Soil-Plant-Water Relationships

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 May 2018) | Viewed by 25621

Special Issue Editors

Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
Interests: soil physics; water-repellent soils; plant soil-water interaction; flow and transport in soil; urban hydrology
The College of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang A&F University, Zhejiang, China
Interests: plant water relations; desert ecology; plant ecology in arid zones; water and carbon fluxes; eco-hydrology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleauges,

Water plays a central role in plant biology and the efficiency of water transport throughout the soil–plant continuum affects photosynthetic rate, growth and the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. Knowledge and understanding of soil–water–plant relationships are essential for determining keeping food production, quantity, quality and nutritiousky wise for the continously increase population and the state of global environment under world increasing population and global climate change. Water transport within the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum, is, by its very nature, an interdisciplinary topic, given that aspects of the pathway involve fundamental processes at the interfaces of physics, biochemistry, meteorology and physiology. This Special Issue aims at covering different aspects of soil–plant–relationships, such as: Water transport in the plant, soil water dynamics and uptake by roots, effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on water use efficiency (WUE), isohydric to anisohydric regulation of plant water status, water-plant relationships at different climates (arid to temperate), effect of irrigation method and scheduling on plant's WUE.

Prof. Rony Wallach
Prof. Yan Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Water flow in soil-plant continum
  • isohydric–aniohydric plants
  • plant water use efficiency and crop production
  • root water uptake dynamics
  • irrigation efficiency

