Exploring the factors influencing the hydrological response of soil after low and high-severity fires with post-fire mulching in Mediterranean forests

Despite ample literature, the influence of the individual soil properties and covers on the hydrological response of burned soils of forests has not clearly identified. A clear understanding of the surface runoff and erosion rates altered by wildfires and prescribed fires is beneficial to identify the most suitable post-fire treatment. This study has carried out a combined analysis of the hydrological response of soil and its driving factors in burned forests of Central-Eastern Spain. The pine stands of these forests were subjected to both prescribed fire and wildfire, and, in the latter case, to post-fire treatment with mulching. Moreover, simple multi-regression models are proposed to predict runoff and erosion in the experimental conditions. In the case of the prescribed burning, the fire had a limited impact on runoff and erosion compared to the unburned areas, due to the limited changes in soil parameters. In contrast, the wildfire increased many-fold the runoff and erosion rates, but the mulching reduced the hydrological response of the burned soils, particularly for the first two-three rainfalls after the fire. The increase in runoff and erosion after the wildfire was associated to the removal of the vegetation cover, soil water repellency, and ash left by fire; the changes in water infiltration played a minor role on runoff and erosion. The multi-regression models developed for the prescribed fire were accurate to predict the post-fire runoff coefficients. However, these models were less reliable for predictions of the mean erosion rates. The predictions of erosion after wildfire and mulching were excellent, while those of runoff were not satisfactory (except for the mean values). These results are useful to better understand the relations among the hydrological effects of fire on one side and the main soil properties and covers on the other side. Moreover, the proposed prediction models are useful to support the planning activities of forest managers and hydrologists towards a more effective conservation of forest soils.     

Water-repellent soil and its relationship to granularity, surface roughness and hydrophobicity: a materials science view

Considerable soil water repellency has been observed at a wide range of locations worldwide. The soil exhibiting water repellency is found within the upper part of the soil profile. The reduced rate of water infiltration into these soils leads to severe runoff erosion, and reduction of plant growth. Soil water repellency is promoted by drying of soil, and can be induced by fire or intense heating of soil containing hydrophobic organic matter. Recent studies outside soil science have shown how enhancement of the natural water repellency of materials, both porous and granular, by surface texture (i.e. surface roughness, pattern and morphology) into super‐hydrophobicity is possible. The similarities between these super‐hydrophobic materials and observed properties of water‐repellent soil are discussed from a non‐soil scientist, materials‐based perspective. A simple model is developed for a hydrophobic granular surface and it is shown that this can provide a mechanism for enhancement of soil water repellency through the relative size and spacing of grains and pores. The model provides a possible explanation for why soil water repellency should be more prevalent under dry conditions than wet. Consequences for water runoff, raindrop splash and soil erosion are discussed.     

Effects of compaction on soil surface water repellency

Water repellency can reduce the infiltration capacity of soils over timescales similar to those of precipitation events. Compaction can also reduce infiltration capacity by decreasing soil hydraulic conductivity, but the effect of compaction on soil water repellency is unknown. This study explores the effect of compaction on the wettability of water repellent soil. Three air‐dry (water content ～4 g 100 g^?1) silt loam samples of contrasting wettability (non‐repellent, strongly and severely water repellent) were homogenized and subjected to various pressures in the range 0–1570 kPa in an odeometer for 24 h. Following removal, sample surface water repellency was reassessed using the water drop penetration time method and surface roughness using white light interferometry. An increase in compaction pressure caused a significant reduction in soil surface water repellency, which in turn increases the soil's initial infiltration capacity. The difference in surface roughness of soils compacted at the lowest and highest pressures was significant (at P > 0.2) suggesting an increase in the contact area between sessile water drops and soil surfaces was providing increased opportunities for surface wetting mechanisms to proceed. This suggests that compaction of a water repellent soil may lead to an increased rate of surface wetting, which is a precursor to successful infiltration of water into bulk soil. Although there may be a reduction in soil conductivity upon compaction, the more rapid initiation of infiltration may, in some circumstances, lead to an overall increase in the proportion of rain or irrigation water infiltrating water repellent soil, rather than contributing to surface run‐off or evaporation.     

