pig farms

Manure decomposition from animal waste, including farm sludge, is a significant source of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, aggravating global warming. Addressing this issue is vital for the environment and pivotal in achieving sustainable development goals by combating pollution from agricultural activities. One promising solution is biogas production, which offers threefold benefits including mitigation of global warming, assurance of energy security, and efficient waste management. This can be achieved by optimizing the process using substrates that yield high biogas output while ensuring low water usage and retention. This study focuses on pig farms' biogas potential of liquid and solid manure fractions performed with laboratory-scale batch digesters and enhanced polyethylene tubular digesters for evaluation. From the screening system, the biogas output from pig slurry resulted in CH4 and CO2 in 45 days, achieving 61.44 and 36.35%, respectively. After the initial screening experiment, polyethylene tubular digesters were implemented for biogas production at household pig farms and produced through fermentation in polyethylene tubular digesters under anaerobic conditions and are mainly composed of CH4 (60–64%) and CO2 (29–38%). This study suggested that the pig slurry could be a reliable biomass energy source for biogas and applicable to householders.

Pore structure effects on the water retention behaviour of a compacted silty sand soil subjected to drying-wetting cycles

Most of the previous studies on the effects of pore structure on soil water retention behaviour are limited to a single drying and wetting cycle. This study evaluated the effects of pore structure on water retention behaviour for specimens prepared at different pore structures of similar density, subjected to drying-wetting cycles. Specimens were compacted at two density states equivalent to loosely compacted fill slopes (80% relative compaction, e = 0.78), and densely compacted slopes or subgrade compaction specifications (95% relative compaction, e = 0.50) at different water contents on the wet side (20%) and dry side (10%) of the optimum water content. The results show that loosely compacted specimens prepared on the wet side have a lower water retention ability due to the larger formed macropores. They also show a significantly higher degree of hysteresis which decreases with drying and wetting cycles. For loosely compacted specimens, there is a higher increase in water retention ability with cycles for specimens prepared on the dry side, due to more drying and wetting-induced pore evolution and volumetric changes. Increasing compaction density results in a higher water retention ability but reduces the number of cycles needed to achieve water retention equilibrium with drying-wetting cycles, subsequently behaving as scanning curves. This is attributed to the less pore evolution and smaller volumetric strain at lower void ratios. Pore structure effects on water retention behaviour subjected to drying-wetting cycles should be considered in civil engineering designs for earth structures, such as loosely compacted fill materials.

Long-term response of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) to transformed rooting zone of a shallow soil improving yield, storage quality and profitability in a drought prone semi-arid agro-ecosystem

Agricultural crops especially fruit trees are constrained by edaphic stresses in shallow soils with low water retention and poor fertility. Therefore, interventions of shifting to trench planting for better root anchorage and replacing the filling soil were evaluated for 8 years in dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) cultivated in Deccan Plateau of peninsular India. When averaged for last 5-years, 44 % higher fruit yield (18.2 ± 1.0 Mg ha−1) was harvested from trees planted in trenches filled with 1:1 mixture (T-mixed) of native soil (loamy sand with 26.7 % stones (>2mm), field capacity, FC 0.20 cm3 cm−3; organic carbon, OC 0.17 %; Av-N 54.6 kg ha−1) and a black soil (clay 54.4 %; FC 0.42 cm3 cm−3; OC 0.70 %; Av-N 157.1 kg ha−1) than the recommended pit planting (12.4 ± 1.2 Mg ha−1). Improvements in fruit yields with trenches filled with black (T-black) and native (T-native) soil were 32 and 13 %, respectively. Yield losses (total– marketable yield) were reduced by 40, 20 and 18 % over pit method with T-mixed, T-black and T-native soil, respectively. Marketable quality attributes like fruit weight, fruit size metrics and pulp/peel content were further improved under T-mixed soil. Accumulation of total soluble solids (TSS), sugar content, phenolic and flavonoid compounds were higher in fruits from T-native soil. During storage, fruits from T-native soil and pit planting exhibited minimum physiological weight loss and retained more firmness, TSS, sugars, titratable acidity, phenolic-flavonoids contents, FARP and DPPH activities. T-mixed soil provided better hydrozone and nutrients for resilience of fruit plants while protecting from aeration problems envisaged in poorly drained black soils. With B:C ratio (1.85) and lower payback period (4-years), T-mixed soil showed superior economic viability. Therefore, soil management module of planting in trenches filled-in with mixture of native and black soils can be recommended to boost productivity of fruits from shallow soils under water scarce degraded regions without penalising agro-ecosystem.

