渝东北紫色土饱和导水率传递函数研究

为研究渝东北紫色土理化性质在垂直空间上的分布情况以及对饱和导水率的影响,进而建立饱和导水率与各理化性质间的关系函数,推求饱和导水率的传递函数,选择渝东北开州区、云阳县等7个区县内45个紫色土典型田块为研究区域,运用Excel 2013和Matlab 2015b软件统计分析后,利用多元非线性回归法推求并验证了渝东北紫色土饱和导水率传递函数模型和模型参数。研究表明:①研究区土壤饱和导水率变化范围在0.16～195.68 cm/d,变化范围广,空间变异系数大,变异性较强;同一采样点深度越大,饱和导水率越小;②土壤饱和导水率与有机质含量有显著的指数函数关系,与饱和含水量有较强的二次函数关系,与土壤容重和土壤颗粒的相关性不大;③本次试验建立的土壤饱和导水率传递函数模型及模型系数检验合格,预测值与实际测算值误差较小,精度良好,可用于渝东北紫色土饱和导水率的预测工作。     

Anisotrope Variation der gesättigten Wasserleitfähigkeit einer unterschiedlich beweideten Salzmarsch im Deichvorland

Anisotropic variation of saturated hydraulic conductivity of a variously grazed salt marsh soil Undisturbed core samples were taken in horizontal and vertical direction from a variously grazed salt marsh soil for investigation of the anisotropic variation of saturated hydraulic conductity K_sat, bulk density, and pore size distribution. The results show that saturated hydraulic conductivity varies significantly anisotropically. The average Kv/Kh ratio is 0.38 for the soil profile and 0.44 for the surface soil. This anisotropy of K_sat is mainly attributed to the stratified structure of soil due to the sedimentation conditions in the salt marsh environment and decreases if soil structure development through pedological processes progresses. Furthermore. K_sat decreases significantly if the stocking rate of grazing is larger than 1.0 sheep unit/ha and the effect is more pronounced near the dike. However, both the Kv and Kh are affected by grazing in the same manner, so that the anisotropy of K_sat is independent from grazing. Bulk densitiy and macroporosity are affected by grazing but not by the direction of sampling. There are significant correlations between K_sat and > 50 μm as well as > 10 μm pore volume. The correlation between K_sat and total porosity is however not significant. The anisotropy of K_sat implicates the favouring of the lateral water flux and in the hydrological research and modelling of the salt marsh ecosystem the anisotropy of K_sat should be taken into account.     

Soil hydraulic and physico-chemical properties of Ultisols and Inceptisols in south-eastern Nigeria

Understanding soil water dynamics and storage is important to avoid crop failure on highly weathered, porous and leached soils. The aim of the study was to relate soil moisture characteristics to particle-size distributions and chemical properties. On average, Atterberg limits were below 25% in the A-horizon and not more than26.56% in the B-horizon, whereas soil bulk density was between 1.27 and 1.66Mgm^?3. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) was generally between 0.20 and 5.43 cm h^?1 in the top soil and <1.31 cm h^?1 in the subsoil. The higher K_sat values for the A-horizons were attributed to the influence soil microorganisms operating more in that horizon. The amount of water retained at field capacity or at permanent wilting point was greater in the B-horizons than in the A-horizons, suggesting that clay accumulation in the B-horizon and evapotranspiration effects in the A-horizon may have influenced water retention in the soils. Soil moisture parameters were positively related to clay content, silt content, exchangeable Mg²⁺, Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃, and negatively related to sand content, SiO₂, sodium absorption ratio, exchangeable sodium percentage and bulk density. The low clay content may explain why drainage was so rapid in the soils.     

Effects of Cow Dung Biochar Amendment on Adsorption and Leaching of Nutrient from an Acid Yellow Soil Irrigated with Biogas Slurry

Knowledge of the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K _sat) of porous filters used in water treatment technologies is important for optimizing the retention of nutrients and pollutants. This parameter determines the hydraulic capacity, which together with the chemical properties of the filter media, affects the treatment performance of the filter system. However, measuring K _sat is time consuming and expensive. This study developed a novel transfer function to predict K _sat of coarse porous media from easily measured parameters. The hydro-physical parameters determined were K _sat, grain size distribution, bulk density, uniformity coefficient, particle density, and porosity of 46 porous media fractions. The fractions ranged in grain size from 0.5 to 20 mm and were obtained from seven commercial available coarse filter materials. A backward stepwise regression analysis was performed between K _sat and 10 variables obtained from the grain size distribution and bulk density. The optimal model for predicting K _sat contained two parameters, D₂₀ and D₅₀, which describe respectively the particle diameters, where 20 and 50 % of all particles are finer by weight. The predicted K _sat values were in good agreement with the measured values (R ²?=?0.91). The transfer function can find potential usage in relation to dimensioning of permeable agricultural drainage filters or subsurface-flow constructed wetlands. The predicted values of K _sat can also be used as input to numerical models that simulate filter treatment performance.     

黄土丘陵区典型植被土壤物理性质差异及其对导水特性影响

选取黄土丘陵区12种典型植被样地,通过测定各样地不同土层植物残体生物量、土壤容重、毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度及饱和导水率,研究各指标随土层深度和植被类型的变化规律及其对土壤饱和导水率的影响。结果表明:(1)除容重随土层深度增加外,植物残体、毛管孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度和饱和导水率均随土层深度减少,其中植物残体大多集中于表层土壤(0—10 cm),占总残体生物量的51.4%～85.7%。(2)不同植被类型其植物残体及土壤物理性质存在显著差异,乔木林地植物残体、农耕地土壤容重、灌木林地非毛管孔隙度及饱和导水率均最大,而毛管孔隙度与不同土地利用类型间无显著差异。(3)饱和导水率随植物残体生物量密度(0—10 cm)和土壤容重呈幂函数减小,随毛管孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度呈幂函数增大;土壤容重(BD)和非毛管孔隙度(NCP)是影响土壤饱和导水率(K_s)的主要因素,且土壤饱和导水率可表示为两者的综合非线性方程(K_s=0.6BD~(-4.717)NCP~(0.203),P0.01,R~2=0.63,NSE=0.50)。此外,沙棘灌木林地平均饱和导水率最大,有利于降雨过程中土壤水分入渗,具有较强的水土保持功能。本研究结果可为黄土高原植被恢复生态水文效益评价提供理论依据。     

Evaluating the Impact of Combined Application of Biochar and Compost on Hydro-physical Properties of Loamy Sand Soil

ABSTRACT

Biochar, compost and their combination are important organic amendment materials for improving the hydro-physical properties of sandy soils. Series of soil columns experiments were conducted for investigating the application effects of date palm biochar and compost on evaporation, moisture distribution, infiltration, sorptivity (Sp), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) and water holding capacity (WHC) at application rates of 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% (10, 20, 30 and 40 g kg^?1). The columns were filled manually with air-dried soil with 35 cm depth and the thickness of surface amended layer was 10 cm (T10) and 20 cm (T20) from soil surface at bulk density of 1400 kg m^?3. The results showed that the behavior of soil moisture distribution was influenced by application of biochar, compost and biochar-compost mixture. Moreover, in the amended layer T10, applying biochar at rate of 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% reduced significantly cumulative evaporation by 5.8%, 10.8%, 12.8% and 16.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the reduction for the biochar-compost mixture at application rates of 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% was 10%, 12.2%, 14.5% and 20%, respectively. In layer T20, applying biochar at rate of 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% reduced cumulative evaporation by 10.24%, 13.0%, 18.3% and 21.5% but this reduction amounted to 18.2%, 21%, 23% and 24% for the biochar-compost mixture, respectively. It was generally observed that the highest application rate (4%) for applied amendments was the most effective impact on Sp, K_sat and WHC compared with other rates.     

