Decadal-scale shifts in soil hydraulic properties as induced by altered precipitation

Caplan, Joshua S.; Giménez, Daniel; Hirmas, Daniel R.; Brunsell, Nathaniel A.; Blair, John M.; Knapp, Alan K.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aau6635

Cited by 49 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…All irrigation water was applied between 05:00 and 13:00 to minimize loss from evapotranspiration and to avoid heavy winds. On average, irrigation increased annual water inputs by ~32% compared with ambient precipitation in control plots (Caplan et al, 2019). During the current study period, irrigated plots received 27% more precipitation than control plots in 2017 and 2018 (when annual precipitation inputs were 724 and 811 mm, respectively, and long water deficits developed throughout the growing season [Figure S2]), but only 13% more precipitation in 2019, as this was a naturally high precipitation year (1131 mm total; Table S1).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this study, we used a long‐term irrigation experiment that simulated a wetter climate starting in 1991, and in 2017 we implemented new treatments in plots with contrasting precipitation legacies to assess how historic and current precipitation regimes shape carbon cycling in a tallgrass prairie landscape. Irrigation in this experiment increased annual precipitation (1991–2016) by an average of ~32% across a topoedaphic gradient that spans upland and lowland annually burned prairie (Caplan et al, 2019). While initial functional responses (e.g., ANPP) to added water were modest, after ~10 years a species reordering within the C 4 grass functional group was associated with a 64% increase in ANPP (Collins et al, 2012; Knapp et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Climate legacies determine grassland responses to future rainfall regimes

Broderick

Wilkins

Smith

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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Climate variability and periodic droughts have complex effects on carbon (C) fluxes, with uncertain implications for ecosystem C balance under a changing climate. Responses to climate change can be modulated by persistent effects of climate history on plant communities, soil microbial activity, and nutrient cycling (i.e., legacies). To assess how legacies of past precipitation regimes influence tallgrass prairie C cycling under new precipitation regimes, we modified a long‐term irrigation experiment that simulated a wetter climate for >25 years. We reversed irrigated and control (ambient precipitation) treatments in some plots and imposed an experimental drought in plots with a history of irrigation or ambient precipitation to assess how climate legacies affect aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), soil respiration, and selected soil C pools. Legacy effects of elevated precipitation (irrigation) included higher C fluxes and altered labile soil C pools, and in some cases altered sensitivity to new climate treatments. Indeed, decades of irrigation reduced the sensitivity of both ANPP and soil respiration to drought compared with controls. Positive legacy effects of irrigation on ANPP persisted for at least 3 years following treatment reversal, were apparent in both wet and dry years, and were associated with altered plant functional composition. In contrast, legacy effects on soil respiration were comparatively short‐lived and did not manifest under natural or experimentally‐imposed “wet years,” suggesting that legacy effects on CO2 efflux are contingent on current conditions. Although total soil C remained similar across treatments, long‐term irrigation increased labile soil C and the sensitivity of microbial biomass C to drought. Importantly, the magnitude of legacy effects for all response variables varied with topography, suggesting that landscape can modulate the strength and direction of climate legacies. Our results demonstrate the role of climate history as an important determinant of terrestrial C cycling responses to future climate changes.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Climate legacies determine grassland responses to future rainfall regimes

Broderick

Wilkins

Smith

et al. 2022

Global Change Biology

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“…At longer time scales, changes in rooting depth and subsurface structure can reduce or amplify rates of channel incision, alter the depths of groundwater tables, and dictate the evolution of catchment geomorphology (Brantley, Lebedeva, et al, 2017; Harman & Cosans, 2019; Rempe & Dietrich, 2014; Riebe, Hahm, & Brantley, 2017; Sullivan et al, 2016). There is mounting evidence that these changes, once thought to occur at the time scales of centuries to millennia, are now occurring at much shorter time scales (months, years, or decades) (Caplan et al, 2019; Hirmas et al, 2018; Robinson et al, 2019). This is particularly the case for carbonate and shale, which underlie about 20 and 25% of Earth's land area, respectively (Martin, 2017; Suchet, Probst, & Ludwig, 2003) and are highly responsive to changes in environmental conditions (Beaulieu, Godderis, Donnadieu, Labat, & Roelandt, 2012; Gaillardet, Calmels, Romero‐Mujalli, Zakharova, & Hartmann, 2019; Sullivan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward catchment hydro‐biogeochemical theories

Sullivan

Benettin

et al. 2020

WIREs Water

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Headwater catchments are the fundamental units that connect the land to the ocean. Hydrological flow and biogeochemical processes are intricately coupled, yet their respective sciences have progressed without much integration. Reaction kinetic theories that prescribe rate dependence on environmental variables (e.g., temperature and water content) have advanced substantially, mostly in well‐mixed reactors, columns, and warming experiments without considering the characteristics of hydrological flow at the catchment scale. These theories have shown significant divergence from observations in natural systems. On the other hand, hydrological theories, including transit time theory, have progressed substantially yet have not been incorporated into understanding reactions at the catchment scale. Here we advocate for the development of integrated hydro‐biogeochemical theories across gradients of climate, vegetation, and geology conditions. The lack of such theories presents barriers for understanding mechanisms and forecasting the future of the Critical Zone under human‐ and climate‐induced perturbations. Although integration has started and co‐located measurements are well under way, tremendous challenges remain. In particular, even in this era of “big data,” we are still limited by data and will need to (1) intensify measurements beyond river channels and characterize the vertical connectivity and broadly the shallow and deep subsurface; (2) expand to older water dating beyond the time scales reflected in stable water isotopes; (3) combine the use of reactive solutes, nonreactive tracers, and isotopes; and (4) augment measurements in environments that are undergoing rapid changes. To develop integrated theories, it is essential to (1) engage models at all stages to develop model‐informed data collection strategies and to maximize data usage; (2) adopt a “simple but not simplistic,” or fit‐for‐purpose approach to include essential processes in process‐based models; (3) blend the use of process‐based and data‐driven models in the framework of “theory‐guided data science.” Within the framework of hypothesis testing, model‐data fusion can advance integrated theories that mechanistically link catchments' internal structures and external drivers to their functioning. It can not only advance the field of hydro‐biogeochemistry, but also enable hind‐ and fore‐casting and serve the society at large. Broadly, future education will need to cultivate thinkers at the intersections of traditional disciplines with hollistic approaches for understanding interacting processes in complex earth systems. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Methods

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“…Correlations between digital image analysis and visual sand incorporation ratings were analyzed using Statistical Analysis System software v. 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc.), and coefficient of determination (r 2 ) and p values are reported. Water infiltration data were analyzed similar to Caplan et al (2019). The voltage readings recorded every 3 s from the differential transducers were converted to depth of water in the infiltrometers using laboratory transducer calibrations to calculate the amount of water that infiltrated into soil (cumulative infiltration, cm).…”

Section: Data Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Velvet bentgrass putting green quality, water retention, and infiltration as affected by topdressing sand size and rate

2021

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Velvet bentgrass (Agrostis canina L.) putting greens require intensive sand topdressing programs for thatch management; however, their high shoot density combined with the low mowing heights make it challenging to maintain smooth, sand-free putting surface when topdressing is applied at high rates. A field trial was initiated to determine the effects of sand size and topdressing rate on a 'Greenwich' velvet bentgrass putting green. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial and included a non-topdressed control arranged in a randomized complete block design. The two factors were topdressing sand (medium-coarse sand and medium-fine sand) and topdressing rate (0.15 and 0.3 L m -2 ). Topdressing improved turf quality compared to the non-topdressed control. Additionally, velvet bentgrass had better quality when topdressed at the rate of 0.3 L m -2 compared to 0.15 L m -2 . Increasing topdressing rate from 0.15 to 0.3 L m -2 notably increased the quantity of unincorporated mediumcoarse sand remaining on the putting surface, whereas it often did not increase or only slightly increased the quantity of unincorporated sand with medium-fine sand.Independent of sand size and rate, topdressing treatments maintained the top 0-to-3.8-cm soil profile relatively dry and increased infiltration rate measured with mini disk infiltrometers. The lack of negative effects of medium-fine sand on measured parameters and the minimum disruption to putting surface may encourage superintendents to apply greater quantities of topdressing for improving the performance of velvet bentgrass putting greens.

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Decadal-scale shifts in soil hydraulic properties as induced by altered precipitation

Cited by 49 publications

References 42 publications

Climate legacies determine grassland responses to future rainfall regimes

Climate legacies determine grassland responses to future rainfall regimes

Toward catchment hydro‐biogeochemical theories

Velvet bentgrass putting green quality, water retention, and infiltration as affected by topdressing sand size and rate

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