Assessment of water retention variation and risk warning under climate change in an inner headwater basin in the 21st century

Identifying the dynamics of water retention (WR) is critical for developing adaptive strategies for effective water resources management under climate change. However, our understanding about the responses of WR to climate change is still limited, which hinders risk assessment and warning of WR under future climate trajectories. In this study, we used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to quantify the impact of climate change on WR in the upper Heihe River Basin (UHRB), a typical inner headwater basin, and predicted the future trends and potential degradation risks of WR based on climate scenarios under three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5). Our results showed that the historical (1971–2020) average WR in the UHRB was approximately 91.1 mm, with high WR occurring in the middle and west of the basin and low WR in the north and southeast. Our prediction suggested that the WR may remain stable during the near future (2021–2060) under the RCP2.6 scenario; however, WR may decrease by 23 % and 32 % during this period under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. By the end of this century (2061–2099), the WR may decrease by 10 %, 40 %, and 69 % under the RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 scenarios, respectively, due to the substantially enhanced evapotranspiration in the warming context, though a slight increase in precipitation may partly offset this negative impact. In brief, this study provides a paradigm for assessing the dynamics and future degradation risk of water retention at watershed scale, and this can be valuable and applicable for other areas.

Polygenic soils in the southern central Ecuadorian highlands as the result of long-lasting pedogenesis, geodynamic processes and climate change

In the high altitude (>3000 m asl) grasslands of northern Ecuador, the Páramo ecosystem, soils generally formed on recent volcanic ashes being <10,000 years old in the northern and central part of the cordilleras. With time these soils evolved in to non-allophanic Andisols with hydric properties such as evidenced in profiles from the Cajas massif located in the western central Cordillera. However soils at the Fierro Urcu massif and at the Oña plateau at the eastern Cordillera formed on a non pyroclastic indurated parent material. Compared to non-allophanic Andisols from the Cajas massif, they present similar morphological properties with a dark 50 cm thick carbon-rich (80–120 g kg−1) topsoil with a very low bulk density (<0.65 g cm−3) and high water retention. These top soils appear to have originated from fall-out, derived from close and still active volcanoes of Sangay and/or Tungurahua, both located in a distance of 200–250 km NNE of the Oña Massif, respectively. Geochemical determinations of trace and rare earth elements, however, confirm the lack of volcanic ash contribution in the Saraguro and Oña samples based on Eu/Eu* and Ce/Ce* anomalies relative to the lack of such anomalies in the Cajas samples. The Oña and Saraguro soils appear to be the result of a long-lasting double pedogenic process. The basement of the Saraguro soil is a Ferralsol with gibbsite and kaolinite and the Oña soil is a 5 m thick kaolinitic Ferralsol. The upper part of these profiles are the result of a major climatic change with increasing colder conditions, generating an increase in organic matter content and a very acidic environment leading to the instability of kaolinite and gibbsite, thereby liberating large amounts of free aluminium and iron oxides. The evolution of these very highly evolved Ferralsols into soils with Andic properties is proposed to be the result of rapid tectonic uplift calculated at a rate exceeding 0.6 mm/year in the region leading to a general decrease in temperature limiting carbon mineralization and favouring the formation of organo-metallic complexes. The soils studied here reveal compelling new evidence and information about the uplift of a part of the Ecuadorean Andes.

Influence of Irrigation Systems on the Plant Growth and Leaf Ratio Analyses of Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) Seedlings

