Soil water retention curve of agrogray soils: Influence of anisotropy and the scaling factor

摘要

The soil water characteristic or soil water retention curve (WRC) of medium-loamy gray forest soil horizons was studied in cylinder-shaped samples of disturbed and undisturbed structure. The sample height varied within 2-4 cm and the diameter within 4.5-10 cm. The soil monoliths were sampled in three profiles: vertically, along the slope, and across the slope in accordance with the intrasoil paleorelief formed by the funnel-shaped surface of the second humus horizon. The experimental WRC were approximated with the van Genuchten equation. The statistical analysis of the WRc approximation parameters proved to differ significantly in filled soil samples and monoliths, and a number of parameters differ for samples of the maximal height and diameter. The reliable differences of the parameters were also noted for the different sampling directions, most often, for those across the paleorelief slope. The noted variation in the WRC approximation parameters may substantially influence the predictive estimation of the spring water reserve for example. This fact suggests the necessity to strictly indicate the sampling procedure, in particular, with respect to the soil profile, the asymmetry in the soil properties, and the sample sizes (scaling factor) used for analyzing the hydrological properties of structured soils.