Compost Effects on Soil Physical Properties And Field Nursery Production

Field production of ornamental shrubs often results in significant topsoil removal and degradation of surface soil physical properties. Building soil organic matter through compost amendments is one way to ameliorate effects from topsoil removal in woody ornamentals production. We amended field soils with three composts to evaluate their effects on soil physical properties and shrub biomass production. Specifically, we applied either duck manure-sawdust (DM), potato cull-sawdust-dairy manure (PC) or paper mill sludge-bark (PMB) composts to a Plano silt loam soil using two application methods: 2.5 cm of compost incorporated into the top 15 cm of soil (incorporated-only) or 2.5 cm of compost incorporated plus 2.5 cm of compost applied over the soil surface (mulched). We grew three shrub species from liners: Spirea japonicum ‘Gumball’, Juniper chinensis ‘Pfitzeriana’, and Berberis thunbergia ‘Atropurpurea’. Shrub species and soil amendment treatments were established in triplicate in a randomized split plot design. Total soil carbon (TC), bulk density (ρb), aggregate stability, soil moisture retention capacity (MRC), volumetric moisture content (θ_v), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) were measured over three years (1998 to 2000). We measured above and below ground shrub dry matter production at the end of the first (1998) and second (1999) growing seasons. Mulched treatments resulted in 15%-21% higher TC than the incorporated-only and no-amendment control treatments. Bulk density decreased with increasing TC contents. Greater aggregate stability and the formation of larger aggregates were related to increased TC. Field moisture retention capacity tended to be higher in the incorporated treatments compared to the mulched and nonamended control treatments. Compost amended treatments increased saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) sevenfold over the nonamended control. There were no compost effects on shrub biomass until the second year of growth. Barberry was the only species to respond significantly and positively to compost application. Specifically, mulched DM compost produced 39-42% greater total Barberry biomass than the other compost treatments and the nonamended control. Our findings showed that compost effects on soil physical properties differed among composts and their subsequent effects on shrub growth were species specific.     

Change of dry bulk density and Ksat after incubation of a soil in the presence of organic amendments

Abstract

Kamouraska Ap horizon samples were incubated in the presence of organic amendments, peat moss, straw, compost and green manure, applied at a rate equivalent to 7.5 t of carbon/ha. Water was added to reach 80% of field capacity. The soil‐amendement mixtures were incubated at 37°C for periods of 4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 weeks. Settling tests were performed using a jolting volumeter. Minimum dry bulk density (mDBD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) and water content at field capacity were determined. For the unamended soil, mDBD corresponded to 1.1 g.cm^‐3 and K_{sat max} to 265 cm/h. After incubation, mDBD varied from 1.02 to 1.12 g.cm^‐3 and K_{sat max} values were generally below 150 cm/h. The results were discussed in relation to the decomposition of the organic amendments and the formation of stable aggregates.     

青海省东部不同土地利用方式下土壤饱和导水率分布及其影响因素

研究高寒地区土壤饱和导水率分布特征及其影响因素可为评估脆弱生态系统水源涵养能力和构建区域水文模型提供参数。通过测定青海省东部南北样线24个样点(0—30 cm)土壤基本理化性质和饱和导水率(K_s),分析了不同土地利用方式下K_s分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明:K_s均值表现为林地(1.89 cm/h)草地(1.62 cm/h)农地(1.41 10 cm/h),其中农地K_s(0.10～3.92 cm/h)随着土层深度增加逐渐减小,而林地(0.28～7.69 cm/h)和草地K_s(0.10～5.34 cm/h)随土层深度增加表现为先增加后减小。不同利用方式下K_s均与pH、容重、孔隙度、黏粒含量、有机质含量及饱和含水量显著相关(P0.05)。利用多元回归分析获得了农地以总孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度和饱和含水量为输入因子的K_s传递函数,林地以毛管孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度为输入因子的K_s传递函数和草地以容重、非毛管孔隙度和饱和含水量为输入因子的K_s传递函数。研究结果可为其他高寒地区不同土地利用方式下K_s的模拟和预测提供参考。     

莱芜市红石公园土壤结构特征及其与饱和导水率的关系

[目的]分析土壤水分运移过程,探究莱芜市红石公园土壤结构特征及其对饱和导水率的影响,为促进该区生态恢复和建设提供理论参考。[方法]采用环刀分层取样对研究区6块样地进行土壤物理结构特征测定,进行水分穿透试验,测量土壤饱和导水率。[结果]试验区土壤密度及石砾含量大小均表现为:纯草本灌木—草本乔木—草本;土壤R0.25(0.25mm水稳性团聚体含量)、含水率、总孔隙度及饱和导水率大小均表现为:乔木—草本灌木—草本纯草本;表层土壤具有更优的土壤结构及更大的饱和导水率;土壤饱和导水率与土壤密度、石砾含量呈现显著负相关关系,与土壤总孔隙度及R0.25呈现显著正相关关系。[结论]土壤总孔隙度是土壤饱和导水率的最主要影响因子,土壤R0.25含量、土壤密度及石砾含量次之。     

Using boosted regression trees to explore key factors controlling saturated and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivity

Hydraulic conductivity at and near saturation is difficult to predict. We investigated, for the first time, the potential of boosted regression trees to identify the key factors that determine saturated and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivities in undisturbed soils with a global meta‐database of tension infiltrometer measurements. Our results demonstrate that pedotransfer functions developed from meta‐databases may strongly over‐estimate prediction performance unless they are validated against each individual data source separately. For such a source‐wise cross‐validation, we estimated the hydraulic conductivity at a tension of 10 cm (K₁₀) and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) with coefficients of determination of 0.36 and 0.15, respectively. The most important predictors for K₁₀ were the average annual precipitation and temperature at the measurement location, which are key variables for pedogenesis and constrain soil management. More research is required for the in‐depth interpretation of their influence on hydraulic conductivity. The soil clay and organic carbon contents were also important predictors of K₁₀, with hydraulic conductivity decreasing as organic carbon contents increased up to 1.5% and as clay contents increased between about 10 and 40%. The direction of the tension‐sequence with which the infiltrometer data were collected was also a significant predictor. Land use and bulk density were the most important predictors for K_s. The direction of the tension‐sequence and the soil texture class were also important, with both coarse and fine‐textured soils generally having larger K_s values than medium‐textured soils.     

Effects of charcoal production on soil physical properties in Ghana

Charcoal production, widespread in Ghana like in other W African countries, is a major driver of land‐cover change. Effects of charcoal production on soil physical, including hydrological, properties, were studied in the forest–savannah transition zone of Ghana. Core and composite samples from 12 randomly selected sites across the width of Kotokosu watershed were taken from 0–10 cm layer at charcoal‐site soils and adjacent field soils (control). These were used to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat), bulk density, total porosity, soil texture, and color. Infiltration rates, surface albedo, and soil‐surface temperature were also measured on both sites. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils under charcoal kilns increased significantly (p < 0.01) from 6.1 ± 2.0 cm h^–1 to 11.4 ± 5.0 cm h^–1, resulting to a relative increase of 88%. Soil color became darkened under charcoal kilns with hue, value, and chroma decreasing by 8%, 20%, and 20%, respectively. Bulk density on charcoal‐site soils reduced by 9% compared to adjacent field soils. Total porosity increased from 45.7% on adjacent field soils to 50.6% on earth kilns. Surface albedo reduced by 37% on charcoal‐site soils while soil‐surface temperature increased up to 4°C on average. Higher infiltration rates were measured on charcoal‐site soils, which suggest a possible decrease in overland flow and less erosion on those kiln sites.     

Soil hydraulic properties influenced by corn stover removal from no-till corn in Ohio

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover removal for biofuel production and other uses may alter soil hydraulic properties, but site-specific information needed to determine the threshold levels of removal for the U.S. Corn Belt region is limited. This study quantified impacts of systematic removal of corn stover on soil hydraulic parameters after 1 year of stover management under no-till (NT) systems. These measurements were made on three soils in Ohio including Rayne silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) at Coshocton, Hoytville clay loam (fine, illitic, mesic Mollic Epiaqualfs) at Hoytville, and Celina silt loam (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Hapludalfs) at South Charleston. Interrelationships among soil properties and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) predictions were also assessed. Earthworm middens, K_sat, bulk density (ρ_b), soil water retention (SWR), pore-size distribution, and air permeability (k_a) were determined for six stover treatments. Stover treatments consisted of removing 0 (T100), 25 (T75), 50 (T50), 75 (T25), 100 (T0) and adding 100 (T200)% of corn stover corresponding to 0, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, 5.00, and 10.00 Mg ha⁻¹ of stover, respectively. Stover removal reduced the number of middens, K_sat, SWR, and k_a, and increased ρ_b at all sites (P < 0.01). Compared to normal stover treatment (T100), complete stover removal (T0) reduced earthworm middens 6-fold at Coshocton and about 14-fold at Hoytville and Charleston. Geometric mean K_sat decreased from 3.1 to 0.1 mm h⁻¹ at Coshocton, 4.2 to 0.3 mm h⁻¹ at Hoytville, and 4.2 to 0.6 mm h⁻¹ at Charleston while soil ρ_b increased about 12% in the 0–10-cm depth at Coshocton and Hoytville from T100 to T0. The SWR for T0 was about 70% of that for T100 and 58% of that for T200 at 0 to −6 kPa suctions across sites. The log k_a for T200, T100, and T75 significantly exceeded that under T50, T25, and T0 at Coshocton and Charleston. Differences in the number of middens, ρ_b, SWR, K_sat, and k_a between T100 and T200 were not generally significant although the T200 retained slightly more water for the 0 to −100 kPa at Charleston and had higher k_a at Hoytville compared to T100. Measured parameters were strongly correlated, and k_a was a strong K_sat predictor. Stover harvesting induces rapid changes in soil hydraulic properties and earthworm activity, but further monitoring is needed to ascertain the threshold levels of stover removal for soil-specific conditions.     

Effects of compaction on soil hydraulic properties,penetration resistance and water flow patterns at the soil profile scale

The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of compaction on water flow patterns at the soil profile scale. Control and trafficked plots were established in field trials at two sites. The trafficked treatment was created by four passes track‐by‐track with a three‐axle dumper with a maximum wheel load of 5.8 Mg. One year later, dye‐tracing experiments were performed and several soil mechanical, physical and hydraulic properties were measured to help explain the dye patterns. Penetration resistance was measured to 50 cm depth, with saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), bulk density, and macroporosity and mesoporosity being measured on undisturbed soil cores sampled from three depths (10, 30 and 50 cm). Significant effects of the traffic treatment on the structural pore space were found at 30 cm depth for large mesopores (0.3–0.06 mm diameter), but not small mesopores (0.06–0.03 mm) or macroporosity (pores > 0.3 mm). At one of the sites, ponding was observed during the dye‐tracing experiments, especially in the trafficked plots, because of the presence of a compacted layer at plough depth characterized by a larger bulk density and smaller structural porosity and K_s values. Ponding did not induce any preferential transport of the dye solution into the subsoil at this site. In contrast, despite the presence of a compacted layer at 25–30 cm depth, a better developed structural porosity in the subsoil was noted at the other site which allowed preferential flow to reach to at least 1 m depth in both treatments.     

矿区生态修复过程中不同立地类型土壤水动力学特性

[目的]揭示矿区不同立地土壤水动力学特性及其影响因素,为矿区生态环境恢复治理提供科学依据。[方法]基于矿区不同立地类型土壤水分特征曲线、非饱和导水率、孔隙度与紧实度等监测试验,揭示不同立地类型土壤持水性、有效水含量和导水特性等变化规律。[结果]土壤持水性和供水性在受损区<修复3a区<修复5a区<修复10a区<修复15a区<未干扰区,但修复区20—40cm土壤持水性、供水性较0—20cm土壤低,修复效果不明显;土壤结构改善效果遵循受损区<修复区<未干扰区的变化规律,且修复区亚表层土壤结构改善效果不明显。采用指数函数拟合吸力和非饱和导水率效果较好(r2>0.95),相同吸力下,容重大而非饱和导水率较小;非饱和导水率和容重呈负相关,和孔隙度呈正相关且相关性随吸力增加降低。矿区0—20cm易有效含水量呈现受损区<修复3a区<修复5a区<修复10a区<未干扰区<修复15a区,但修复区20—40cm土层易有效水含量较0—20cm小。[结论]土壤易有效水含量和容重、紧实度呈负相关关系,与总孔隙度、黏粒含量呈正相关关系。修复后土壤结构有所改善,持蓄调节水分能力有所提高。     

太湖地区农田生态环境中土壤饱和导水率研究

对太湖地区主要水稻土类型的饱和导水率进行了研究.结果表明,该土壤的饱和导水率变化于7.20×10-5～6.33×10-4 cm/s, 并随着深度的增加饱和导水率迅速下降;原状土和扰动土的饱和导水率相差很大, 土壤的质地、有机质含量、容重、孔隙度和结构系数等均对饱和导水率有一定的影响.原状土的饱和导水率能反映田间的实际情况, 对研究土壤水分平衡和水土保持有极其重要的意义. 而扰动土的饱和导水率只能作为一种农业工程的参考数据被运用.     

