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Evaluation of methods for inferring air and water properties of soils from field morphology
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Evaluation of methods for inferring air and water properties of soils from field morphology

N.J. McKenzie, K.R.J. Smettem and A.J. Ringrose-Voase
Australian Journal of Soil Research, Vol.29(5), pp.587-602
1991
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Abstract

The accurate characterization of soil water and air properties is difficult in soil survey because of logistic constraints. Less reliable surrogates are commonly used to estimatethese properties. The surrogates provide a method for moving from measures that tendto be static and semi-empirical to those characterizing soil processes. The utility of fourschemes for predicting air-filled porosity, available water capacity and saturated hydraulicconductivity on the basis of field-determined soil morphology has been assessed using datafrom a limited number of profiles with features commonly encountered in Australia. Noneof the systems provided statistically significant predictions of available water capacity andthe results for air-filled porosity were moderate (McKeagueet al.(1986), r2=0-58; Halletal.(1977), r2=0-64; Williams efal.(1991), r2=0-70). Encouragingly, the Hollis and Woods (1989) system generated good predictions of field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (r2= 0.77). It is concluded that better measurement methods and programs of data collection are needed for both the properties used as surrogates (e.g.morphology) and those for which predictions are required (e.g. air and water properties).

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Citation topics
7 Engineering & Materials Science
7.133 Geotechnical Engineering
7.133.986 Unsaturated Soil Mechanics
Web Of Science research areas
Soil Science
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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