The sprinkler irrigation system is the most widely used system for rubber irrigation in a nursery. However, the method is associated with high water loss during irrigation. In view of this, an experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different irrigation systems on the growth dynamics, leaf ratio analyses, water productivity, and water use efficiency of rubber seedlings. The treatments were the irrigation systems; soil + overhead sprinkler (CON), growing media (GM) + drip irrigation (DRP), GM + capillary wick system (WCK), and GM + overhead sprinkler (SPR). Each treatment was replicated three times, and the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design. The results showed that the DRP and WCK had significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher seedlings’ growth parameters by 15–39% than obtained in the SPR and CON. However, the DRP, WCK, and SPR had statistically comparable seedlings’ root length and volume by 14–43% higher relative to the CON. Similar trends of plant growth dynamics, such as crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area index (LAI), and leaf ratio analyses, were observed for all treatments. However, the CON had lower CGR and LAI, which could be attributed to the lower water retention of the soil used in the treatment. The DRP and WCK had comparable water productivity with 56–60% higher than the SPR and CON treatments. The sprinkler irrigation treatments (SPR and CON) had 84% lower water use efficiency than the DRP and WCK. The DRP and WCK are the best treatments in this study because their higher water application uniformity led to higher seedlings’ growth dynamics and water productivity. The sprinkler system had higher water loss due to the lack of application uniformity, leading to lower plant growth than other irrigations. However, the SPR shows the potential to be more cost-effective due to its lower recurrent cost of labor than drip and wick irrigation.

Applying Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Biological Methods to Assess the Hyporheic Zone Water Exchanges in Two Mediterranean Stream Reaches

The hyporheic zone (HZ) is a critical area of all river ecosystems. It is the area beneath the stream and adjacent to the stream, where the surface water and groundwater are mixed. The HZ extends both vertically and laterally depending on the sediment configuration, namely their porosity and permeability. This influences the hyporheic communities’ structural pattern and their active dispersal among distinct rivers compartments and alluvial aquifers. It is still difficult to assess the spatial extent of the HZ and the distribution of the mixing zones. This study applies time-lapse images obtained using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) of 20 m wide and 5 m deep alluvial streams, with regards to the structural pattern of hyporheic communities represented by cyclopoids and ostracods, in order to assess the extent of the HZ in the riverbed and the parafluvial sediment configurations. The ERT images obtained at the hyporheic Site 1 are characterized by alluvial deposits dominated by coarse and very coarse sands with resistivity values ranging from ~20 to 80 Ohm.m, indicating a permeable zone up to ~0.5 m thick and extending laterally for ca. 5 m from the channel and associated with the hyporheic zone. The sediment configurations, texture, and structure indicate an active surface–hyporheic water exchange and low water retention into the sediments. This is also indicated by the hyporheic copepods and ostracods communities’ structure formed by a mixture of non-stygobites (five species) and stygobites (two species). A low-resistivity (&lt;70 Ohm.m) permeable zone located 2.3 m below the streambed and unconnected with the river channel was also detected and associated with the associated alluvial aquifer. In contrast, the resistivity image at Site 2 dominated by coarse, medium, and very fine sands, shows a low-permeability zone in the upper ~0.5 m of the profile, with a resistivity value ranging from ~45 to 80 Ohm.m, indicating a reduced HZ extension in both vertical and lateral dimensions. Here the sediment configurations indicate that the water retention and interaction with the sediment is higher, reflected by more diverse hyporheic communities and with highly abundant stygobite species. The two examples show that non-invasive ERT images and biological assessments provide complementary and valuable information about the characterization of the sub-channel architecture and its potential hydraulic connection to the floodplain aquifer.

Effects of winter pulsed warming and snowmelt on soil nitrogen cycling in agricultural soils: A lysimeter study

In cold regions, climate change is expected to result in warmer winter temperatures and increased temperature variability. Coupled with changing precipitation regimes, these changes can decrease soil insulation by reducing snow cover, exposing soils to colder temperatures and more frequent and extensive soil freezing and thawing. Freeze-thaw events can exert an important control over winter soil processes and the cycling of nitrogen (N), with consequences for soil health, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and nearby water quality. These impacts are especially important for agricultural soils and practices in cold regions. We conducted a lysimeter experiment to assess the effects of winter pulsed warming, soil texture, and snow cover on N cycling in agricultural soils. We monitored the subsurface soil temperature, moisture, and porewater geochemistry together with air temperature, precipitation, and N2O fluxes in four agricultural field-controlled lysimeter systems (surface area of 1 m2 and depth of 1.5 m) at the University of Guelph’s Elora Research Station over one winter (December 2020 to April 2021). The lysimeters featured two soil types (loamy sand and silt loam) which were managed under a corn-soybean-wheat rotation with cover crops. Additionally, ceramic infrared heaters located above two of the lysimeters were turned on after each snowfall event to melt the snow and then turned off to mimic snow-free winter conditions with increased soil freezing. Porewater samples collected from five depths in the lysimeters were analyzed for total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), nitrate (NO3−), nitrite (NO2−), and ammonium (NH4+). N2O fluxes were measured using automated soil gas chambers installed on each lysimeter. The results from the snow removed lysimeters were compared to those of lysimeters without heaters (with snow). As expected, the removal of the insulating snow cover resulted in more intense soil freeze-thaw events, causing increased dissolved N loss from the lysimeter systems as N2O (from the silt loam system) and via NO3− leaching (from the loamy sand system). In the silt loam lysimeter, we attribute the freeze thaw-enhanced N2O fluxes to de novo processes rather than gas build up and release. In the loamy sand lysimeter, we attribute the increased NO3− leaching to the larger pore size and therefore lower water retention capacity of this soil type. Overall, our study illustrates the important role of winter snow cover dynamics and soil freezing in modulating the coupled responses of soil moisture, temperature, and N cycling.

