Soil hydraulic properties deduced from infiltration measurements – effect of land use and soil texture

Soil hydraulic properties play a fundamental role in regulating water flow, solute transport, and overall ecosystem functioning, and are therefore key indicators of soil physical health. Because lab-based measurements often neglect the role of soil structures on water flow and retention, soil hydraulic properties were deduced from infiltration measurements in the field using the Beerkan method. The Beerkan method offers practical advantages, including simple instrumentation, low water requirements, and relatively short measurement times compared with other infiltration techniques. To test its applicability for different soil conditions and land management types, infiltration measurements were conducted for soils of an agricultural research station in Sweden and in dry coniferous forests in Switzerland. The infiltration data were combined with soil texture and bulk density measurements to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention. For the agricultural soils, the comparison of the field-based measurements with pedotransfer functions allowed to quantify structural effects. The infiltration experiments in the forest revealed the seasonal changes of hydraulic properties (and soil health status) as a result of limited wettability. This study evaluates both its strengths and limitations of the Beerkan method and provides guidance for its broader application across Europe and to evaluate the influence of land use and soil texture on soil structural development.