Soil Water Movement Research Articles

Study on the characteristics of moist soil under the condition of water supply of surface capillary

In order to explore the characteristics of moist soil under the condition of water supply of surface capillary, this research constructed device which screens the capillary source infiltration based on the tests. Embedding TDR monitoring instrument in the indoor soil box, it can detect the characteristics of moist soil under the conditions of different capillary source infiltration water percolating capacities. The results show that there is a power function relationship between the cumulative infiltration quantity and time under the condition of water supply of surface capillary. The wetting front pushes forward like semi ellipse curve, and the moist soil presents like approximate semi ellipsoid. When the infiltration time and infiltration rate are constant, the soil water content in the infiltration point tends to a stable value, the soil water and heat coupling movement is complex, and the numerical variation tendency of each monitoring point is similar. Based on the above results, we construct empirical solution equation to predict the eigenvalues of soil wetting body under the condition of water supply of surface capillary. In this research, the capillary source infiltration material is found, and the surface capillary source water supply device with low cost and high efficiency is constructed. The device makes the growth of plants with enough water for the first year, but it can still keep the roots dry enough to make the seedling root down. Preventing soil evaporation loss, slowing down water loss of the surface micro environment of the main land and other bad influence, the device can improve the efficiency of water use. Meanwhile, the device can effectively enhance the ability of seedlings against high temperature of the surface in desertification area, wind-blown sand, animal browsing stress, damage, and create a proper environment for the normal growth of plants, which enjoys broad prospects.

Numerical investigation of the influence of banded sand ditches on water infiltration in fine-textured soil.

Enhancing rainwater infiltration is important to reduce the risk of urban waterlogging and improve the utilization rate of urban rainwater resources. Using the HYDRUS model, a mathematical model of soil water movement under a banded sand ditch pattern (the vertical excavation of a deep trench with heavy soil and filled with light soil) was created. Forty-six scenarios were designed to examine effects of sand ditch soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kss), original homogenous fine-textured soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kso), sand ditch width (W), spacing (S), and depth (D) on the soil infiltration rate (i). Results indicate that banded sand ditches cause increased permeation and have a significant turning point 't0' in the curve of 'i' for 't.' Taking 't0' as the boundary, 'i' can be divided into two stages (t ≤ t0 and t > t0), 'i' and 't,' for each stage according to the power function relationship; there is little change in power function indices, which can be fixed at 0.34 and 0.63, respectively. In addition, the coefficient has a linear relationship with Kss, Kso, W, S, and D. Thus, an estimation model of the soil infiltration rate under a banded sand ditch pattern was proposed and verified for reliability.

Mechanism of snowmelt infiltration coupled with salt transport in soil amended with carbon-based materials in seasonally frozen areas

In midlatitude seasonally frozen areas, the freeze–thaw cycle affects the movement of soil water, which increases the uncertainty in salt transport and aggravates the risk of soil salinization. Based on this, a two-year field study was established on the Songnen Plain, a seasonally frozen area in northern China. Four treatments were set up: (i) control, (ii) corn stover, (iii) biochar, and (iv) combined (joint application of biochar and corn stover). The modified soil underwent seasonal freeze–thaw cycling, accompanied by the evaporation and infiltration of snowmelt water, and the soil salt migration and diffusion characteristics were determined. Both biochar and corn stover regulated the pore structure of the soil and enhanced the infiltration capacity of snowmelt water; notably, the maximum soil moisture contents in the corn stover, biochar and combined treatments increased by 9.33%, 22.12% and 16.37%, respectively, compared with that in the control group. However, biochar with abundant functional groups increased the cation exchange capacity and promoted the migration of salt ions (i.e., Na+, K+ and Cl−), and the surface soil salt content in the biochar treatment was 0.12–0.53 g/kg lower than that for the other three modes during the infiltration period. Additionally, soil water evaporation carried salts upwards, which greatly increased the salt content of the surface soil. Conversely, biochar presented a strong water-holding capacity, which reduced the ineffective evaporation of soil water, while stover acted as a barrier to hinder the return of salt. Among the treatments, the synergistic transport ability of soil salt and water was the lowest in the combined treatment. Overall, the combination of biochar and corn stover had advantages in terms of soil salt leaching and offered a healthy, effective strategy for soil salinization control in cold areas.

Soil water movement differences relating to banana (Musa nana Lour.) plantation regime

AbstractThe long‐term cultivation of banana crops (Musa nana Lour.) has caused improper utilization of soil and water resources. However, the effect of the banana plantation regime on soil water flow pattern is still poorly understood. This study focused on the dominant pattern of soil water movement in the 1‐year (B1) and 4‐year (B2) old banana plantations. The results showed that: (1) the soil physical properties showed variability with soil depths, especially obvious changes from surface to 40 cm depth, which had restriction on soil infiltration in different depths. (2) The saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) decreased with the increasing distance from the banana stem. Moreover, the Ks in the B2 plot increased by 65.5% compared to the B1 plot at the soil layer 0–20 cm. (3) Preferential flow was the main path of soil water transport and was significantly influenced by soil bulk density, porosity, and root systems. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that banana root biomass was the most prominent factor influencing the dyed area. (4) The soil infiltrability and the preferential flow degree of both B1 and B2 plots were stronger in the root zone than those in the non‐root zone. Such results were attributed to the root systems around the banana stem that were more developed than those far away from the stem (more accurately pseudostems); a large number of pore channels formed around the root systems that promoted the preferential flow. Or results suggest that banana root was the important factor affecting soil water movement. The improvement in the root network of banana plantation regime can result in better soil physical properties. This knowledge will be vital for the sustainable cultivation and irrigation of banana crops.

Does biochar affect soil wettability and flow pattern?

Despite the known benefits of biochar application to soils, little is known about its effect on soil wettability and the consequences on soil water movement across the soil profile. Focusing on the latter, three types of commercial biochar derived from wheat, corn, and rice straw produced under low temperature (350–450 ℃) were mixed with a wettable sandy soil at rates of 0%, 2%, 5%, and 10% w/w. Soil water repellency (SWR) of the biochars and biochar–soil mixtures was determined by water drop penetration time (WDPT) test and sessile-drop contact angle (CA) measurement. The WDPT results (< 5 s) showed complete wettability for the biochar–soil mixtures, whereas CA results indicated some water repellency. The mean initial CA of the three biochars varied between 105.3° and 113.9°, with ∼ 30° for the pure sand, and between 56.8° and 75.7° for the biochar–soil mixtures. SWR increased with biochar-application rate, whereas biochar particle size (< 1 mm and > 1 mm) had no significant effects on SWR. A 2-D flow chamber experiment with point source water application at the surface was used to continuously monitor the flow pattern and soil water content (SWC) distribution across the soil profile during infiltration and redistribution periods. Biochar–soil mixtures (2% and 5% w/w) with the three biochar types were studied. Flow chamber results showed substantial differences in plumes shape and internal SWC distribution in the biochar–soil mixtures compared to the untreated sand during the wetting and drainage. The plumes' shape and nonmonotonic spatial SWC distribution suggested unstable flow in the biochar–soil mixtures. The internal fingers developed in the biochar treated sand indicate that SWR induced by biochar addition seemed to be physically induced via the blending of the biochar and soil particles, rather than chemically induced, via coating of the soil particles with amphiphilic molecules. Under field conditions, the primary and inner finger-like plumes may eventually form preferential flow paths that will affect the spatial distribution of water and fertilizer in soil profiles and their availability to plant roots.

Biochar effects on soil properties, water movement and irrigation water use efficiency of cultivated land in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Biochar, has recently, been widely used as a potential soil additive to improve the quality of cultivated land. However, the effect of biochar on irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) remains unclear in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects of biochar on the soil properties, water infiltration, and irrigation water efficiency of QTP cultivated land. A column experiment with four biochar application levels (0, 3, 6, and 9 kg·m−2 denoted CK, BC1, BC2, and BC3, respectively) was conducted to explore the biochar effect on the soil water infiltration process. The soil bulk density (γ), saturated water content (θs), soil water retention curve (SWRC), specific water capacity C(h), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were measured after the trial. The effects of biochar application level, biochar application depth, irrigation water depth, and initial soil moisture on water loss and IWUE were then simulated by HYDRUS-2D. The results showed that biochar slowed the process of soil water infiltration by changing the soil physical properties and hydraulic properties, reducing the water loss by 5%–15.02%, effectively alleviating the waste of irrigation water, and therefore increasing IWUE by 2%–9.43%. Water loss and IWUE were significantly associated with the biochar application depth and level. Additionally, a biochar level of 6 kg·m−2 showed the best effect for ameliorating the QTP's cultivated soil. These results provide a novel approach for reducing water loss and enhancing the irrigation water use efficiency of QTP cultivated soil.

The role of spatial scale in drought monitoring and early warning systems: a review

Drought is a costly natural disaster characterized by water shortages that impact water availability, agriculture, ecosystems, and the economy. The driving mechanisms of drought operate on a wide range of spatial scales, from the movement of soil water on a hillslope to global atmospheric circulation. Additionally, drought impacts vary across spatial scales, from drought induced crop stress on a specific agricultural field to widespread continental water shortages. As a result, multiscalar drought monitoring and early warning systems are needed to utilize observational data sets obtained at different spatial scales and to communicate drought impacts to various levels of decision-makers in government and industry. However, scaling must be employed to translate information across scales, either to fix incongruencies in the spatial scale of input data sets or to modify the model output scale. These scaling techniques have several challenges and limitations that hinder drought accuracy and interpretability, such as the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) and increased model uncertainty. This paper reviews the role of spatial scale in drought monitoring and early warning systems, the associated challenges, and techniques to minimize their impact. Finally, this review identifies several knowledge gaps and future directions.

Study of soil moisture distribution under different mulching methods

Mulching techniques are used for the conservation of moisture beneath the root zone and to reduce the evaporation rate. Soil moisture distribution under the mulching techniques is also important for good crop growth and root development. Soil water movement is dependent on the physical properties of water as well as equally depends on the conservation techniques. The present study was carried out in the School of Agriculture, Lovely professional university to study the soil moisture distribution under different mulching treatments. The four mulching methods and one no mulch technique were used as a conservation technique and moisture content were measured at 5, 10, 15, and 20 cm depth vertically and the same distance laterally. From the experiment, the results showed that the black and silver plastic mulch conserved maximum average moisture content (22.33 and 22.67 %) up to 20 cm depth. The lateral and vertical water movement in plastic mulch was superior to the no mulch technique. Minimum soil moisture content (15.26 %) was recorded in the soil mulch technique at 5 cm depth and it decreases as the lateral distance increases from the emitter. Paddy straw mulching technique conserved better moisture at depth 0-10 cm compared to no mulch and soil mulch technique.

Effects of sodium adsorption ratio and electrolyte concentration on soil saturated hydraulic conductivity

Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and electrolyte concentration (EC) can significantly affect water movement in soil. However, the theoretical mechanisms behind it are rarely studied. In the present study, an analytical function between electrostatic repulsive pressure (PEDL) and SAR/EC was derived in Na-Ca mixed electrolyte solutions or soil water. Soil water SAR and EC controls PEDL through surface potential and midpoint potential between two adjacent soil particles, which consequently influences the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks). Theoretical calculations show that the PEDL decreases with increasing EC and increases with increasing SAR, and the reduction in Ks is correlated with the repulsive PEDL. Five soils of different dominant clay minerals, specifically kaolinite (K), illite (I) and montmorillonite (M), were used to investigate the relationship between PEDL and change of Ks. The soils were packed in columns and leached with a serial of solutions (constant EC values of 0.5, 1, and 2 ds m−1, respectively) with increasing SAR from 0 to infinity. Our study showed that the Ks decreases with increasing PEDL. At the inflection point of the percent of Ks reduction (Kred) vs. PEDL curve, the critical PEDL values are 8.358 ∼ 8.569 atm and Kred > 92% for the Mungana soil (M), Yarrandoo soil (M, K) and Dunholm soil (M), while the average critical PEDL value is about 12.34 atm and Kred is only ∼51.75% for the Urrbrae soil (I) and Timberlea soil (K). For a given soil, the PEDL is the determinant factor, while other factors such as soil texture and clay type can also affect Ks.

Development and validation of a model for soil wetting geometry under Moistube Irrigation

We developed an empirical soil wetting geometry model for silty clay loam and coarse sand soils under a semi-permeable porous wall line source Moistube Irrigation (MTI) lateral irrigation. The model was developed to simulate vertical and lateral soil water movement using the Buckingham pi (π) theorem. This study was premised on a hypothesis that soil hydraulic properties influence soil water movement under MTI. Two independent, but similar experiments, were conducted to calibrate and validate the model using MTI lateral placed at a depth of 0.2 m below the soil surface in a soil bin with a continuous water supply (150 kPa). Soil water content was measured every 5 min for 100 h using MPS-2 sensors. Model calibration showed that soil texture influenced water movement (p < 0.05) and showed a good fit for wetted widths and depths for both soils (nRMSE = 0.5–10%; NSE ge 0.50; and d-index ge 0.50. The percentage bias left( {PBIAS} right) statistic revealed that the models’ under-estimated wetted depth after 24 h by 21.9% and 3.9% for silty clay loam and sandy soil, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed agreeable models’ performance values. This implies the model's applicability for estimating wetted distances for an MTI lateral placed at 0.2 m and MTI operating pressure of 150 kPa. We concluded that the models are prescriptive and should be used to estimate wetting geometries for conditions under which they were developed. Further experimentation under varying scenarios for which MTI would be used, including field conditions, is needed to further validate the model and establish robustness. MTI wetting geometry informs placement depth for optimal irrigation water usage.

Negative pressure irrigation for greenhouse crops in China: A review

Negative pressure irrigation (NPI) has potential to reduce evaporative loss of water on –the soil surface, reduce runoff and maintain a stable soil water content, as compared to other irrigation methods. However, there is a lack of synthesized information in literature with regard to its effects on crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE), which hinders its wide adoption in China. We introduce the principles and device of NPI, analyze the NPI research hotspots and review its effects on yield and WUE of typical greenhouse crops, based on the literature available in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS). Review shows that a NPI device typically consists of emitter, water pipe, water storage tank and negative pressure generator. The material of emitters is important in affecting irrigation efficiency, and polyvinyl formal materials have higher cumulative infiltration per unit area and faster soil water movement than ceramic head under the same water pressure, as the polyvinyl formal material can control the larger soil water space than a ceramic head. Current research hotspots include the development of NPI devices, crop response and water use efficiency of NPI, and influences of environmental factors on irrigation efficiency. Compared with conventional irrigation, NPI is more energy-saving and water-saving, and significantly improves WUE and crop yield. Soil texture is the main factor contributing to the maximum vertical wetting distance and maximum horizontal wetting distance and cumulative infiltration, and it affects the irrigation efficiency of NPI and the arrangement of NPI for meeting crop water need. Results suggest that when the negative pressure level of −10 kpa to −5 kpa and the soil water content of 60–80% field capacity are most conducive to the growth of most greenhouse crops, with better agronomic effects than conventional irrigation.

The effect of drip irrigation under mulch on groundwater infiltration and recharge in a semi-arid agricultural region in China

Abstract The wide application of drip irrigation under mulch in semi-arid agricultural regions in China not only improves agricultural water efficiency, but also affects formation of groundwater and the mechanism of water infiltration to a certain extent. This paper takes the typical semi-arid agricultural region in China as the research object. The movement of soil water under the three types of underlying surface was simulated by the Hydrus-2D model for the quantitative analysis of groundwater recharge. The influence of drip irrigation under mulch on groundwater infiltration depth and cumulative infiltration amount under different level years was simulated. Taking a normal flow year as an example, the simulated results showed that the maximum infiltration depth of drip irrigation under mulch reached 250 cm, which was greater than that of border irrigation (138 cm) and bare area (158 cm). The cumulative infiltration amounts of drip irrigation under mulch at 80, 120, 140 and 200 cm were respectively 1,484.8 m3/hm2, 686.3 m3/hm2, 554.1 m3/hm2 and 238.1 m3/hm2, which were greater than that of border irrigation and bare land at the same depth. The results proved that drip irrigation under mulch could increase the infiltration depth and cumulative infiltration amount, which is beneficial to groundwater recharge in semi-arid agricultural regions of China.

Approximate analytical solutions for one-dimensional soil water movement equation with arbitrary initial conditions

Simple analytical solutions of one-dimensional horizontal and vertical soil water movement are of great importance for the soil hydraulic parameters estimation and precision irrigation. We present the approximate analytical solutions for the problem of horizontal absorption and vertical infiltration in soil under arbitrary initial conditions and constant boundary conditions based on the principle of least action and the variational principle. The algebraic functions of soil water content (SWC) profile, cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate and infiltration time about the wetting front distance/depth (WFD) and the parameters of Brooks-Corey model are obtained. Compared with the numerical results simulated by HYDRUS-1D, the algebraic results calculated by approximate analytical solutions have high precision to predict the horizontal and vertical soil water infiltration based on the known WFD. Contrary to the linear relationship in horizontal absorption with uniform initial conditions, the relationships between cumulative infiltration and WFD, infiltration rate and reciprocal of WFD, square of WFD and infiltration time are nonlinear for the arbitrary heterogeneous initial conditions. However, the initial conditions have little effect on the relationship between infiltration rate and WFD when the initial SWCs are lower than 0.6 θs. Based on the nonlinear relationships of infiltration rate and WFD in vertical infiltration, the WFD and time of the stable infiltration are obtained.

Soil water stress and physiological responses of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) subject to tillage and irrigation management in lower Gangetic plain

In India, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is mostly cultivated in post-rice residual soil water on marginal lands. Low crop productivity due to terminal water and heat stress during reproductive stages, is a major concern, especially in the rice-fallows of lower Gangetic plains of India. In this backdrop, we examined the effect of different tillage (CT and ZT) and irrigation management (I0 – no irrigation; IF – irrigation at the initiation of the flowering stage; IPF – irrigation at the initiation of pod formation stage, IF+PF – irrigation at both initiation of flowering and pod formation stage) on the performance of chickpea concerning dynamics of soil and crop water stress affecting various physiological characteristics, yield and water productivity (WP) on an Aeric Haplaquept, clay loam soil in rice-fallows of lower Gangetic plain of India during 2017–18 and 2018–19. ZT with standing rice stubbles modified the hydrothermal regime of the soil by lowering the evaporative loss and vertical movement of soil water within the compacted puddled rice soil and significantly altered the stress intensity faced by chickpea at the critical growth stages. On average, 35.0%, 23.5%, and 15.5% higher soil water storage under ZT as compared to CT during vegetative, flowering, and pod formation stages, significantly alters the plant water status as affirmed by higher relative leaf water content, leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate and lowering of proline content and canopy temperature. Application of irrigation at the critical growth stages had a positive priming effect on plant water availability under both the tillage practices. Higher yield (1984 kg ha−1), and WP (13.6 kg ha−1mm−1) under ZT-IF treatment combination proved it to be the best, from the perspective of mitigating terminal soil water stress as well as enhancing the productivity of chickpea in the rice-fallows of lower Gangetic plains of India.

Redoksimorfne značajke kao pokazatelji režima vlaženja tla

Soil water regime, as one of the key components of soil fertility, refers to the quantity, retention, and movement of soil water. Rather than through expensive and/or time-consuming measurements, it can be assessed from the field-observable morphological properties in the soil profile. Excessively wetted soils have a specific morphology, and are therefore often referred to as hydromorphic. Their morphology is caused by various soil redoximorphic features (RMFs), resulting from the reduction, translocation, and oxidation of iron and manganese oxides. Hydromorphic soils largely comprise Gleysols and Stagnosols (along with Gleyic Fluvisols) that are excessively wetted by groundwater, precipitation and/or flooded water. Their morphology is often described/analyzed with different terms/criteria in line with their global distribution. This complicates the comparison and classification of such soils and thus their use or reclamation. This review paper describes and compares common RMFs and explains their formation. It then proposes the revised Croatian terms for these features, which are in line with the terms used in the international soil classification systems of WRB and/or Soil Taxonomy. Furthermore, the criteria/rules used for diagnosing RMFs when classifying hydromorphic soils are critically reviewed. Finally, it is shown that a methodologically sound RMFs description can provide a quick insight into the crucial soil water regime parameters, such as location and duration of soil saturation, the origin of the excess soil water, recentness of excessive soil wetting, etc. However, depending on the research objectives and/or actual soil conditions, field soil description cannot always fully replace continuous field monitoring of the soil water regime and/or laboratory and micromorphological soil analyses.