Effects of isobutanol fraction in diesel–biodiesel blends on combustion, injection, performance and emission parameters

High carbon alcohols such as isobutanol have gained much research interest recently in diesel engines due to their higher mixing stability, lower water retention, higher energy density and higher cetane number compared to low carbon alcohols like ethanol and methanol. Therefore, the effects of increasing isobutanol fractions in diesel–biodiesel blends on combustion, injection, performance and emission parameters were investigated on a common rail diesel engine with two stage injection strategy at different engine speeds and loads. Six test fuels were; pure diesel, binary mixtures of biodiesel and isobutanol with diesel (B20 and I15), ternary blends of isobutanol-diesel–biodiesel (I15B20, I25B20 and I35B20) prepared on mass basis. Results showed that increasing isobutanol fraction in the blends retarded start of combustion (SOC) and decreased cylinder gas pressure and maximum rate of heat release. Ignition delay increased and combustion duration decreased with increasing isobutanol proportion in test fuels. Maximum pressure rise rate of ternary blends slightly increased with increasing load and speed and observed slightly above the knocking limit at 160 Nm and 2100 rpm, having 21.58 % higher value than that of diesel. Increasing isobutanol fraction in ternary blends increased brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), while providing comparable thermal efficiencies with diesel at medium and high loads, where 4.72 % higher value obtained with I15B20 compared to pure diesel at 160 Nm. Generally, higher isobutanol ratios decreased THC and CO emissions and suppressed cyclic variations at high load. All blends increased NOx emissions compared to diesel, whereas test fuels with high isobutanol content suppressed NOx emissions at low load. Increasing isobutanol ratio in the blends prevented further increase in NOx emissions, while B20 fuel evidently increased NOx emissions at 160 Nm. At high load and 1800 rpm, I35B20 fuel gave optimum results with 3.53 % and 12.66 % lower THC and CO emissions, 2.37 % and 7.27 % higher BTE and NOx, respectively, compared to pure diesel.

Soil Water Behavior of Sandy Soils under Semiarid Conditions in the Shendong Mining Area (China)

The soil water behavior of sandy soils was studied under semiarid conditions in the Shendong mining area (China). The soil water content (θ) was measured under different depths and topographies using an HH2 moisture meter. The infiltration process was studied using a Guelph soil permeameter. A set of hydrodynamic variables was calculated in the laboratory. The θ of the first 20 cm was the lowest and increased with depth. The content of soil water increased from the top slope to the bottom slope. The infiltration experiments showed that the steady state infiltration rate was &gt;40 mm h−1 in most cases. Owing to the higher contents of sand and soil macropores at the top of the slope and the top 0–20 cm of surface soil, the initial infiltration rate and steady infiltration rate were higher. The average available water capacity was 18.28%, which was consistent with the predominance of a sandy textural fraction. The results of a soil water retention curve and a rainfall simulation experiment showed that there was a low soil water retention capacity throughout the whole profile. This study contributes to the understanding of several aspects of the soil water behavior of sandy soils and provides key information for environmental management and land reclamation under semiarid conditions in the Shendong mining area.

Physical quality of sandy soils under orange orchards in Southern Brazil

Sandy soils are characterized by low organic matter content and soil water retention and availability. Conventional tillage has been used for the implementation of orange orchards, but it exposes the soil to erosion and promotes accelerated oxidation of organic matter with negative impacts on the soil’s physical quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil physical quality of sandy soils influenced by two soil tillage practices for planting the orange trees in areas after long-time under [...]