岷江上游干旱河谷旱地土壤斥水性特征初步研究

土壤斥水性是土壤颗粒不易被水滴浸润的现象,对土壤水分特征曲线、土壤溶质运移、土壤优先流、土壤导水率以及地表径流和土壤侵蚀等具有重要影响。研究结果表明,3月份岷江上游干旱河谷0-5cm土层具斥水性的土壤在空间上的分布概率约为34%,其中强度斥水性土壤分布比例为5%;在时间分布上,土壤斥水性主要表现在7月,轻度以下斥水性概率为91%,强度以上斥水性概率为58%;从各粒级土壤斥水性的研究结果来看,斥水性与土壤粒级呈显著负相关,粒级越小,土壤斥水性越高。因此,岷江上游干旱河谷旱地土壤斥水性具有明显的时空分布差异,并且粒级越小土壤斥水性越强,7月份土壤表层的土壤斥水性强度与分布比例高。这可能是导致干旱河谷严重水土流失、土壤砂砾化的一个重要原因。     

四种入渗模型对斥水土壤入渗规律的适用性

土壤斥水性影响入渗,进而影响作物产量。国外学者进行了一定的研究,但在中国研究的还很少。该文基于实测资料探讨几种常规的入渗模型在斥水土壤中的适用性。采用室内土柱进行积水入渗试验,对比了不同积水高度和斥水度条件下的土壤入渗规律,并采用4种模型分析了土壤入渗率变化特征。结果表明,累积入渗量随入渗历时的变化可用幂函数描述,不斥水土壤累积入渗量明显大于斥水土壤;累积入渗量与湿润锋推进距离呈良好的线性关系;利用Green-Ampt模型、Philip模型、Kostiakov公式和指数公式对入渗率与入渗历时间的关系进行拟合,其中Kostiakov公式更接近于实测值,其他模型拟合效果因斥水程度等因素的不同而异。     

砾石覆盖厚度对斥水土壤入渗特性的影响及模型优选

基于室内一维垂直入渗土柱试验,研究砾石覆盖厚度(0,3,6,9,12 cm)对斥水土壤积水入渗及水分再分布的影响,并利用不同入渗模型进行拟合。结果表明:砾石覆盖显著增加斥水土壤湿润锋运移距离(p<0.05);同一时段内,各处理累积入渗量皆高于对照组(p<0.05),斥水性红壤累积入渗量与砾石覆盖厚度呈正相关关系;斥水性红壤初渗率与稳渗率随砾石覆盖厚度变化均可用指数函数来描述,决定系数分别为0.91和0.87,砾石覆盖使得斥水性潮土初渗率与稳渗率增大,其中稳渗率与砾石覆盖厚度呈二次函数关系,决定系数为0.78,覆盖6 cm时稳渗率达到最大;砾石覆盖明显提高斥水土壤剖面平均含水率,斥水性红壤和潮土最大分别增长180.8%和57.6%;隔绝蒸发条件下,再分布过程斥水土壤湿润体含水率表现为停渗时刻>再分布1天>再分布3天>再分布7天;Horton模型对砾石覆盖斥水土壤入渗过程的拟合效果最好,是分析和预测砾石覆盖斥水土壤水分入渗特征的适宜模型。     

微咸水灌溉对斥水土壤水盐运移的影响

土壤斥水性影响着作物的产量,为了研究微咸水灌溉对斥水土壤水盐运移的影响,进行了室内土柱微咸水入渗试验。对比了不同矿化度和斥水程度对两种土质水盐运移的影响,探讨了微咸水入渗后土壤斥水性的变化特征。结果表明,不斥水土壤的入渗能力随矿化度的增加而增加。亲水和斥水土壤的入渗率均可采用Kostiakov公式简单模拟。斥水土壤入渗能力在矿化度为1?g/L时达到最大,超过1?g/L后则随矿化度的增大而减小。微咸水入渗的累积入渗量与湿润锋推进距离呈良好的线性关系,斥水性土壤中的相同剖面水盐的含量比不斥水的减小。微咸水入渗后土壤产生了一定的斥水性。该研究表明微咸水灌溉对盐渍化土壤的水盐分布和斥水性均有一定程度的影响。     

Occurrence, prediction and hydrological effects of water repellency amongst major soil and land-use types in a humid temperate climate

Knowledge of soil water repellency distribution, of factors affecting its occurrence and of its hydrological effects stems primarily from regions with a distinct dry season, whereas comparatively little is known about its occurrence in humid temperate regions such as typified by the UK. To address this research gap, we have examined: (i) water repellency persistence (determined by the water drop penetration time method, WDPT) and degree (determined by the critical surface tension method, CST) for soil samples (0–5, 10–15 and 20–25 cm depth) taken from 41 common soil and land‐use types in the humid temperate climate of the UK; (ii) the supposed relationship of soil moisture, textural composition and organic matter content with sample repellency; and (iii) the bulk wetting behaviour of undisturbed surface core samples (0–5 cm depth) over a period of up to 1 week. Repellency was found in surface samples of all major soil textural types amongst most permanently vegetated sites, whereas tilled sites were virtually unaffected. Repellency levels reached those of the most severely affected areas elsewhere in the world, decreased in persistence and degree with depth and showed no consistent relationship with soil textural characteristics, organic matter or soil moisture contents, except that above a water content of c. 28% by volume, repellency was absent. Wetting rate assessments of 100 cm³ intact soil cores using continuous water contact (–20 mm pressure head) over a period of up to 7 days showed that across the whole sample range and irrespective of texture, severe to extreme repellency persistence consistently reduced the maximum water content at any given time to well below that of wettable soils. For slightly to moderately repellent soils the results were more variable and thus hydrological effects of such repellency levels are more difficult to predict. The results imply that: (i) repellency is common for many land‐use types with permanent vegetation cover in humid temperate climates irrespective of soil texture; (ii) supposedly influential parameters (texture, organic matter, specific water content) are poor general predictors of water repellency, whereas land use and the moisture content below which repellency can occur seem more reliable; and (iii) infiltration and water storage capacity of very repellent soils are considerably less than for comparable wettable soils.     

The effect of addition of a wettable biochar on soil water repellency

The potential of biochar to ameliorate soil water repellency has not been widely studied. Previous studies have focused on the potential for biochar to induce or exacerbate existing water repellency rather than alleviate it. This study investigates the effect of adding wettable biochar to water‐repellent soil by comparing the water drop penetration times (WDPTs) of a control and biochar‐amended soil. The potential of wettable biochar to act as a physical amendment to water‐repellent soil was evaluated by mixing coarsely‐ground biochar (CGB, particle size range 250–2000 µm) or finely‐ground biochar (FGB, particle size range < 250 µm) with one strongly and one severely naturally water‐repellent soil in various quantities, and then measuring the WDPT for each mixture. When biochar particles did not fall within the size range of existing soil particles, an initial increase in both mean WDPT (WDPT_M) and variation in WDPT was observed with small additions of biochar. These effects possibly result from increased surface roughness and inhibition of infiltration by the suspension of drops above the average soil–air interface at a few hydrophobic points. Both CGB and FGB reduced soil water repellency, FGB more effectively than CGB. The addition of 10% w/w FGB reduced soil WDPT by 50%, and 25% FGB eliminated repellency. Direct absorption of water by biochar and an increase in soil surface area in contact with water are the predominant physical mechanisms involved. This exploratory study suggests biochar has the potential to amend water‐repellent soil.     

Analysis of the effects of soil management on runoff generation in olive orchards using a physically based model.

Abstract. A numerical model that incorporates the spatial variability of infiltration, surface storage and resistance to overland flow was developed, calibrated and validated for olive orchards. The model reproduced accurately amounts of runoff used in validation, and predicted runoff in olive orchards managed in different ways, in line with published results. The model was used to analyse the runoff generation in a virtual, 180 m length, 5% steep, olive grove, using 54 different scenarios which combined three different soil types, two tree canopy sizes and nine soil management techniques (four tillage scenarios: freshly or degraded tillage with and without a compacted plough layer; no-till, and four cover crops in strips differing in width and plant density). The results of the numerical experiment showed that no-till had the highest runoff coefficient, while a dense cover crop had the lowest. Recently tilled soils also exhibited some of the lowest runoff coefficients. The effects of increasing soil cover due to a greater tree canopy on runoff were significant and caused by the greater area of high infiltration beneath the canopy. Effects of tree canopy size were less important than the impact of soil management practices on runoff.     

