Review article
https://doi.org/10.15177/seefor.13-04
Variability of Water-Air Properties of Hydromorphic Soils in Relation to the Granulometric Composition
Saša Pekeč
orcid.org/0000-0002-3803-2978
; University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, Serbia
Branislav Trudić
; University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, Serbia
Andrej Pilipović
; University of Novi Sad, Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, Novi Sad, Serbia
Abstract
Background and Purpose: The study of the particle-size distribution of hydromorphic soil and its relations to water and air qualities contributes to the better understanding and use of the land. The granulometric distribution has a significant impact on physical properties of the soil, such as: water-holding capacity, available water for plants, air capacity and residual porosity. The aim of this study was to show the relationship of texture composition and water retention under the pressure of -0.33, -6.25 and -15.00 bar, the capacity for air and available water for plants in different texture classes, and the relationship between the particle-size distribution and the content of a rough, medium, fine and ultra-fine pores in the excavated soil.
Material and Methods: In order to analyze the relations of particle size distribution and air-water features of hydromorphic soil, the Middle Danube Region was researched. The following soil types were determined: fluvisol, humofluvisol, humogley and eugley. Soil samples were taken in degraded and natural state of soil profiles. Samples were analyzed in the laboratory of the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, with standard pedological methods. After the performed analysis, the mean air-water soil properties for different textural classes were calculated and presented.
Results and Conclusion: According to the presented results of moisture retention at pressures of -0.33, -6.25 and -15.00 bar, it may be concluded that pressure treatments lead to an increase of moisture retention values of the texture classes - sand to clay loam texture class, which is in close connection with the textural composition of the hydromorphic soil samples. The texture class of sand and loamy sand had the largest capacity for air, while the increased content of silt and clay decreased the air capacity and only slightly increased it in sandy clay loam and clay loam. Water available to plants was mostly present in the textural classes of sandy loam and loam.In the sand and loamy sand and sandy clay loams with clay loam the values of this parameter were lower due to the unfavorable ratio of fractions in the textural composition. According to the content of the pores in various soil textural classes, the highest content of rough pores was found in the sand and loamy sand. The content of medium-sized pores increased with the proportion of silt and clay, it was largest in the sandy loam, loam and sandy clay loam. The content of tiny and fine pores was common for textural classes of a heavier texture or clay loam.
Keywords
Central Danube Region; granulometric composition; hydromorphic soils; water-air properties
Hrčak ID:
106310
URI
Publication date:
28.6.2013.
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