Dissertationen aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut · 2009
Studies on factors affecting the infiltration capacity of agricultural soils
Alhassoun, R.
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Studies on factors affecting the infiltration capacity of ag…
Abstract
Water flooding induced by heavy rainfalls or river floods can harm agricultural soils. In particular, it leads to soil erosion and thus soil losses by high rates of surface runoff. Therefore, mitigation of the negative effects of flooding on soils is strongly needed. In this context, the soil infiltration capacity was considered as an important parameter to decrease the surface runoff by increasing the water infiltration into the soil, and thus enhance the soil protection against water erosion. The main aim of the present work was to identify the most important factors influencing the infiltration capacity of agricultural soils as a fundamental method for soil protection against early flooding. The effects of different land use and farming management systems on the water infiltration rates of soils were investigated at three experimental sites, in Braunschweig, Trenthorst and Mariensee. The results of the study revealed that the infiltration rate was strongly influenced by the land use systems. The highest infiltration rate was in the forest followed by grassland and the lowest was measured in arable land. In addition, it was found that the soil infiltration rate was considerably affected by the agricultural management practices. Organic farming supported higher earthworm populations resulting in high numbers of biopores, which significantly contributed to increased water infiltration rates. Conservation and reduced tillage systems produced larger numbers of earthworms, in particular the deep dwelling worms” anecic”, resulting in higher numbers of macropores with high continuity and connectivity which have an important role for the enhancement of water infiltration rates into the soil profile. Organic fertilization resulted in improved soil properties, which in turn positively affected the infiltration rate. Besides, the study revealed that the higher infiltration rates were a consequence of improved soil properties, which can provide a high protection for soils against degradation or erosion. Therefore, the infiltration rate can reflect the level of soil protection. Thus, the study deduced that the infiltration rate could be used as an indicator of soil protection.
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Water flooding induced by heavy rainfalls or river floods can harm agricultural soils. In particular, it leads to soil erosion and thus soil losses by high rates of surface runoff. Therefore, mitigation of the negative effects of flooding on soils is strongly needed. In this context, the soil infiltration capacity was considered as an important parameter to decrease the surface runoff by increasing the water infiltration into the soil, and thus enhance the soil protection against water erosion. The main aim of the present work was to identify the most important factors influencing the infiltration capacity of agricultural soils as a fundamental method for soil protection against early flooding. The effects of different land use and farming management systems on the water infiltration rates of soils were investigated at three experimental sites, in Braunschweig, Trenthorst and Mariensee. The results of the study revealed that the infiltration rate was strongly influenced by the land use systems. The highest infiltration rate was in the forest followed by grassland and the lowest was measured in arable land. In addition, it was found that the soil infiltration rate was considerably affected by the agricultural management practices. Organic farming supported higher earthworm populations resulting in high numbers of biopores, which significantly contributed to increased water infiltration rates. Conservation and reduced tillage systems produced larger numbers of earthworms, in particular the deep dwelling worms” anecic”, resulting in higher numbers of macropores with high continuity and connectivity which have an important role for the enhancement of water infiltration rates into the soil profile. Organic fertilization resulted in improved soil properties, which in turn positively affected the infiltration rate. Besides, the study revealed that the higher infiltration rates were a consequence of improved soil properties, which can provide a high protection for soils against degradation or erosion. Therefore, the infiltration rate can reflect the level of soil protection. Thus, the study deduced that the infiltration rate could be used as an indicator of soil protection.
Water flooding induced by heavy rainfalls or river floods can harm agricultural soils. In particular, it leads to soil erosion and thus soil losses by high rates of surface runoff. Therefore, mitigation of the negative effects of flooding on soils is strongly needed. In this context, the soil infiltration capacity was considered as an important parameter to decrease the surface runoff by increasing the water infiltration into the soil, and thus enhance the soil protection against water erosion. The main aim of the present work was to identify the most important factors influencing the infiltration capacity of agricultural soils as a fundamental method for soil protection against early flooding. The effects of different land use and farming management systems on the water infiltration rates of soils were investigated at three experimental sites, in Braunschweig, Trenthorst and Mariensee. The results of the study revealed that the infiltration rate was strongly influenced by the land use systems. The highest infiltration rate was in the forest followed by grassland and the lowest was measured in arable land. In addition, it was found that the soil infiltration rate was considerably affected by the agricultural management practices. Organic farming supported higher earthworm populations resulting in high numbers of biopores, which significantly contributed to increased water infiltration rates. Conservation and reduced tillage systems produced larger numbers of earthworms, in particular the deep dwelling worms” anecic”, resulting in higher numbers of macropores with high continuity and connectivity which have an important role for the enhancement of water infiltration rates into the soil profile. Organic fertilization resulted in improved soil properties, which in turn positively affected the infiltration rate. Besides, the study revealed that the higher infiltration rates were a consequence of improved soil properties, which can provide a high protection for soils against degradation or erosion. Therefore, the infiltration rate can reflect the level of soil protection. Thus, the study deduced that the infiltration rate could be used as an indicator of soil protection.