Identifying critical determinants of soil water repellency in an Australian dryland farming system

Naveeda Majid; Md Mezbaul Bahar; Richard Harper; Brian Hughes; Ravi Naidu

doi:10.1016/j.still.2025.106794

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Identifying critical determinants of soil water repellency in an Australian dryland farming system

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Identifying critical determinants of soil water repellency in an Australian dryland farming system

Naveeda Majid, Md Mezbaul Bahar, Richard Harper, Brian Hughes and Ravi Naidu

Soil & tillage research, Vol.255, 106794

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2025.106794

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Abstract

Dehydrogenase activity

Physicochemical properties

Soil texture

Soil water repellency

Total organic carbon

Soil water repellency (SWR) poses a significant challenge in agriculture by reducing the soil’s ability to absorb water, thereby limiting water infiltration and negatively impacting crop yields. Numerous studies have shown multivariate relationships between the expression of SWR and soil particle size and organic carbon contents. However, the biological effects on soils are often considered in isolation. In this study, we explored the relationships between SWR and various physicochemical and biological properties of 30 soil samples from ten non-irrigated, dryland farms in South Australia, using correlation analysis and Random Forest modelling. Ethanol droplet tests were used to quantify SWR, and key soil properties including clay content, total organic carbon (TOC), pH, total nitrogen, microbial activity (measured via dehydrogenase activity, DHA), and dissolved iron (dFe) were assessed. Soils were grouped into low (Group 1, mean SWR 0.5 M) and high (Group 2, mean SWR 3.0 M) SWR categories based on clear differences in measured SWR values. Significant differences between groups were observed for clay, TOC, dFe, and DHA. Random Forest analysis identified clay and pH as the strongest predictors in Group 1. In Group 2, the model didn’t explain SWR variation. DHA had minimal influence on model performance.

Details

Title: Identifying critical determinants of soil water repellency in an Australian dryland farming system
Authors/Creators: Naveeda Majid - Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Md Mezbaul Bahar - Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Richard Harper - Murdoch University, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation
Brian Hughes - South Australian Research and Development Institute - SARDI, Nuriootpa Research Centre, Nuriootpa, SA 5355, Australia
Ravi Naidu - Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), College of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Publication Details: Soil & tillage research, Vol.255, 106794
Publisher: Elsevier B.V.
Number of pages: 8
Identifiers: 991005806850007891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Crop and Food Innovation; Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Agricultural Sciences
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.45 Soil Science; 3.45.879 Soil Erosion
Web Of Science research areas: Soil Science
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences