The science of hydropedology - linking soil morphology with hydrological processes

Abstract

Hydropedology The science of hydropedology – linking soil morphology with hydrological processes An exciting new branch of science, hydropedology, offers exciting research opportunities in South Africa. Article by Johan van Tol, Pieter le Roux and Simon Lorentz. Feature Hydropedology is the relatively new, interdisciplinary research field which focuses on the interactive relationship between soils and water. Soil physical properties, such as the hydraulic conductivity and porosity, have an important impact on the occurrence and rates of hydrological processes. In turn, hydrological processes play an important role on the formation of soil morphological properties such as colour, mottles, macropores and carbonate accumulations. Accurate mapping and the interpretation of these soil morphological properties can thus be used to conceptualise and characterise hydrological processes, including water flow paths, storage mechanisms and the connectivity between different flow paths.

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