Spatial variability of hydrophysical properties of fallow sandy soils

Spatial heterogeneity of soil hydrophysical properties was estimated in 2 fallow sandy soils at Csólyospálos and Őrbottyán, Hungary. Significant differences in small particle (= silt + clay) content (5.0% vs. 13.7%), organic matter content (1.62% vs. 0.91%), and CaCO3 content (3.1% vs. 5.1%) measured at Csólyospálos and Őrbottyán, respectively, resulted in a higher persistence of water repellency in the Csólyospálos soil. It also resulted in a significantly higher water sorptivity and hydraulic conductivity of the Őrbottyán soil. 

Scatterplot correlation matrix of hydrophysical properties at CSP site, where k: field saturated hydraulic conductivity; Sw: water sorptivity; Swh: water sorptivity of hydrophobic soil state; Sww: water sorptivity of nearly wettable soil state; WRCT: water repellency cessation time; WDPT: water drop penetration time.

The spatial heterogeneity of soil hydrophysical properties was significant reaching 3 orders of magnitude differences due to the variances of soil properties. The water repellency cessation time was inversely related to the hydraulic conductivity and water sorptivity at Csólyospálos site.

More details in:
Sándor, R., Lichner, L., Filep, T., Balog K., Lehoczky É., Fodor, N. (2015): Spatial variability of hydrophisical properties of fallow sandy soils. Biologia, 70/11, 1