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3362 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of the Vertical Movement of Water in a Flooded Paddy Rice Field Experiment Using Hydrus-1D
by Abdikani Abdullahi Mo’allim, Md Rowshon Kamal, Hadi Hamaaziz Muhammed, Nasehir Khan E. M. Yahaya, Mohamed Azwan b. Mohamed Zawawe, Hasfalina Bt. Che Man and Aimrun Wayayok
Water 2018, 10(6), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10060783 - 14 Jun 2018
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4985
Abstract
A quantitative estimation of the major components of the field water balance provides management decisions on how the scheme ought to be operated to ensure better distribution of irrigation water and increased delivery performance. Therefore, in this study, the water balance component in [...] Read more.
A quantitative estimation of the major components of the field water balance provides management decisions on how the scheme ought to be operated to ensure better distribution of irrigation water and increased delivery performance. Therefore, in this study, the water balance component in transplanted and broadcasted rice fields with conventional irrigation (flooding irrigation) in the Tanjung Karang Rice Irrigation Scheme (TAKRIS), Sawah Sempadan were observed and then modeled using Hydrus-1D numerical model during two consecutive rice growing seasons. During the off-season, irrigation water accounted for 59.6% of the total water input (irrigation + rainfall), but about 76.2% of total water input during the main season. During the main season, rainfall water only contributed to 23.8% of total water input and 40.4% during the off-season. Drainage water accounted for 37.3% of the total water input during the off-season and 43.7% during the main season, respectively, which was the main path of water losses from conventional rice fields, which indicates that maintaining a high water level and huge rainfall events during both seasons increased drainage water. Simulated ET during the off-season and the main season accounted for 38.1% and 49.5% of the total water input, respectively. Observed and simulated water percolation revealed about 17.1% to 19.2% of total water input during both seasons, respectively. Additionally, the water productivities analyzed from total water input and irrigation water were 0.43 and 0.72 kg m−3 during the off-season and 0.60 and 0.78 kg m−3 during the main season, respectively. The water productivity index evaluated from observed and modeled evapotranspiration was 1.03 and 1.13 kg m−3 during the off-season and 0.98 and 0.94 kg m−3 during the main season, respectively. The overall results revealed that Hydrus-1D simulations were a reasonable and effective tool for simulating vertical water flow in both broadcasted and transplanted rice experimental fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant-Water Relationships )
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15 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
Hydrological Behavior of Peat- and Coir-Based Substrates and Their Effect on Begonia Growth
by Paraskevi Londra, Angeliki Paraskevopoulou and Maria Psychogiou
Water 2018, 10(6), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10060722 - 02 Jun 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4861
Abstract
The physical–hydraulic properties of eight substrate mixtures based on sphagnum peat and coir were determined and their effect on the growth of Begonia xelatior was studied. The particle size distribution, water retention curve, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and pore size distribution of the [...] Read more.
The physical–hydraulic properties of eight substrate mixtures based on sphagnum peat and coir were determined and their effect on the growth of Begonia xelatior was studied. The particle size distribution, water retention curve, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and pore size distribution of the substrates were determined. All substrates exhibited high total porosity, satisfactory water retention capacity, and high saturated hydraulic conductivity. Increasing the percentage of perlite in the mixtures contributed to the reduction of water retention capacity and the increase of large pores. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity estimated by the Mualem–van Genuchten model showed a sharp decrease within a range of water pressure heads (0 to −50 cm) observed between two successive irrigations. To assess aeration and water retention capacity, total porosity; airspace; and easily, and nonavailable water, as well as the bulk density of the substrates, were determined and concomitantly compared with the “ideal substrates” determined by De Boodt and Verdonck. The comparative results showed that substrate porosity alone is not efficient to create ideal plant growth conditions, but dynamic parameters are also needed. Plants grown in a substrate classified as “nonideal” showed significantly greater growth than the plants grown in most of the other substrates studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant-Water Relationships )
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13 pages, 1778 KiB  
Article
Draining Effects on Recent Accumulation Rates of C and N in Zoige Alpine Peatland in the Tibetan Plateau
by Chunyi Li, Yilan Huang, Huanhuan Guo, Lijuan Cui and Wei Li
Water 2018, 10(5), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10050576 - 28 Apr 2018
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3804
Abstract
Peatlands play an essential role in the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. In order to ascertain the draining effects on recent accumulation rates of C (RERCA) and N (RERNA) in the Zoige peatland in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the core samples [...] Read more.
Peatlands play an essential role in the global carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling. In order to ascertain the draining effects on recent accumulation rates of C (RERCA) and N (RERNA) in the Zoige peatland in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the core samples of peat growth, C and N accumulation for both natural and drained peatlands were measured using 210Pb and 137Cs dating methods. As a result, RERCA and RERNA showed an increasing trend from the bottom to the surface of the peatland, which was in accordance with the peat accumulation rates. However, the average RERCA in permanently flooded and seasonally flooded peatlands were 1.5–2.5 times that of drainage peatlands, and the average of RERNA were 1.2–1.7 times. Our findings indicate that the Zoige peatland is still in the stage of peat development with a large carbon sequestration capacity, and drainage from human activities leads to the decreasing of RERCA and RERNA, which will contribute to the selection of the effective ways to slow down the anthropogenic effects on the degradation of the Zoige peatland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant-Water Relationships )
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19 pages, 1933 KiB  
Article
Using Sap Flow Data to Parameterize the Feddes Water Stress Model for Norway Spruce
by Inken Rabbel, Heye Bogena, Burkhard Neuwirth and Bernd Diekkrüger
Water 2018, 10(3), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10030279 - 07 Mar 2018
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4648
Abstract
Tree water use is a key variable in forest eco-hydrological studies and is often monitored by sap flow measurements. Upscaling these point measurements to the stand or catchment level, however, is still challenging. Due to the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of stand structure and soil [...] Read more.
Tree water use is a key variable in forest eco-hydrological studies and is often monitored by sap flow measurements. Upscaling these point measurements to the stand or catchment level, however, is still challenging. Due to the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of stand structure and soil water supply, extensive measuring campaigns are needed to determine stand water use from sap flow measurements alone. Therefore, many researchers apply water balance models to estimate stand transpiration. To account for the effects of limited soil water supply on stand transpiration, models commonly refer to plant water stress functions, which have rarely been parameterized for forest trees. The aim of this study was to parameterize the Feddes water stress model for Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.). After successful calibration and validation of the soil hydrological model HYDRUS-1D, we combined root-zone water potential simulations with a new plant water stress factor derived from sap flow measurements at two plots of contrasting soil moisture regimes. By calibrating HYDRUS-1D against our sap flow data, we determined the critical limits of soil water supply. Drought stress reduced the transpiration activity of mature Norway spruce at root-zone pressure heads <−4100 cm, while aeration stress was not observed. Using the recalibrated Feddes parameters in HYDRUS-1D also improved our water balance simulations. We conclude that the consideration of sap flow information in soil hydrological modeling is a promising way towards more realistic water balance simulations in forest ecosystems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant-Water Relationships )
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27 pages, 5082 KiB  
Article
Modeling Spatial Soil Water Dynamics in a Tropical Floodplain, East Africa
by Geofrey Gabiri, Sonja Burghof, Bernd Diekkrüger, Constanze Leemhuis, Stefanie Steinbach and Kristian Näschen
Water 2018, 10(2), 191; https://doi.org/10.3390/w10020191 - 11 Feb 2018
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5701
Abstract
Analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture is critical for ecohydrological processes and for sustainable water management studies in wetlands. The characterization of soil moisture dynamics and its influencing factors in agriculturally used wetlands pose a challenge in data-scarce regions such [...] Read more.
Analyzing the spatial and temporal distribution of soil moisture is critical for ecohydrological processes and for sustainable water management studies in wetlands. The characterization of soil moisture dynamics and its influencing factors in agriculturally used wetlands pose a challenge in data-scarce regions such as East Africa. High resolution and good-quality time series soil moisture data are rarely available and gaps are frequent due to measurement constraints and device malfunctioning. Soil water models that integrate meteorological conditions and soil water storage may significantly overcome limitations due to data gaps at a point scale. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the Hydrus-1D model would adequately simulate soil water dynamics at different hydrological zones of a tropical floodplain in Tanzania, to determine controlling factors for wet and dry periods and to assess soil water availability. The zones of the Kilombero floodplain were segmented as riparian, middle, and fringe along a defined transect. The model was satisfactorily calibrated (coefficient of determination; R2 = 0.54–0.92, root mean square error; RMSE = 0.02–0.11) on a plot scale using measured soil moisture content at soil depths of 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm. Satisfying statistical measures (R2 = 0.36–0.89, RMSE = 0.03–0.13) were obtained when calibrations for one plot were validated with measured soil moisture for another plot within the same hydrological zone. Results show the transferability of the calibrated Hydrus-1D model to predict soil moisture for other plots with similar hydrological conditions. Soil water storage increased towards the riparian zone, at 262.8 mm/a while actual evapotranspiration was highest (1043.9 mm/a) at the fringe. Overbank flow, precipitation, and groundwater control soil moisture dynamics at the riparian and middle zone, while at the fringe zone, rainfall and lateral flow from mountains control soil moisture during the long rainy seasons. In the dry and short rainy seasons, rainfall, soil properties, and atmospheric demands control soil moisture dynamics at the riparian and middle zone. In addition to these factors, depths to groundwater level control soil moisture variability at the fringe zone. Our results support a better understanding of groundwater-soil water interaction, and provide references for wetland conservation and sustainable agricultural water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil-Plant-Water Relationships )
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