不同根系构型草本与灌木复合对土壤饱和导水率的影响因素分析及模拟

[目的] 探究不同根系构型草本与灌木复合时的根土性质的差异对土壤饱和导水率的影响,并综合考虑根系和土壤性质建立估算土壤饱和导水率的经验方程,为黄土高原植被恢复后的水文模型建立提供理论参考。[方法] 选取不同根系构型草本与灌木的混合样地,分别为柠条锦鸡儿加冰草(须根系)和柠条锦鸡儿加铁杆蒿(直根系)。采用双环刀法测定不同样地土壤饱和导水率。[结果] 样地类型和土层深度对土壤饱和导水率的影响达到显著水平,两者对土壤饱和导水率影响的因子贡献率分别为26%和52%。直根系铁杆蒿与柠条锦鸡儿混合样地的土壤饱和导水率高于须根系冰草与柠条锦鸡儿混合样地,并且不同样地的土壤饱和导水率随土层深度的增加均表现出降低的趋势。根长密度、团聚体以及土壤容重能够较好地模拟土壤饱和导水率,其拟合精度R²可以达到0.86。[结论] 直根系草本与灌木复合时较须根系草本与灌木复合相比具有更高的饱和导水率。在不同样地中,根长密度、团聚体以及土壤容重是影响饱和导水率的主要因素。     

Evaluation of different methods for the prediction of saturated hydraulic conductivity in tilled and untilled soils

The larger the bulk density of the soil, the smaller the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s), however, the relationship between K_s and dry bulk density for tilled and untilled conditions is different. K_s is lower in tilled soil than in untilled soil with the same texture at the same bulk density. The purpose of this study was to compare different models for the prediction of K_s for two soil textures under both tilled and non-tilled conditions. We compred two models based on the non-similar media concept (NSMC-0, NSMC-1), a model based on the similar media concept (SMC) and a model based on the Kozeny equation and Poiseuille law for prediction of K_s (KC-1 and KC-2). This study was conducted at two areas with loam and silty clay loam soils under tilled and untilled conditions. It is concluded that the SMC model is not able to predict K_s under either tilled or untilled conditions. Further, the NSMC-0 model, along with an equation to estimate the shape factor, was able to predict K_s versus dry bulk density for tilled soils. According to our study, under untilled conditions, the KC-1 and NSMC-1 models, and under tilled conditions, the NSMC-1 and NSMC-0 models, predicted K_s accurately. It is concluded that the NSMC models together with the optimized Kozeny–Carman models could reliably be used to predict K_s in different soil textures.     

A Comparison of Five Different Techniques to Determine Hydraulic Conductivity of a Riparian Soil in North Bavaria, Germany

Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) is a predominant input factor when forecasting the vertical transport of contaminants through the soil or when estimating the flood retention capacity of the soil. Displacement of contaminants in the soil over extended periods of time can be attributed mainly to matrix flow, whereas flow through macropores becomes significant under untypically wet conditions, e.g., during spills or rain storms. To obtain matrix conductivities for a soil, the effects of macropores should be excluded. However, the K_s values of a soil profile are unlikely to be reflected solely by pedotransfer tables based on soil texture and bulk density. In this study, we examined five different methods (pedotransfer table, soil core, borehole permeameter, particle-size distribution curve, and instantaneous profile) to determine K_s values for a mercury-contaminated riparian soil for subsequent simulation of long-term mercury displacement toward groundwater. We found that the determined K_s values increased in the following order: borehole permeameter < particle-size distribution curve < pedotransfer table < instantaneous profile < soil core. The instantaneous profile method yielded K_s values of matrix flow, which additionally reflected the structure-related features of K_s values as provided by the soil core method. Despite being labor intensive and requiring expensive field sensors, the instantaneous profile method may provide the best representative in-situ K_s values for the studied site.