Immediate effects of wildfires on water repellency and aggregate stability in Mediterranean calcareous soils

Alkaline soils are considered much less prone to developing water repellency induced by fire than acidic soils. Here we report on the persistence of water repellency present in calcareous soils immediately after wildfires in 10 burned areas in SE Spain, its distribution in different aggregate size fractions (< 2, 2–1, 1–0.5, 0.5–0.25 and < 0.25 mm) and on results from aggregate stability tests. We also distinguished between soil samples taken beneath pine (Pinus halepensis) and beneath understory vegetation.     

Effect of subcritical hydrophobicity in a sandy soil on water infiltration and mobile water content

Recent research shows that most soils are more or less water repellent. Already subcritical water repellency may cause incomplete soil wetting and preferential flow. Both processes potentially reduce the residence time of water and solutes in the vadose zone, resulting in an enhanced risk of groundwater contamination. The objective of the present paper is, therefore, to evaluate the impact of reduced soil wettability on the soil water infiltration rate and to investigate the tendency towards preferential flow with the analysis of the immobile water content in the infiltration zone. In november 2002, a field experiment was done in a coniferous forest, 30 km N of Hannover, Germany. Soil hydrophobicity was quantified by measuring the contact angles. The hydraulic conductivity of the podsolic sandy soil was measured depth‐dependent with a double‐ring tension infiltrometer in three soil horizons. To quantify possible preferential‐flow effects, a LiBr‐Tracer was added to the infiltrating water to evaluate the mobile water‐content fraction after infiltration. Additionally, infiltration rates of water were compared with infiltration rates of ethanol which were determined after water infiltration at the same locations. Results show that the actual water repellency of field‐moist soil was mainly subcritical (contact angle <90°). Water infiltration rates were reduced due to subcritical repellency by a factor of 3–170 compared with ethanol infiltration rates (exclusion of wetting effects). This spatially variable infiltration behavior was not clearly reflected neither by the small‐scale contact‐angle measurements nor by the analysis of the average immobile soil water content in the infiltration zone. We conclude that this specific infiltration behavior of water caused by small‐scale wettability effects may temporarily reduce the local connectivity of water‐flow pathways.     

Evolution of overland flow after a severe forest fire,Point Reyes,California

Forest fires on granitic soils often increase overland flow and erosion. Runoff generation was monitored on a small hillslope plot on Mt. Vision near Point Reyes Peninsula, California, after it had been burned by a wildfire on October 3, 1995. After the fire, the ground surface was covered with up to 2 cm of ash, which overlaid a 5–20 cm thick hydrophobic (water repellent) soil layer. We used nine recording tensiometers to monitor soil-water potentials during infiltration and runoff. Surface-runoff rates were determined by diverting the flow into a collection tank. The subsurface flow through the upper 6 cm of soil was collected and measured in a second tank. The surface runoff was diverted to a tank in order to record its rate. The initial intense rainfall infiltrated into the base of the ash-bed; here, the hydrophobicity limited deeper penetration and led to both subsurface and shallow saturation overland flow. The preferential flow paths through the ash layer contributed to deeper water penetration. As the ash was eroded and consolidated with successive rainstorms, the preferential flow paths clogged, the infiltration capacity reduced, thus preventing the storage of shallow permeable soil; therefore, the runoff generation changed to Hortonian overland flow. Correspondingly, the runoff ratio increased from approximately 0.2 during the early storms to 0.8 during intense rain bursts. These results suggest that runoff mechanisms evolve simultaneously with the eroding soil surface.     

