Effects of rainwater harvesting pits on soil moisture in Czech temperate forests

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

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Výsledek na webu

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DOI - Digital Object Identifier

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Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Effects of rainwater harvesting pits on soil moisture in Czech temperate forests

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

In temperate climates, efficient use of rainwater is becoming an increasingly important tool for maintaining soil moisture in sustainably managed forests. Here, we describe the use of rainwater harvesting pits to concentrate rainwater infiltration into deeper layers to maintain soil moisture at suitable levels in beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. In spring 2022, two 6.5 m3 test pits were established alongside forest roads at two test localities, the first a &quot;dry&quot; locality, characterised by low soil moisture, spatial homogeneity and Cambisols, and the second a &quot;wet&quot; locality, characterised by increased heterogeneity, with hydromorphic Stagnosols and Gleysols dominating. In each case, one pit was located near a pipe culvert and the second at a site with no centralised inflow. In addition, soil moisture was assessed in the same stand, away from the test pits, as a control. Soil moisture was monitored at depths of 10, 30 and 60 cm, 1 m from the pit edge, on the left, right and downslope sides. Here, we present preliminary results (7/2022 - 12/2023) showing the soil hydrological response to pit installation at the two localities. Early results indicate that i) the pits show unexpectedly low efficiency in retaining rainwater in the soil; ii) in winter, soil moisture around the pits increased to soil-water retention capacity more rapidly than at the control site; iii) despite this, soil drying was similar between pits and the control site over the 2023 growing season; and iv) both test pits showed less soil moisture variability during rainfall events than the control site, most likely due to a reduction in preferential pathways in soil around the pits. Despite the range of natural hydric conditions tested at the localities (wet/dry), the rainwater harvesting pits appear not to have fulfilled their expected potential for supporting the soil hydric regime. Nevertheless, soil moisture monitoring will continue at both localities to assess any long-term effects on soil hydrology.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Effects of rainwater harvesting pits on soil moisture in Czech temperate forests

Popis výsledku anglicky

In temperate climates, efficient use of rainwater is becoming an increasingly important tool for maintaining soil moisture in sustainably managed forests. Here, we describe the use of rainwater harvesting pits to concentrate rainwater infiltration into deeper layers to maintain soil moisture at suitable levels in beech (Fagus sylvatica) forests. In spring 2022, two 6.5 m3 test pits were established alongside forest roads at two test localities, the first a &quot;dry&quot; locality, characterised by low soil moisture, spatial homogeneity and Cambisols, and the second a &quot;wet&quot; locality, characterised by increased heterogeneity, with hydromorphic Stagnosols and Gleysols dominating. In each case, one pit was located near a pipe culvert and the second at a site with no centralised inflow. In addition, soil moisture was assessed in the same stand, away from the test pits, as a control. Soil moisture was monitored at depths of 10, 30 and 60 cm, 1 m from the pit edge, on the left, right and downslope sides. Here, we present preliminary results (7/2022 - 12/2023) showing the soil hydrological response to pit installation at the two localities. Early results indicate that i) the pits show unexpectedly low efficiency in retaining rainwater in the soil; ii) in winter, soil moisture around the pits increased to soil-water retention capacity more rapidly than at the control site; iii) despite this, soil drying was similar between pits and the control site over the 2023 growing season; and iv) both test pits showed less soil moisture variability during rainfall events than the control site, most likely due to a reduction in preferential pathways in soil around the pits. Despite the range of natural hydric conditions tested at the localities (wet/dry), the rainwater harvesting pits appear not to have fulfilled their expected potential for supporting the soil hydric regime. Nevertheless, soil moisture monitoring will continue at both localities to assess any long-term effects on soil hydrology.

Druh

O - Ostatní výsledky

CEP obor

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OECD FORD obor

40104 - Soil science

Projekt

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Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2024

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů