Catchment hydrological change from soil degradation

摘要

Land cover and land use changes from agriculture and urbanization affect soil structure, compaction, and loss of carbon on hydrologic performance. The consequential change on soil properties, such as aggregation of soil particles, reduction of voids, impacts on matrix conductivity and macropore fractions, alter the hydrological processes in a watershed.
Macropores promote rapid water and gas movement under wet conditions while the soil matrix preserves the water-holding capacity necessary for plant growth. Soil degradation leads to a reduction of the macropore fraction with dramatic changes in overall hydrologic performance under urban development and agricultural landuse practices.
The effects of macropore reduction and compaction on hydrologic performance were found to be of the same order or greater magnitude than for changes in landuse practices alone. The research, funded by the US EPA, illustrates the complex interaction of landuse and soil changes on the terrestrial water cycle.