Effect of compaction on pore functions of soils in a Saalean moraine landscape in North Germany

Gebhardt, Stephan; Fleige, Heiner; Horn, Rainer

doi:10.1002/jpln.200800073

Cited by 72 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…In addition, the air-filled porosity is significantly reduced by compaction (Koppi et al 1992;McNabb et al 2001;Yang et al 2005). For instance, compaction can destroy or transform air capacity pores into micropores via microstructure reorganization (Horn et al 1995;Gebhardt et al 2009). Moreover, if compaction is severe, extensive pore collapse can obliterate capillary pores (Jim 1993).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water infiltration in urban soils and its effects on the quantity and quality of runoff

2011

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Purpose Urban soil characteristics, especially soil physical properties, are subject to dramatic changes due to compaction by intensive human activities, which may cause frequent flood events during the rainy seasons. The aim of this study was to explore the water infiltration characteristics of urban soils with different degrees of compaction and to determine the effects of infiltration on environmental problems in urban areas. Materials and methods Ten typical land use patterns with various vegetation and age were selected in Nanjing City, China to determine the infiltration rates by the dual-ring method. Three replicated sites were done in the same combined mode. At the same time, other soil physical and chemical properties that may affect infiltration rate were also determined. In addition, urban surface runoff coefficients were estimated according to final infiltrations and rain intensities in the different degrees of soil compaction. The quality of flood water from a strong rainstorm in a main road in Nanjing was analyzed. Results and discussion The final infiltration rates of urban soils were highly variable (from very slow to very fast). Low soil infiltration rates are related to many factors; however, urban soil compaction is the leading one.Infiltration rates decreased with an increase in the bulk density and with a reduction in the air-filled porosity. Thus, large amounts of macropores increase the infiltration rate and reduce surface runoff. Runoff coefficients of compacted soils with low infiltration rates were high, especially for extremely compacted soil. As a result, the prevalence of flooding is high in compacted soils, and the quality of surface runoff water is reduced during flooding events. The concentrations of NO 3 − -N, total nitrogen, molybdatereactive phosphorus, total phosphors, and suspended material in urban surface runoff were significantly higher than those observed in forested or agricultural watersheds.Conclusions In urban areas, low infiltration rates caused by soil compaction have negative effects on the ecoenvironment of the city and result in increased instantaneous flooding and poor surface water quality. Thus, to improve the eco-environment of urban areas, the amount of greenbelt soil must be increased and soil compaction must be reduced.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water infiltration in urban soils and its effects on the quantity and quality of runoff

2011

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“…However, evaluations of the total soil impact purely based on the bulk density increase are inaccurate, due to the small link with ecological processes. Independent from the compaction degree machine traffic may also have destroyed pore continuity, hampering soil aeration (Gebhardt et al 2009;Ponder 2005), but also obstructing water infiltration and altering chemical processes (e.g., Arocena 2000). As previously mentioned, an analysis based on variables that are related to a change of pore continuity was not possible due to the very small number of available studies examining these variables.…”

Section: Vulnerability Of Soils With Different Texture To Soil Compacmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of mechanized harvesting on compaction of sandy and clayey forest soils: results of a meta-analysis

Ampoorter

Schrijver

Nevel

et al. 2012

Annals of Forest Science

110

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Context Nowadays, harvest operations are predominantly performed fully mechanized using heavy tractors or forestry machines. The resulting soil compaction may negatively affect the soil ecosystem. Aims We wanted to draw general conclusions concerning the impact of mechanized harvesting on forest soil bulk density and the influencing factors. Method Therefore, we combined the data of several studies using a meta-analysis approach. Results The impact decreased from the surface towards deeper soil layers. At 0–10 cm depth, the impact on clayey soils was highest although not significantly different from the impact on sandy soils. Higher initial bulk densities, i.e., on already compacted forest soils, generally led to smaller extra increases of bulk density after machine traffic. For sandy soils, the impact was also significantly smaller when machines were lighter. No significant relationship was observed between the compaction degree and traffic intensity. Conclusions We observed clear compaction on both clayey and sandy soils, especially in case of low initial soil compaction degrees and heavy machines. The compacted initial state of many forest soils, the long recovery period, and the generally high impact of the first passes that is frequently mentioned in literature all count in favour of designated skid trails and an adjustment of the machine type to the job.

