Estimation of stagnosol hydraulic properties and water flow using uni- and bimodal porosity models in erosion-affected hillslope vineyard soils
- Authors: Filipović, Vilim , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Krevh, Vedran , Filipović, Lana , Ondrašek, Gabrijel , Kranjčec, Filip , Magdić, Ivan , Rubinić, Vedran , Stipičević, Sanja , Mustać, Ivan , Bubalo Kovačić, Marina , He, Hailong , Haghverdi, Amir , Gerke, Horst
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 12, no. 1 (2021), p. 33
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Erosion has been reported as one of the top degradation processes that negatively affect agricultural soils. The study objective was to identify hydropedological factors controlling soil water dynamics in erosion-affected hillslope vineyard soils. The hydropedological study was conducted at identically-managed Jastrebarsko (location I), and Jazbina (II) and (III) sites with Stagnosol soils. Soil Hydraulic Properties (SHP) were estimated on intact soil cores using Evaporation and WP4C methodssoil hydraulic functions were fitted using HYPROP-FIT software. For Apg and Bg/Btg horizons, uni- and bimodal soil hydraulic models could be well fitted to data although, the bimodal model performed better in particular cases where data indicated non-uniform pore size distribution. With these SHP estimations, a one-year (2020) water flow scenario was simulated using HYDRUS-1D to compare water balance results obtained with uni- and bimodal hydraulic functions. Simulation results revealed relatively similar flux distribution at each hillslope position between the water balance components infiltration, surface runoff, and drainage. However, at the bottom profile at Jastrebarsko, bimodality of the hydraulic functions led to increased drainage. Soil water storage was reduced, and the vertical movement increased due to modified soil water retention curve shapes. Adequate parameterization of SHP is required to capture the hydropedological response of heterogenous erosion-affected soil systems.
Tracing lateral subsurface flow in layered soils by undisturbed monolith sampling, targeted laboratory experiments, and model‐based analysis
- Authors: Ehrhardt, Annelie , Berger, Kristian , Filipović, Vilim , Wöhling, Thomas , Vogel, Hans‐Jörg , Gerke, Horst
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vadose zone journal Vol. 21, no. 4 (2022), p. n/a
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Lateral subsurface flow (LSF) is a phenomenon frequently occurring in the field induced by local water saturation along horizon boundaries under nonequilibrium conditions. However, observations of LSF in undisturbed soils under controlled irrigation in the laboratory are limited but needed for model improvement, prediction, and quantification of LSF. We present a method for extracting an undisturbed soil monolith along a soil horizon boundary and introduce an experimental setup for the measurement of LSF and an irrigation device for simulating rainfall. An experimental test run was simulated using HYDRUS 2D. Water infiltrating into the monolith and flowing either laterally along the horizon boundary or vertically through the bottom horizon could be separately captured by suction discs at the side and the bottom. Thus, a clear distinction between lateral and vertical flow was possible. Pressure heads and water contents were recorded by tensiometers and frequency domain reflectometry (FDR) sensors distributed across the monolith in a regular two‐dimensional, vertical, cross‐sectional pattern. Sensor readings indicated the presence of nonequilibrium conditions within the monolith. Modeling results could reproduce the lateral and vertical outflow of the monolith under constant irrigation, thus showing that water flow within the monolith under steady‐state conditions can be explained by the Richards equation and the van Genuchten–Mualem model. The presented method can be used to improve and verify models designed for the prediction of the onset of LSF including that induced by local nonequilibrium conditions. Core Ideas A Laboratory method to induce and quantify lateral subsurface flow (LSF) is presented. The experimental setup is verified by modeling with HYDRUS 2D. Sampling of rectangular soil monoliths for 2D flow experiments is improved. Lateral subsurface flow and hydraulic nonequilibrium conditions are observed. The experimental data allow for improving models on the onset of LSF.
