Changes to water repellence of soil aggregates caused by substrate‐induced microbial activity

Hallett, Paul D.; Young, Iain M.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2389.1999.00214.x

Cited by 258 publications

(213 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The ethanol-water method proposed by Hallett and Young (1999) used the different infiltration of water and ethanol at a given pressure head, proposing that the infiltration of ethanol was not influenced by non-polar (or better low-energy) surfaces, but water was, due to its high polarity. The repellency index corrects differences in viscosity in a way that totally nonrepellent soil has a value of 1.…”

Section: Water Repellency and Infiltrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Gypser

Veste

Fischer

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Investigations were done on two former open-cast lignite mining sites under reclamation, an artificial sand dune in Welzow Süd, and a forest plantation in Schlabendorf Süd (Brandenburg, Germany). The aim was to associate the topsoil hydrological characteristics of green algae dominated as well as moss and soil lichen dominated biological soil crusts during crustal succession with their water retention and the repellency index on sandy soils under temperate climate and different reliefs.The investigation of the repellency index showed on the one hand an increase due to the cross-linking of sand particles by green algae which resulted in clogging of pores. On the other hand, the occurrence of moss plants led to a decrease of the repellency index due to absorption caused by bryophytes. The determination of the water retention curves showed an increase of the water holding capacity, especially in conjunction with the growth of green algae layer. The pore-related van Genuchten parameter indicate a clay-like behaviour of the developed soil crusts. Because of the inhomogeneous distribution of lichens and mosses as well as the varying thickness of green algae layers, the water retention differed between the study sites and between samples of similar developmental stages. However, similar tendencies of water retention and water repellency related to the soil crust formation were observed.Biological soil crusts should be considered after disturbances in the context of reclamation measures, because the initial development of green algae biocrusts lead to an increasing repellency index, while the occurrence of mosses and a gain in organic matter enhance the water holding capacity. Thus, the succession of biocrusts and their small-scale succession promote the development of soil and ecosystem.

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Section: Water Repellency and Infiltrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Gypser

Veste

Fischer

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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“…On the other hand, research highlights the point that the relationship between WR and plants may not always be direct: a group of fungi and microorganisms, which might be associated with specific plants, could also contribute to soil hydrophobicity through their products or by processing organic material (Feeney et al, 2004;Hallett and Young, 1999;Morales et al, 2010;White et al, 2000). In concrete, fungal hyphae, glomalin related soil protein and more recently ergosterol are being studied to understand their influence on the development of soil WR (Rillig, 2005;Rillig et al, 2010;Young et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological and chemical factors controlling the patchy distribution of soil water repellency among plant species in a Mediterranean semiarid forest

et al. 2013

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Natural soil water repellency is a property that has already been observed in forest soils and is characterized by its patchydistribution. Ihere are many factors involved in its development. In this work, we have studied a large numberof chemical and biological factors underthe influence of differentplantspecies (Pinus halepensis, Quercus rotundifolia, Cistus albidus and Rosmarinus officinalis) to leam which has the greatest responsibility for its presence and persistence in the top-soillayer. We obselVed strong and significant correlations between ergosterol, giomalin related soil protein (GRSP), extractable lipids, soil organic matter (SOM) content and water repellency (WR). Our results suggested lipid fraction as the principal factor. Moreover, apart from Pinus, fungal biomass seems to be also related to the SOM content. Soil WR found under Pinus appears to be the most influenced by fungi. Quality of SOM, to be precise, lipid fraction could be responsible for WR and its relationship with fungal activity.

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“…The authors attributed the changes during winter to degradation of waxes or the movement of dissolved organic matter. Hallett and Young (1999), on the other hand, observed increased water repellency associated with the development of soil aggregates and suggested that nutrient amendment promoted biological activity and production of water-repellent materials. BlancoCanqui and Schlegel (2013) similarly observed that applications of N of >90 kg ha -1 increased aggregate formation and water repellency.…”

Section: Enhancing Existing Populations Of Wax-degrading Bacteria In mentioning

confidence: 99%

Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture

Roper

Davies²,

Blackwell³

et al. 2015

Soil Res.

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Abstract. Water-repellent ('non-wetting') soils are a major constraint to agricultural production in southern and south-west Australia, affecting >10 Mha of arable sandy soils. The major symptom is dry patches of surface soil, even after substantial rainfall, directly affecting agricultural production through uneven crop and pasture germination, and reduced nutrient availability. In addition, staggered weed germination impedes effective weed control, and delayed crop and pasture germination increases the risk of wind erosion. Water repellency is caused by waxy organic compounds derived from the breakdown of organic matter mostly of plant origin. It is more prevalent in soils with a sandy surface texture; their low particle surface area : volume ratio means that a smaller amount of waxy organic compounds can effectively cover a greater proportion of the particle surface area than in a fine-textured soil. Water repellency commonly occurs in sandy duplex soils (Sodosols and Chromosols) and deep sandy soils (Tenosols) but can also occur in Calcarosols, Kurosols and Podosols that have a sandy surface texture. Severity of water repellency has intensified in some areas with the adoption of no-till farming, which leads to the accumulation of soil organic matter (and hence waxy compounds) at the soil surface. Growers have also noticed worsening repellency after 'dry' or early sowing when break-of-season rains have been unreliable.Management strategies for water repellency fall into three categories: (i) amelioration, the properties of surface soils are changed; (ii) mitigation, water repellency is managed to allow crop and pasture production; (iii) avoidance, severely affected or poorly producing areas are removed from annual production and sown to perennial forage. Amelioration techniques include claying, deep cultivation with tools such as rotary spaders, or one-off soil inversion with mouldboard ploughs. These techniques can be expensive, but produce substantial, long-lasting benefits. However, they carry significant environmental risks if not adopted correctly. Mitigation strategies include furrow-seeding, application of wetting agents (surfactants), no-till with stubble retention, on-row seeding, and stimulating natural microbial degradation of waxy compounds. These are much cheaper than amelioration strategies, but have smaller and sometimes inconsistent impacts on crop production. For any given farm, economic analysis suggests that small patches of water repellency might best be ameliorated, but large areas should be treated initially with mitigation strategies. Further research is required to determine the long-term impacts of cultivation treatments, seeding systems and chemical and biological amendments on the expression and management of water repellency in an agricultural context.

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Changes to water repellence of soil aggregates caused by substrate‐induced microbial activity

Cited by 258 publications

References 18 publications

Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Infiltration and water retention of biological soil crusts on reclaimed soils of former open-cast lignite mining sites in Brandenburg, north-east Germany

Biological and chemical factors controlling the patchy distribution of soil water repellency among plant species in a Mediterranean semiarid forest

Management options for water-repellent soils in Australian dryland agriculture

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