Significance of tree roots for preferential infiltration in stagnic soils

Lange, Benjamin; Luescher, P.; Germann, Peter

doi:10.5194/hess-13-1809-2009

Cited by 73 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…In our study, soil hydraulic conductivity closely correlated to root mass density (P<0.05). This result agrees with the conclusions of Lange et al (2009), who found that high root densities resulted in densely branched networks of pores and enhanced soil infiltrability.…”

Section: Factors Impacting the Soil Infiltration Processsupporting

confidence: 93%

Soil hydraulic conductivity as affected by vegetation restoration age on the Loess Plateau, China

et al. 2016

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Abstract:The Loess Plateau of China has experienced extensive vegetation restoration in the past several decades, which leads to great changes in soil properties such as soil bulk, porosity, and organic matter with the vegetation restoration age. And these soil properties have great effect on the soil infiltration and soil hydraulic conductivity. However, the potential changes in soil hydraulic conductivity caused by vegetation restoration age have not been well understood. This study was conducted to investigate the changes in soil hydraulic conductivity under five grasslands with different vegetation restoration ages (3, 10, 18, 28 and 37 years) compared to a slope farmland, and further to identify the factors responsible for these changes on the Loess Plateau of China. At each site, accumulative infiltration amount and soil hydraulic conductivity were determined using a disc permeameter with a water supply pressure of -20 mm. Soil properties were measured for analyzing their potential factors influencing soil hydraulic conductivity. The results showed that the soil bulk had no significant changes over the initial 20 years of restoration (P>0.05); the total porosity, capillary porosity and field capacity decreased significantly in the grass land with 28 and 37 restoration ages compared to the slope farmland; accumulative infiltration amount and soil hydraulic conductivity were significantly enhanced after 18 years of vegetation restoration. However, accumulative infiltration amount and soil hydraulic conductivity fluctuated over the initial 10 years of restoration. The increase in soil hydraulic conductivity with vegetation restoration was closely related to the changes in soil texture and structure. Soil sand and clay contents were the most influential factors on soil hydraulic conductivity, followed by bulk density, soil porosity, root density and crust thickness. The Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that the soil hydraulic conductivity was affected by multiply factors. These results are helpful to understand the changes in hydrological and erosion processes response to vegetation succession on the Loess Plateau.

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Section: Factors Impacting the Soil Infiltration Processsupporting

confidence: 93%

Soil hydraulic conductivity as affected by vegetation restoration age on the Loess Plateau, China

et al. 2016

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“…Microbiological activity stimulates root development, plant growth and vice versa (Cheng and Coleman, 1990;Fu and Cheng, 2002;Vessey, 2003). The plant regrowth protects the soil from raindrop impact ) and root development creates new pathways and preferential water flow, increasing the water infiltration (Lange et al, 2009). The invertebrates' activity may also have contributed to the reduction of soil hydrophobic compounds and changed the hydraulic conductivity in the burned plot studied (Fig.…”

Section: Soil Water Repellencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term changes in soil Munsell colour value, organic matter content and soil water repellency after a spring grassland fire in Lithuania