Representation of plot‐scale soil heterogeneity in dual‐domain effective flow and transport models with mass exchange
- Authors: Filipović, Vilim , Coquet, Yves , Gerke, Horst
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vadose zone journal Vol. 18, no. 1 (2019), p. 1-14
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Core Ideas The heterogeneity of soil hydraulic properties can be described with effective parameters. Increasing model complexity can be used to represent plot‐scale soil heterogeneity. One‐dimensional dual‐domain flow models are used to reproduce 2D preferential transport. Local subscale variability effects are included as mass transfer in an effective model. Agricultural soils are characterized by a structure that is strongly dependent on farming practices like tillage and trafficking. These practices can create compacted zones in the soil, thus initiating preferential flow. Two‐ or three‐dimensional models can be used to account for the spatial variability of the soil hydraulic and transport properties. Since it is challenging to obtain such data, it is logical to find simpler approaches. Our objective was to design a one‐dimensional (1D) modeling approach that effectively accounts for plot‐scale soil structure variability. A 1D dual‐permeability model was tested in which compacted soil was represented by a matrix domain and uncompacted soil by a fracture domain and eventually by assuming an additional immobile water region (MIM) in the fracture domain representing compacted clods embedded within the uncompacted soil. Models (1D) were compared with two‐dimensional single‐porosity (2D_SP) modeling results for water flow and Br− transport based on a previously performed field tracer experiment. Results indicated good agreement between 1D dual‐domain approaches (1D_DPERM and 1D_DPERM_MIM) and the 2D_SP representative model simulation results with high model efficiency and with respect to the field observations. This implied that a 1D vertical model description was sufficient to represent plot‐scale variability if smaller scale soil structure heterogeneities could be accounted for as effective parameters in dual‐domain models. Variation in the mass transfer term had a large effect on the vertical Br− profile distribution. The parameters describing the sizes and shapes of the domains were most relevant for estimating mass transfer between soil structural features in heterogeneous agricultural fields. Still, the calibration of the upscaling approach of two‐domain interactions in larger scale models remains challenging.
Response of soil dehydrogenase activity to salinity and cadmium species
- Authors: Filipović, Lana , Romić, Marija , Sikora, Sanja , Huić Babić, Katarina , Filipović, Vilim , Gerke, Horst , Romić, Davor
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of soil science and plant nutrition Vol. 20, no. 2 (2020), p. 530-536
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Greater understanding of the microbial activity role in metal mobilization processes in soil is of major importance. The objective was to study the effect of major Cd species in solution of a saline soil on dehydrogenase activity (DHA). Hypothesis is that (i) under increased soil salinity, more mobile Cd species with diverse effect on DHA may be generated (i.e., CdCl n 2-n ) and that (ii) DHA may correlate to organically complexed Cd species. In a greenhouse pot experiment, NaCl salinity (50 and 100 mM) was applied to control soil and soil spiked with Cd (5 and 10 mg kg -1 ). Soil total and available (CaCl 2 extractable) Cd concentrations were measured, and DHA determined using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) method. Speciation was calculated from results of soil solution ion analysis using geochemical equilibrium model Visual MINTEQ. DHA was reduced with increased soil salinity and Cd contamination, but only compared with control soil. Although weak, negative correlation between DHA and CdCl n 2-n complexes in soil solution suggested their higher inhibitory effect on DHA than other Cd species. Positive correlation between DHA and organically complexed Cd indicated that raised microbial activity may increase the proportion of organically complexed Cd in the soil solution. Cd toxicity to soil microorganisms can be accentuated in a saline environment, which may be an issue of great importance for agricultural production in coastal areas. Microbial activity may via releasing organic substances in soil solution significantly change cadmium complexation and mobility in soil, an aspect which has often been overlooked. Graphical Abstract
Leached copper correlation with dissolved organic carbon in sloped vineyard soil
- Authors: Filipovi, Lana , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Chen, Rui , Krevh, Vedran , Gerke, Horst , Baumgartl, Thomas , Kovač, Zoran , Ondrašek, Gabrijel , Ružičić, Stanko , He, Hailong , Dusek, Jaromir , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 4 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The solubility and mobility of copper (Cu) in soil is strongly influenced by the presence of dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, the interactions between Cu and DOC are complex and not yet fully understood. In this study, Cu and DOC concentrations were measured monthly for two years in leachates from self-constructed lysimeters installed at inter- and intra-row vineyard hilltop, backslope, and footslope areas at the SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory, Croatia. The aim was to quantify Cu and DOC leaching from the hilltop towards the backslope and the footslope. The assumed strong relationship between Cu and DOC in the leachates was statistically analyzed and explained using chemical equilibrium software. Leachates were analyzed for pH, EC, DOC, Cu, and major ion concentrations. The highest Cu concentrations found in leachates from the intra-row footslope suggested Cu downhill transport. Although not strong, a significant positive correlation between Cu and DOC in footslope leachates confirmed the relevance of Cu complexation by DOC. Speciation confirmed that more than 99.9% of total Cu in leachates was found as a Cu-DOC complex. Data implied the role of soil water flow pathways in explaining Cu downhill transport. Critical timing for applying Cu fungicides at sloped vineyards was highlighted. © 2023 by the authors.
