Spatial patterns and stability of topsoil water content in a rainfed fallow cereal field and Calcisol-type soil

Abstract

Topsoil water content (TSWC) is a key factor for crop establishment and subsequent production, runoff generation, soil detachment, and other soil processes. TSWC is one of the most variable soil properties due to the complexity of water fluxes in the unsaturated zone. The studies about TSWC in cultivated Calcisols are limited and almost inexistent under fallow treatment in rainfed cereal fields. We hypothesize that certain wetness characteristics (patterns, ranges and changes) of a soil portion remain over time. This study seeks to identify the spatial patterns of TSWC and their temporal stability in a Mediterranean fallow rainfed cereal field (1.6 ha, partial stubble retention, no weed growth allowed) and Haplic Calcisoltype soil. During 15 months (December 2009 to February 2011) and 25 field surveys measurements were made at 156 points (3 values per point) by using a frequency-domain probe. Values of TSWC varied significantly and four humidity periods were identified using

Soil particle size distribution and induced soil carbon transport by ephemeral gully erosion in Mediterranean mountain arable land

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Soil water content and temporal stability in an arid area with natural and planted grasslands

“…More than 30 years ago, Vachaud, Silans, Balabanis, and Vauclin () first indicated that the rank of SWC changed slightly over time. Recently, many studies have found that the spatial patterns of SWC are stable in the medium and long term for a specific site, land use, and soil and vegetation management practices (Ben‐Salem, Álvarez, & López‐Vicente, ; Hu, Shao, Han, Reichardt, & Tan, ; López‐Vicente, Quijano, & Navas, ; Zhang & Shao, ; Zucco et al, ). For instance, Xu et al () indicated that the spatial patterns of SWC in Chinese land terraces had a strong temporal stability during the rainy season.…”

Optimal Irrigation Mode and Spatio-Temporal Variability Characteristics of Soil Moisture Content in Different Growth Stages of Winter Wheat

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