Triblock Superabsorbent Polymer Nanocomposites with Enhanced Water Retention Capacities and Rheological Characteristics.

Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) are useful polymers in a wide range of application fields ranging from the hygiene industry to construction and agriculture. As versatility and high water absorption capacity are their important merits, SAPs usually suffer from low water retention capacity (fast release) and weak mechanical properties. To address these drawbacks, a set of new superabsorbent polymer–Halloysite nanotube (HNT) nanocomposites was synthesized via free radical polymerization of acrylamide, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane-1-sulfonic acid, and acrylic acid in the presence of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) as the crosslinker. FTIR and TGA characterizations confirm the polymerization of SAP and successful incorporation of HNTs into the SAP polymer matrix. The effect of the HNT nanofiller amount in the nanocomposite polymer matrix was investigated with swelling–release performance tests, crosslink density calculations, and rheology measurements. It was found that equilibrium swelling ratios are correlated and therefore can be tuned via the crosslink densities of nanocomposites, while water retention capacities are governed by storage moduli. A maximum swelling of 537 g/g was observed when 5 wt % HNT was incorporated, in which the crosslink density is the lowest. Among the SAP nanocomposites prepared, the highest storage modulus was observed when 1 wt % of nanofiller was incorporated, which coincides with the nanocomposite with the longest water retention. The water release duration of SAPs was prolonged up to 27 days with 1% HNT addition in parallel with the achieved maximum storage modulus. Finally, three different incorporation mechanisms of the HNT nanofiller into the SAP nanocomposite structure were proposed and confirmed with rheology measurements. This study provides a rapid synthesis method for SAP nanocomposites with enhanced water retention capacities and explains the relationship between swelling and crosslink density and water retention and mechanical properties of SAP nanocomposites.

Comparative analysis of forest soil properties from sub-humid and semi-arid areas of Djebel El Ouahch biological reserve in Algeria

The forest plays a vital role in the biological, ecological and economic balance in our country. It is the result of millenary interactions between the climate, the diversity of geological and edaphic contexts. The objective of this study was to determine and evaluate the physicochemical parameters of forest soils in two zones of the Djebel El Ouahch (Constantine) national park, which were exposed to two bioclimatic stages (sub-humid and semi-arid). The samples were taken at a depth between 0 and 20 cm in each zone on sampling stations of 400 m2. Our results showed that the bioclimatic stage affected the physico-chemical properties of the soils by increasing the percentage of humidity, the rate of carbon, nitrogen and organic matter in the sub-humid zone, on the other hand in the semi-arid zone are vulnerable and fragile due to their texture, a low water retention capacity, the rate of degradation of organic matter and a high rate of total limestone. The intense drying and the vulnerability of the soils in the semi-arid zone could reduce the long-term physico-chemical fertility with the consequence of a regression of the vegetation and the alteration of the biodiversity.

Niche Variation in Endemic Lilium pomponium on a Wide Altitudinal Gradient in the Maritime Alps.

The relationship between altitudinal and ecological gradients has long been a dominant theme in plant ecology; moreover, how species respond to climate change has renewed this interest. Mediterranean mountains are often hotspots of endemism, and some endemic species have local distributions that span different climatic belts; hence, local variations in topography and fine-scaled niche conditions may play crucial roles in their persistence along such gradients. Studies of the fine-scaled niche are, however, very rare; most studies involve broad-scale variations in climatic parameters. The Turban lily, Lilium pomponium L. is endemic to the Maritime and Ligurian Alps, where it occurs across a wide altitudinal gradient. Previous work has shown no link between climatic marginality and geographic range limits on morphological traits and genetic variability; however, possible variations of local topographic and ecological parameters have not yet been examined. The objective of this paper is to characterise local ecological niche conditions of L. pomponium populations in the different bioclimatic zones it occupies along the altitudinal gradient. The species occurs in four main types of microecological niches. One of these niche types, with a high mineral cover, is the most abundant—type 2: it was detected in 39% of sampled quadrats and occurs across the whole bioclimatic gradient. Other niche types are more limited to subsections of the gradient: type 3 (in 19% of sampled quadrats) is restricted to high-altitude sites (>1070 m.a.s.l.) and is characterised by high vegetation and litter cover; type 4 (26%) corresponds to more forested habitats on substrates with low water retention capacities, in more inland zones close to the centre of L. pomponium distribution and across a range of altitudes; and type 1 (16% of quadrat) only occurs in the Mediterranean part of the gradient, close to distribution limits in pockets of soil among large blocks of rocks, mainly found at mid-altitudes. Despite heterogeneity in the spatial locations of niche types, there is no correspondence between ecological gradients and the distribution limits of this species. Knowledge of the fine-scaled ecological conditions that determine niche types is thus essential for conservation management of the habitats of this species and for the exploration of its possible response to ongoing climate change.

Frost Heaving and Induced Pressure of Unsaturated Interfacial Zone between Gravel Ballast and Subgrade

Most existing railroads are composed of gravel ballast. One of the major issues with gravel ballast is frost damage in cold regions. Gravelly soils are known to be not prone to frost action due to their low water retention capacity and high hydraulic conductivity. However, reports indicated continued frost damages resulting from the mixed zone between gravel ballast and subgrade. This study evaluated the frost heaving and induced pressure of gravel ballast–subgrade soil mixtures via 1D soil column testing in a cold chamber. Gravel ballast and subgrade soil were collected from the railroad in situ. Various mixing ratios and degrees of saturation were used as factors affecting the frost experiments. The mixtures were placed in the cold chamber, and vertical displacements and pressures were measured. Overall evaluations showed that gravelly soils are not a geomaterial prone to frost damage; however, the frost potential of gravel ballast increases as the degree of saturation and the mixing portion of the subgrade soil increase. Therefore, the interfacial zone between gravel ballast and subgrade soil, especially where possible mixing with low drainage exists, needs cautions of potential frost damage.

Peatland drainage alters soil structure and water retention properties: Implications for ecosystem function and management

AbstractPeatland functions (e.g., carbon sequestration and flora diversity) are largely driven by soil moisture dynamics and thus dependent on interactions between hydrologic regimes and organic soil properties. Understanding these interactions is particularly important in drained peatlands, where drier conditions may alter soil properties with feedbacks to soil water retention and associated ecosystem functions. In this work, we focused on the Great Dismal Swamp (GDS) in Virginia, USA, a historically drained, temperate peatland with ongoing hydrologic restoration efforts. Two distinct soil layers varying in thickness exist at GDS: an upper layer with subangular blocky structure thought to be a result of past drainage, and a sapric lower layer with a massive structure more representative of an undisturbed state. To understand the occurrence and consequences of these distinct layers, we used continuous water table data and analysed soil physical and hydraulic properties to characterize soil profiles at 16 locations. We found significant differences between layer properties, where upper layers had lower fibre and organic matter contents and higher bulk densities. Further, moisture release curves demonstrated lower water retention in upper layers compared with lower layers and key differences in pore structure, with upper layers having higher macroporosity. Upper layers varied in thickness across sampling locations (~0.30 to 1.0 m) with a transition to lower soil layers typically occurring at depths below contemporary water level observations, suggesting that the upper layer may be a result of historical drainage and deeper water table conditions. Yet, upper layers with more frequent saturation exhibited higher water retention and lower macroporosity compared with drier upper layers, thus indicating potential recovery following re‐wetting efforts. These findings highlight how past drainage influences soil properties and water retention, with important implications for current management objectives at GDS and other drained peatland systems.

A comparative flood damage and risk impact assessment of land use changes

Abstract. Sustainable flood risk management encompasses the implementation of nature-based solutions to mitigate flood risk. These measures include the establishment of land use types with a high (e.g., forest patches) or low (e.g., sealed surfaces) water retention and infiltration capacity at strategic locations in the catchment. This paper presents an approach for assessing the relative impact of such land use changes on economic flood damages and associated risk. This spatially explicit approach integrates a reference situation, a flood damage model, and a rainfall-runoff model considering runoff re-infiltration and propagation to determine relative flood risk mitigation or increment related to the implementation of land use change scenarios. The applicability of the framework is illustrated for a 4800 ha undulating catchment in the region of Flanders, Belgium, by assessing the afforestation of 187.5 ha (3.9 %), located mainly in the valleys, and sealing of 187.5 ha, situated mainly at higher elevations. These scenarios result in a risk reduction of 57 % (EUR 100 000) for the afforestation scenario and a risk increment of &lt;1 % (EUR ∼ 500) for the sealing scenario.