Quantification of intra- vs. inter-row leaching of major plant nutrients in sloping vineyard soils
- Authors: Filipović, Lana , Krevh, Vedran , Chen, Rui , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Kovač, Zoran , Mustać, Ivan , Bogunović, Igor , He, Hailong , Baumgartl, Thomas , Gerke, Horst , Toor, Gurpal , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 4 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nutrient leaching from agricultural soils presents an economic loss for farmers and can degrade the quality of the surrounding environment. Thus, leachates from 18 in situ wick lysimeters, installed at 40 cm soil depth at the vineyard hilltop, backslope, and footslope intra- and inter-row area (SUPREHILL Critical Zone Observatory, Croatia) were collected monthly over two years and analyzed for major plant nutrient ions. Our objectives were to quantify nutrient losses via leaching from the hilltop towards the backslope and to the footslope, and to compare leaching from vine plant rows (intra-row) with grassed areas between vine rows (inter-row). We found that the concentrations of nitrate, orthophosphate, and potassium were significantly higher in leachates collected at the footslope as compared to the hilltop and backslope only at intra- and not at inter-row positions, while ammonium was independent of the slope and row positions. The vineyard intra-row is identified as the probable spatial origin of nutrient leaching along the slope, thus confirming spatially different contributions of overall hillslope to major plant nutrients leaching. The experimental field scheme used in this study, which separately analyses vineyard intra- and inter-row, was confirmed to be an adequate approach for optimizing vineyard management practices. © 2023 by the authors.
Soil–water dynamics investigation at agricultural hillslope with high-precision weighing lysimeters and soil–water collection systems
- Authors: Krevh, Vedran , Groh, Jannis , Filipović, Lana , Gerke, Horst , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Thompson, Sally , Sraka, Mario , Bogunović, Igor , Kovač, Zoran , Robinson, Nathan , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 15, no. 13 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: A quantitative understanding of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and soil–water dynamics in a hillslope agroecosystem is vital for sustainable water resource management and soil conservation; however, the complexity of processes and conditions involving lateral subsurface flow (LSF) can be a limiting factor in the full comprehension of hillslope soil–water dynamics. The research was carried out at SUPREHILL CZO located on a hillslope agroecosystem (vineyard) over a period of two years (2021–2022) by combining soil characterization and field hydrological measurements, including weighing lysimeters, sensor measurements, and LSF collection system measurements. Lysimeters were placed on the hilltop and the footslope, both having a dynamic controlled bottom boundary, which corresponded to field pressure head measurements, to mimic field soil–water dynamics. Water balance components between the two positions on the slope were compared with the goal of identifying differences that might reveal hydrologically driven differences due to LSF paths across the hillslope. The usually considered limitations of these lysimeters, or the borders preventing LSF through the domain, acted as an aid within this installation setup, as the lack of LSF was compensated for through the pumping system at the footslope. The findings from lysimeters were compared with LSF collection system measurements. Weighing lysimeter data indicated that LSF controlled ETa rates. The results suggest that the onset of LSF contributes to the spatial crop productivity distribution in hillslopes. The present approach may be useful for investigating the impact of LSF on water balance components for similar hillslope sites and crops or other soil surface covers. © 2023 by the authors.