Publication date: 15 May 2017
Source:Geoderma, Volume 294
Author(s): W.D. Reynolds
Soil hydraulic properties have a predominating impact on soil physical quality (SPQ) because they directly or indirectly control air and water storage, infiltration and drainage, nutrient leaching, microbial activity, greenhouse gas generation, and carbon sequestration. The hydraulic properties of many soils are often better described using “bimodal” water content and hydraulic conductivity (θ-K-h) functions, where the θ-K-h of a large-pore “structure domain” is combined with the θ-K-h of a small-pore “matrix domain”. This study uses closed-form bimodal van Genuchten θ-K-h functions to characterize SPQ from the perspective of storage and transmission of water and air in soils containing distinct structure and matrix domains. Consistently good fits were achieved between the soil water content function, θ(h), and water content data from intact soil, repacked diatomite pellets, and repacked soil aggregates (R2
Source:Geoderma, Volume 294
Author(s): W.D. Reynolds