Water movement in sodic soils explained through hands‐on demonstrations

AbstractMillions of ha of sodic soils exist around the world and the movement of water through these soils is most directly dictated by the concentration of Na and overall electrical conductivity of the soil, and minerology of the clay. Helping farmers, land managers, crop advisors, and students better understand why water moves or does not move in these soils is necessary so that proper management strategies for these soils can occur. The purpose of this article is to provide educators and extension specialists with demonstrations that help describe water movement through sodic and non‐sodic soils. The first demonstration links water movement through sodic soils and how altering the concentration of Na and soluble salts influences water movement. The second demonstration allows audiences to link the movement of water through soil horizons having varying concentrations of Na, soluble salts, and clay. These demonstrations may be useful educational tools on how and why amendments are used for improving water movement within sodic soils and also to show restrictions in water movement through naturally‐occurring natric or clay‐enriched horizons.

Alfalfa reduces winter nitrate leaching relative to organic and conventional annual vegetable systems: Resin bag field measurements and modeling with HYDRUS-1D

Leaching of nitrate (NO₃⁻) to groundwater is a major concern in California, where groundwater NO₃⁻ levels often exceed public safe drinking water thresholds. The state has enacted legislation to implement monitoring programs and management plans that will minimize future NO₃⁻ loadings to groundwater based on modeled NO₃⁻ leaching; however, a need remains for empirical NO₃⁻ leaching data and assessment of model suitability to specific systems. Moreover, debate remains around the ability of different management practices like cover cropping, replacement of chemicals with organic inputs, and cultivating perennials to reduce NO₃⁻ leaching in California’s annual vegetable systems. We measured winter NO₃⁻ leaching over the wintery rainy season (October to March) within systems of the Century Experiment, a long-term cropping systems experiment in northern California evaluating effects of cover cropping, certified organic management, and alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) incorporation in tomato (<i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i> Mill.)–maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) rotations. Anion exchange resin bags were installed at the bottom of the crop rooting zone (~65 cm) following tomato and prior to the onset of fall rains to adsorb leaching NO₃⁻ over the winter. Empirical resin bag NO₃⁻ leaching values were compared to modeled leaching results using HYDRUS-1D, which estimates water movement and reactive solute transport in soils. The rotation with alfalfa was the only system that reduced winter NO₃⁻ leaching (21.8 kg ha⁻¹), compared to conventional management (bare winter fallow after tomato) (47.1 kg ha⁻¹). Compared to conventional, certified organic management (44.7 kg ha⁻¹) and inclusion of a winter cover crop (58.2 kg ha⁻¹) had no significant impact on NO₃⁻ leaching. HYDRUS-1D model estimates for NO₃⁻ leaching were in good agreement with empirical field measurements in conventional and cover cropped systems, but less for certified organic and greater for the alfalfa systems. Results from this study show that perennial crops have potential to mitigate NO₃⁻ leaching losses across an agricultural landscape, and models like HYDRUS can provide useful estimates of NO₃⁻ leaching in some agricultural systems.

Sensitivity analysis of soil parameters in the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM)

Context The performance of process-based agroecosystem simulation models is highly sensitive to the numerous input parameters, many associated with high variability and uncertainty. Aims Our aims were to: (1) test the accuracy of the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) model regarding the prediction of soil water storage and movement in a pasture system with a free draining pumice soil based on site-specific soil hydraulic properties; (2) identify sensitive soil hydraulic properties on model outputs; and (3) identify the influence of uncertainty in the description of soil properties on various model outputs. Methods We carried out a sensitivity analysis (SA) to identify sensitive soil hydraulic parameters. We set up APSIM to simulate a pasture system on a free-draining pumice soil in New Zealand. The model was first established with site-specific soil hydraulic properties and outputs were compared with measured soil moisture status and drainage. Next, the model’s sensitivity to the soil hydraulic parameters was assessed for various outputs linked to production and environmental outcomes. Key results Varying the various hydraulic parameters affected soil moisture status, but it had generally little effect on drainage, N leaching, and pasture production in this system. Conclusions The results suggest that for well-drained soils in a high precipitation zone with no water limitation, the model has low sensitivity to soil hydraulic parameters. Further analysis is required for different soils and for drier conditions. Implications For well-drained soils and under non-limiting water conditions the use of general data from databases, rather than site specific measurement of hydraulic properties is justified.

Insight into Soil Water Movement Driven by Temperature

Insight into Soil Water Movement Driven by Temperature

Evaluation of Soil Water Movement and Consumption at a Welsh Onion Field with Changing Ridge Shape

Evaluation of Soil Water Movement and Consumption at a Welsh Onion Field with Changing Ridge Shape