Journal article

Publication year: 2004

Pages: 1191-1196

Journal: Soil Science Society of America Journal

Volume number: 68

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0361-5995

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.1191

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
To identify the most suitable technique for measuring solute leaching in a sandy soil, we compared three methods in an irrigation experiment (irrigation rates: 5 and 2.4 mm h(-1)) using Cl- as a tracer. We tested tensiometer-controlled suction plates, wick samplers, and ion-exchange resin boxes installed between fiberglass pads. Ten samplers of each type were installed at a 52-cm depth (suction plates) or a 60-cm depth (wick and resin box samplers) into soil monoliths. The recovery of water and Cl- by the suction plates varied little with irrigation rate (107-118%). The wick samplers performed well during 5 nun h(-1) irrigation (Cl- recovery: 111%; water recovery: 103%). However, at the irrigation rate of 2.4 mm h(-1), the water recovery was significantly lower (70%), probably because the soil suction exceeded the maximum capillary force of the wicks. The wicks did not induce a retardation or additional dispersion of Cl- compared with suction plates. The recovery of Cl- by the resin boxes was only 6%. Tensiometer-controlled suction plates allowed an overall satisfactory estimation of water and solute fluxes in the sandy soil.

Harvard Citation style: Siemens, J. and Kaupenjohann, M. (2004) Comparison of three methods for field measurement of solute leaching in a sandy soil, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 68(4), pp. 1191-1196. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.1191

APA Citation style: Siemens, J., & Kaupenjohann, M. (2004). Comparison of three methods for field measurement of solute leaching in a sandy soil. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 68(4), 1191-1196. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.1191