Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China
Soil physicochemical properties and macropore spatial structure affect saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>). However, due to regional differences and long measurement time, <i>Ks</i> is tedious to quantify. Therefore, it is of great importance to find simplified but r...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1097 |
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| author | Di Wang Jianzhi Niu Yubo Miao Tao Yang Ronny Berndtsson |
| author_facet | Di Wang Jianzhi Niu Yubo Miao Tao Yang Ronny Berndtsson |
| author_sort | Di Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soil physicochemical properties and macropore spatial structure affect saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>). However, due to regional differences and long measurement time, <i>Ks</i> is tedious to quantify. Therefore, it is of great importance to find simplified but robust methods to predict <i>Ks.</i> One possibility is to use pedo-transfer functions (PTFs). Along this line, stratified sampling was carried out in six typical forestlands in the rocky mountain area of Northern China. Penetration experiments and industrial CT scanning were combined to explore the distribution characteristics of regional <i>Ks</i> and its influencing factors. Based on this, we compared three <i>Ks</i> PTF models by multiple linear regression for <i>Ks</i> prediction. The results indicated that: (1) <i>Ks</i> decreased with increasing soil depth, which followed the order coniferous forest < broad-leaved forest < mixed forest, and the change range of mixed forest was greater than that of homogeneous forest. (2) Soil bulk density, water content, sand, silt, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium were significantly correlated with <i>Ks</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, stand type and soil depth had a certain impact on soil physicochemical properties that affected <i>Ks</i>. (3) Soil macropore structure, such as number density, length density, surface area density, and volume density, all decreased with increasing soil depth. They were all significantly positively correlated with <i>Ks</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.001). (4) The best predictability and universality for PTFs was achieved for PTFs containing bulk density, organic matter content, and total phosphorus. Only PTFs containing parameters of macropore spatial structure did not yield high predictability of <i>Ks</i>. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of forest hydrological infiltration processes in rocky mountain forests in Northern China, and provide theoretical support for the prediction and management of water loss and soil erosion and the enhancement of water conservation functions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:27:09Z |
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| id | doaj.art-19cea892679342c981f376541094cc97 |
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| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:27:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-19cea892679342c981f376541094cc972023-11-18T10:26:20ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072023-05-01146109710.3390/f14061097Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern ChinaDi Wang0Jianzhi Niu1Yubo Miao2Tao Yang3Ronny Berndtsson4School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaSchool of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, ChinaDepartment of Water Resources Engineering, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, SwedenSoil physicochemical properties and macropore spatial structure affect saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>). However, due to regional differences and long measurement time, <i>Ks</i> is tedious to quantify. Therefore, it is of great importance to find simplified but robust methods to predict <i>Ks.</i> One possibility is to use pedo-transfer functions (PTFs). Along this line, stratified sampling was carried out in six typical forestlands in the rocky mountain area of Northern China. Penetration experiments and industrial CT scanning were combined to explore the distribution characteristics of regional <i>Ks</i> and its influencing factors. Based on this, we compared three <i>Ks</i> PTF models by multiple linear regression for <i>Ks</i> prediction. The results indicated that: (1) <i>Ks</i> decreased with increasing soil depth, which followed the order coniferous forest < broad-leaved forest < mixed forest, and the change range of mixed forest was greater than that of homogeneous forest. (2) Soil bulk density, water content, sand, silt, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total potassium were significantly correlated with <i>Ks</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, stand type and soil depth had a certain impact on soil physicochemical properties that affected <i>Ks</i>. (3) Soil macropore structure, such as number density, length density, surface area density, and volume density, all decreased with increasing soil depth. They were all significantly positively correlated with <i>Ks</i> (<i>p</i> < 0.001). (4) The best predictability and universality for PTFs was achieved for PTFs containing bulk density, organic matter content, and total phosphorus. Only PTFs containing parameters of macropore spatial structure did not yield high predictability of <i>Ks</i>. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of forest hydrological infiltration processes in rocky mountain forests in Northern China, and provide theoretical support for the prediction and management of water loss and soil erosion and the enhancement of water conservation functions.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1097soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>)pedo-transfer functions (PTFs)soil macropore parameterssoil physicochemical propertiesindustrial CT scanning technology |
| spellingShingle | Di Wang Jianzhi Niu Yubo Miao Tao Yang Ronny Berndtsson Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China Forests soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>) pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) soil macropore parameters soil physicochemical properties industrial CT scanning technology |
| title | Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China |
| title_full | Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China |
| title_fullStr | Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China |
| title_short | Predicting Soil Saturated Water Conductivity Using Pedo-Transfer Functions for Rocky Mountain Forests in Northern China |
| title_sort | predicting soil saturated water conductivity using pedo transfer functions for rocky mountain forests in northern china |
| topic | soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (<i>Ks</i>) pedo-transfer functions (PTFs) soil macropore parameters soil physicochemical properties industrial CT scanning technology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/6/1097 |
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