A new method to simulate the hydrological state of soil under natural conditions

Authors

  • Anna-Katharina Wild Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
  • Michael Thomas Marx Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz
  • Gerhard Eisenbeis Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2009.v44.1820

Keywords:

climate change, drought, flooding, soil invertebrates, soil tubes, STAFD method

Abstract

Micro, macro and mesofauna in the soil often respond to fluctuating environmental conditions, resulting in changes of abundance and community structure. Effects of changing soil parameters are normally determined with samples taken in the field and brought to the laboratory, i.e. where natural environmental conditions may not apply. We devised a method (STAFD – soil tubes for artificial flood and drought), which simulates the hydrological state of soil in situ using implanted cores. Control tubes were compared with treatment tubes in which floods of 15, 30, 60 and 90 days, and droughts of 60, 90 and 120 days were simulated in the field. Flooding and drought were found to reduce number of individuals in all soil faunal groups, but the response to drought was slower and not in proportion to the expected decrease of the water content. The results of the simulated floods in particular show the value of the STAFD method for the investigation of such extreme events in natural habitats.

Author Biographies

Anna-Katharina Wild, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

Institute of Zoology / Dep. IV Soil zoology and ecology

Michael Thomas Marx, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

Institute of Zoology / Dep. IV Soil zoology and ecology Ph.D. student

Gerhard Eisenbeis, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz

Institute of Zoology / Dep. IV Soil zoology and ecology Prof.

Published

2010-11-18

How to Cite

Wild, A.-K., Marx, M. T., & Eisenbeis, G. (2010). A new method to simulate the hydrological state of soil under natural conditions. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 44(8), 843–851. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2009.v44.1820