et al. 2014

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Abstract.Fire is a natural phenomenon with important implications on soil properties. The degree of this impact depends upon fire severity, the ecosystem affected, topography of the burned area and post-fire meteorological conditions. The study of fire effects on soil properties is fundamental to understand the impacts of this disturbance on ecosystems. The aim of this work was to study the short-term effects immediately after the fire (IAF), 2, 5, 7 and 9 months after a low-severity spring boreal grassland fire on soil colour value (assessed with the Munsell colour chart), soil organic matter content (SOM) and soil water repellency (SWR) in Lithuania. Four days after the fire a 400 m 2 plot was delineated in an unburned and burned area with the same topographical characteristics. Soil samples were collected at 0-5 cm depth in a 20 m × 20 m grid, with 5 m space between sampling points. In each plot 25 samples were collected (50 each sampling date) for a total of 250 samples for the whole study. SWR was assessed in fine earth (< 2 mm) and sieve fractions of 2-1, 1-0.5, 0.5-0.25 and < 0.25 mm from the 250 soil samples using the water drop penetration time (WDPT) method. The results showed that significant differences were only identified in the burned area. Fire darkened the soil significantly during the entire study period due to the incorporation of ash/charcoal into the topsoil (significant differences were found among plots for all sampling dates). SOM was only significantly different among samples from the unburned area. The comparison between plots revealed that SOM was significantly higher in the first 2 months after the fire in the burned plot, compared to the unburned plot. SWR of the fine earth was significantly different in the burned and unburned plot among all sampling dates. SWR was significantly more severe only IAF and 2 months after the fire. In the unburned area SWR was significantly higher IAF, 2, 5 and 7 months later after than 9 months later. The comparison between plots showed that SWR was more severe in the burned plot during the first 2 months after the fire in relation to the unburned plot. Considering the different sieve fractions studied, in the burned plot SWR was significantly more severe in the first 7 months after the fire in the coarser fractions (2-1 and 1-0.5 mm) and 9 months after in the finer fractions (0.5-0.25 and < 0.25 mm). In relation to the unburned plot, SWR was significantly more severe in the size fractions 2-1 and < 0.25 mm, IAF, 5 and 7 months after the fire than 2 and 9 months later. In the 1-0.5-and 0.5-0.25 mm-size fractions, SWR was significantly higher IAF, 2, 5 and 7 months after the fire than in the last sampling date. Significant differences in SWR were observed among the different sieve fractions in each plot, with exception of 2 and 9 months after the fire in the unburned plot. In most cases the finer fraction (< 0.25 mm) was more water repellent than the Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. P. Pereira et al.: Sho...

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“…Finally, root characteristics of the facility of interest can be compared to values found in this (Table 9) and other work (Nassif and Wilson 1975, Day et al 2000, Bharati et al 2002, Devitt and Smith 2002, Zhou and Shangguan 2007, Bratieres et al 2008, Bartens et al 2008, Lange et al 2009). As root characteristic values shown in this work mostly overlapped with values shown in similar studies, managers can use these values (Table 9) as lower thresholds at which point roots may be enhancing infiltration at their site.…”

Section: Potential For Root-enhanced Infiltration Within Sbfsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Root Processing: Each core was weighed, wrapped in cellophane (Kokko et al 1993), stored at 4°C temporarily in a dark fridge, and then processed within 24 hr after extraction (Smit 2000, Lange et al 2009). Root cores were cut into 8.4 cm increments with 720 total sections processed.…”

Section: Precipitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They attributed the lower bulk density created by the annual grasses as the main factor resulting in greater infiltration. Lange et al (2009) found a positive correlation between root length and flow length claiming tree roots in soils represent the pore system that carries preferential infiltration. He recommended a root length density of 1 cm/cm 3 (not higher or lower) to maximize root preferential flow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Root-enhanced Infiltration in Stormwater Bioretention Facilities in Portland, Oregon

Hart¹

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I evaluated the effectiveness of plant roots to increase infiltration rates within stormwater bioretention facilities (SBFs), roadside planter compartments that filter stormwater. SBFs attenuate harmful effects of stormwater by reducing peak flow and retaining pollutants, with increased infiltration that improves both these functions.Researchers have shown that roots can increase infiltration within greenhouse, lab, field, and test SBF settings. However, no researchers have yet measured either the extent to which different root characteristics can increase infiltration or the variation in root characteristics and their effect on infiltration rates among plant assemblages within currently functioning SBFs.To determine if root-enhanced infiltration was occurring within SBFs, I This work strongly suggests plant roots increase infiltration, and thus the primary functions of SBFs. Different root characteristics appear to increase infiltration rate at different depths. Data also show larger-root biomass plants increase infiltration rate to a greater degree than smaller-root biomass plants.I recommend considering several site and facility characteristics when determining the potential for root-enhanced infiltration. When selecting plant species to enhance infiltration, I recommend using several criteria, determining root characteristic iii values at certain depths, considering installation approaches, and accounting for regional climate changes.iv Acknowledgements

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Significance of tree roots for preferential infiltration in stagnic soils

Cited by 73 publications

References 36 publications

Soil hydraulic conductivity as affected by vegetation restoration age on the Loess Plateau, China

Soil hydraulic conductivity as affected by vegetation restoration age on the Loess Plateau, China

Short-term changes in soil Munsell colour value, organic matter content and soil water repellency after a spring grassland fire in Lithuania

Root-enhanced Infiltration in Stormwater Bioretention Facilities in Portland, Oregon

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