斥水土壤中水热运动模型的应用

作者运用所建立的斥水土壤中水热运动的数值模型，模拟分析了以下因素对沟中时苗床不分散失与温度的影响：（１）不同的沟垄尺寸；（２）湿润剂；（３）镇压；（４）沟垄的走向。以此为当地的耕种工程设计提供了依据。一般认为土壤斥性严重影响产量，但采用沟种后，表层的斥水土壤形成的不透不的垄能促进雨水渗入沟中，又能阻止水分的蒸发，降低沟中的温度，有利于种子发育出苗，从而使不利因素变化成有利条件。     

斥水程度对脱水土壤水分特征曲线的影响

为研究斥水程度对土壤水分特征曲线的影响,该文基于滴水穿透时间法,人工配置7种斥水程度的黏壤土(L0~L6)和6种斥水程度的砂土(S0~S5),用高速离心机测定其土壤水分特征曲线,应用van Genuchten-Mualem(VG)模型进行拟合,得出VG模型水力参数。结果表明:在同一吸力条件下,斥水黏壤土的含水率比斥水砂土的高;随着斥水程度增加,在相同吸力情况下,土壤含水率随斥水程度增大而减小;斥水黏壤土的残余含水率随着斥水程度增加而减小,斥水砂土S0~S3的残余含水率没有差异,S4、S5的残余含水率显著减小;斥水黏壤土和砂土进气值的对数与斥水剂添加量呈负线性相关;随着斥水程度增加,田间持水率减小,凋萎系数没有明显差异,重力水增加,有效水和易有效水减小,易利用水比例随着斥水程度增加而减小;对于斥水黏壤土,微孔隙(0.3~5μm)和小孔隙(5~30μm)含量随着斥水程度的增加明显减小,土壤空隙(≥100μm)随着斥水程度的增加急剧增加;对于斥水砂土,中等孔隙(30~75μm)的含量随斥水程度的增加明显增加。该研究成果可为斥水土壤的入渗、蒸发和数值模拟提供理论支持。     

Modeling soil erosion on steep sagebrush rangeland before and after prescribed fire

Fire in sagebrush rangelands significantly alters canopy cover, ground cover, and soil properties which influence runoff and erosion processes. Runoff can be generated more quickly and in larger volume following fire resulting in increased risk of severe erosion and downstream flooding. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model was developed to predict erosion on cropland, forest, and rangeland. WEPP is a tool that has potential to model the effect of fire on hillslope hydrological processes and help managers address erosion and runoff risks following fire. Experimental results on a steep (35 to 50% slope) sagebrush site suggest that rill erosion is the dominant erosion process following fire and the WEPP parameterization equations related to the rill erosion process need improvements. Rill detachment estimates could be improved by modifying regression-estimated values of rill erodibility. Also, the interactions of rill width and surface roughness on soil shear stress estimates may also need to be modified. In this paper we report the effects of prescribed fire on runoff, soil erosion, and rill hydraulics and compare WEPP estimated erosion for several modeling options with measured erosion.     

Effect of fire severity on water repellency and aggregate stability on Mexican volcanic soils

A field study was conducted in order to study the effects of different wildfire severities on [1] soil organic matter content, [2] soil water repellency, and [3] aggregate stability; [4] the distribution of soil water repellency in aggregate sieve fractions (1–2, 0.5–1, 0.25–0.5 and < 0.25 mm) was also studied. Five similar burned sites and two long-unburned control sites were selected under mixed fir and pine forests in volcanic highlands from Michoacán, Mexico. Soil water repellency was observed in soil samples from all sites, although changes were influenced by fire severity. Sites affected by low severity fires did not show important changes in burned soils in comparison with controls, while high severity fires caused different responses: water repellency was increased or destroyed probably due to temperatures below or above 200–250 °C during burning. The degree of wettability/repellency from the fine earth fraction of burned soils seems to be conditioned by < 0.5 mm aggregates, more than coarser aggregates which always showed a higher degree of wettability. It is suggested that destruction of organic matter during burning occurs principally in coarse aggregates, where combustion can be more intense. Aggregate stability (measured using pre-wetted aggregates between 4 and 4.8 mm) did not change under low severity burning but it was considerably reduced in the case of a high fire severity. Losses of organic matter and destruction of water repellency seem to be the reasons for that reduction in this type of soil in contrast to previous studies, where aggregate stability increased after burning. Changes in both properties (water repellency and aggregate stability) are expected to induce modifications in runoff and soil loss rates at the hillslope scale.     

Influence of different plant species on water repellency in Mediterranean heathland soils

It is established that soil hydrophobicity reduces soil infiltration rates, and enhances runoff flow and soil erosion. Water repellency has been studied with special interest in coniferous and eucalyptus forests, particularly after burning, but the number of studies concerning Mediterranean heathlands is still very low. In this paper, we study the occurrence and persistence of water repellency in soil samples collected under different plant species susceptible to induce soil hydrophobicity (Erica arborea, Erica australis, Calluna vulgaris, Quercus lusitanica and Rhododendron ponticum) in a natural protected area in southern Spain. Great attention has been paid to the relationships between soil water repellency and environmental factors as organic matter content and soil acidity. The largest hydrophobicity was measured in soil samples collected under E. australis, E. arborea and C. vulgaris. For these species, the organic matter content and pH showed positive and negative correlations with the persistence of water repellency, respectively. The hydrophobicity originated by humic substances in the soil seems to be the only explanation for slight soil water repellency under Q. lusitanica or R. ponticum. The patchy patterns of occurrence and persistence of soil water repellency is governed by the spatial distribution of the studied species and modulated by other factors. Soil surface water repellent layers reduce the infiltration rates and limit the water storage capacity. However, the macropore flow can be enhanced on non-repellent layers, cracks or roots such us the wetting's front shown. The vegetation effects on soil hydrology should be considered for afforestation works and flooding control.     

Prescribed burning effects on soil physical properties and soil water repellency in a steep chaparral watershed, southern California, USA

Chaparral watersheds associated with Mediterranean-type climate are distributed over five regions of the world. Because brushland soils are often shallow with low water holding capacities, and are on slopes prone to erosion, disturbances such as fire can adversely affect their physical properties. Fire can also increase the spatial coverage of soil water repellency, reducing infiltration, and, in turn, increasing overland flow and subsequent erosion. We studied the impacts of fire on soil properties by collecting data before and after a prescribed burn conducted during Spring 2001 on the San Dimas Experimental Forest, southern California. The fire removed the litter layer and destroyed the weak surface soil structure; leaving a thin band of ash and char on top of, and mixed in with, an unstable, granular soil of loose consistency. Median litter thickness and clay content were significantly decreased after fire while soil bulk density increased. At 7 d post-fire, soil surface repellency in the watershed was significantly higher than prior to the burn. At 76 d post-fire, surface soil water repellency was returning to near pre-fire values. At the 2 and 4 cm depths, 7 d post-fire soil repellency was also significantly higher than pre-fire, however, conditions at 76 d post-fire were similar to pre-fire values. Variability in soil water repellency between replicates within a given 15 × 15 cm site was as large as the variability seen between sites over the 1.28 ha watershed. The increase in post-fire persistence of water repellency was largest beneath ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius) as compared to a small increase beneath chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum). However, pre-fire persistence was higher under chamise than for ceanothus. Post-fire changes to soil properties may increase the watershed hydrologic response, however the mosaic distribution of water repellency may lead to a less severe increase in hydrologic response than might be expected for a spatially more homogenous increase in repellency.     

Thermal destruction of soil water repellency and associated changes to soil organic matter as observed by FTIR spectroscopy

The heat generated during wildfires often leads to increases in soil water repellency. Above a critical heating threshold, however, its destruction occurs. Although the temperature thresholds for repellency destruction are relatively well established, little is known about the specific changes in the soil organic matter that are responsible for repellency destruction. Here we report on the analysis of initially water repellent surface soil samples (Dystric Cambisol, 0–5 cm depth) by transmission Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis before and after destruction of its water repellency by heating to 225 °C in order to investigate heating-induced changes in soil organic matter (SOM) composition. Although assignment of absorption bands is made difficult by overlapping of some bands, it was possible to distinguish bands relevant for hydrophobicity of SOM in the soil before heat treatment. The most significant decrease in absorbance following water repellency destruction took place in the frequency area corresponding to stretching vibrations of aliphatic structures within SOM. The results suggest that besides a general decrease of SOM content during heating, the loss of soil water repellence is primarily caused by the selective degradation of aliphatic structures.