Simulation Modeling and Practical Use of the Hydrological Function of Detritus in Soil-Engineering Technologies

• Published in: Moscow University soil science bulletin Vol. 78; no. 4; pp. 396 - 409
• Main Authors: Smagin, A. V., Sadovnikova, N. B., Belyaeva, E. A., Korchagina, K. V., Krivtsova, V. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon sequestration; Detritus; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Evaporation; Field tests; Historical Geology; Hydrology; Modelling; Moisture content; Paleontology; Peat; Plant growth; Retention; Retention capacity; Soil layers; Soil profiles; Soil properties; Soil structure; Soil water; Water balance; Water consumption; Water exchange; phytoproductivity; capillary barriers; water accumulation; soil constructions; water-retention curves; peat; root water consumption water balance; Forest litter
• DOI: 10.3103/S0147687423040075
• EISSN: 1934-7928
• ISSN: 0147-6874

High water retention and water capacity of detritus determine its potential hydrological significance in the formation of the water regime of soils and phytoproductivity of forest landscapes. Using computer modeling of water exchange in the soil–plant–atmosphere HYDRUS-1D system, we preliminarily studied the hydrological function of detritus of retention of precipitation water and of root water consumption at different amounts and variants of the arrangement of detritus layers in the soil profile. The soil structures designed on the basis of this information for sustainable afforestation with increased carbon sequestration in field experiments with water balance monitoring demonstrated high efficiency in optimizing soil water retention capacity and water consumption by roots of the test crop (
Picea pungens
Engelm.) with a two- to threefold reduction in unproductive water losses and a 1.5-to 2-fold increase in the current plant growth relative to untreated control. The physical mechanism of the detritus hydrological function consists in the formation of capillary barriers, blocking evaporation and capillary resorption of soil water due to accumulation at the surface (forest litter) or in layers inside the soil (peat layers in constructozems).