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“…Moreover, compacted zones within the peat profile can develop and may be intensified after trafficking the particular unstable soils with agricultural machinery, leading to negative implications to soil hydraulic properties with the result of water logging or less capillary rise. The increases in bulk density as well as the alteration in pore structure of the peat directly impact the hydrological functioning of the peatland (Gebhardt et al 2009;Schindler et al 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shrinkage processes of a drained riparian peatland with subsidence morphology

2009

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Purpose The drainage of a riparian peatland interspersed with organic and mineral substrates in Northern Germany has led to subsidence morphology due to mineralisation, initial settlement and shrinkage processes causing cultivation problems and yield declines. To explain the relevancy of shrinkage to changes of the surface morphology and soil properties, organic and mineral substrates were analysed with regard to (1) shrinkage potential (i.e. the maximum shrinkage), (2) shrinkage curve, (3) actual in situ shrinkage and (4) irreversible shrinkage proportions. Materials and methods The investigated substrates are sedge peat, peat-clay, half-bog and alluvial sand of Fibric Limnic Histosols (Drainic) and a glacial clay for comparison. The methods used to obtain the shrinkage curves include the consideration of crack formation due to desiccation, as digital photography and image analysis were used in addition to height change measurements. To characterise the actual in situ shrinkage, continuous records of the soil matric potential for a 4.5-year period at two different intensively drained Histosols (moderately and deeply drained: mean groundwater table 0.6 and 1.7 m under ground level) were accomplished in four depths (15, 40, 70, 100 cm). Results The measured shrinkage potentials vary between 2% (alluvial sand) and 65% (peat-clay). The sedge peat and peat-clay are characterised by distinct higher shrinkage potentials compared to the glacial clay and show distinct proportional shrinkage. It has to be pointed out that the soil volume loss partly even exceeds the loss in water volume. The sedge peat does not reach residual or zero shrinkage but shows distinct structural shrinkage at initial desiccation. For the moderately drained site, matric potentials reached up to −60 kPa in summer in 15-cm depth, whilst capillary rise almost prevented desiccation of deeper zones. For the deeply drained site, summer desiccation reached deeper zones as well (matric potential up to −50 kPa in 40-cm depth) due to absent capillary rise. In the range of actually occurring maximum desiccation, the half-bog and peat-clay with high decomposed organic matter are particularly affected by shrinkage with volume decreases of 10-14%, in contrast to the fibred sedge peat with only 4%. When uniquely shrunken substrates will be re-wetted, distinct irreversible shrinkage proportions reaching between 18% and 31% subsequent to drying to a matric potential of −50 kPa and re-saturation were measured. Discussion Particularly, the organic-rich substrates appeared as characteristically sensitive to soil shrinkage. Contrary to mineral substrates, they lack in solid particles, leading, along with high hydraulic stresses due to dominantly finer pores, to intense volume decreases after desiccation. These substrates therefore partly also lack in residual or zero shrinkage, and the soil volume loss can even exceed the water loss due to shrinkage. Accordingly, the alterations of soil properties, e.g. conductivities, are especially pronounced. Conclusions The calc...

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Effect of compaction on pore functions of soils in a Saalean moraine landscape in North Germany

Cited by 72 publications

References 21 publications

Water infiltration in urban soils and its effects on the quantity and quality of runoff

Water infiltration in urban soils and its effects on the quantity and quality of runoff

Impact of mechanized harvesting on compaction of sandy and clayey forest soils: results of a meta-analysis

Shrinkage processes of a drained riparian peatland with subsidence morphology

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