Development of a world data set of soil water retention properties using pedotransfer rules

doi:10.1016/0016-7061(95)00089-5

Geoderma

Volume 71, Issues 1–2, May 1996, Pages 31-52

https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7061(95)00089-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

The World Inventory of Soil Emission Potentials (WISE) database is used to compile a standardized and spatially explicit data set of soil water retention properties. WISE holds 4353 globally distributed profiles considered to be representative of the soil units shown on a 1/2° latitude by 1/2° longitude version of the corrected and digitized 1:5 M FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World.

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are presented for the prediction of (a) volumetric soil-water content (θ) at 9 pre-selected soil-water potentials (h), and (b) available water capacity (AWC) from measured silt, clay and organic matter content. All regressions for θ_h are significant (0.88 < r² < 0.94; P < 0.001). The predictive capability of the regression for the calculation of AWC, however, was relatively low and this PTF systematically underestimated AWC for the independent data set. An alternative approach, which uses pedotransfer rules (PTRs) and functional grouping for estimating AWC from FAO-Unesco soil unit type, horizon textural class and organic matter class, was developed and tested for its predictive capability. For the independent data set, the PTR-derived AWC values showed a better correlation (r² = 0.80) with measured AWC values than was the case for the PTF-derived AWC values. In addition to this, the median of the relative difference between predicted and measured AWC values was smaller (−3%) than for the PTF-predicted AWC values (−13%). Nonetheless, both methods showed a fairly large scatter between the predicted and measured AWC values.

The PTRs were used for the estimation of profile available AWC to a depth of 100 cm, except for shallow Lithosols, Rankers and Rendzinas. Median AWC to a depth of 1 m is 42 mm for coarse-textured Arenosols, 80 mm for strongly weathered Ferralsols, 130 mm for Vertisols, 187 mm for Andosols, and 480 mm for Histosols.

Correction factors were introduced to account for effects of coarse fragments and presence of groundwater at shallow depth. The “corrected” values were used to generate a 1/2° latitude by 1/2° longitude world data set of AWC properties. This raster image file uses the general format of the Global Ecosystems Database (Kineman, 1993). The resolution of the spatial data set is considered appropriate for water balance studies in global assessments of crop production potentials, soil vulnerability to pollution, and soil gaseous emissions.

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Research paperDevelopment of a world data set of soil water retention properties using pedotransfer rules

Abstract

Geoderma

Geoderma

Geoderma

Geoderma

Geoderma

Sur la possibilité d'estimer les propriétés de rétention en eau des sols limoneux lessivés hydromorphes du sud-ouest de la France à partir de leurs caractéristiques de constitution

C.R. Acad. Agric. France

World Inventory of Soil Emission Potentials: WISE 2.1 - Profile database user manual and coding protocols

Potential emissions of radiatively active gases from soil to atmosphere with special reference to methane: development of a global database (WISE)

J. Geophys. Res.

Transfer functions and threshold values: from soil characteristics to land qualities

Global analysis of the potential for N2O production in natural soils

Global Biogeochem. Cycles

The Nature and Properties of Soils

Yield response to water

Pédologie: Sol, Végétation, Environement

The Digitized Soil Map of the World

Accounting for variability within map units when linking a pesticide fate model to soil survey

Geoderma

Estimation of the water-holding capacity of soils in Europe: the compilation of a soil data set

Soil organic matter and available water capacity

IDRISI User Guide (Version 4.0)

Soil Physics

Geographic patterns of soil-water holding capacity in the contiguous United States

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.

Research paper
Development of a world data set of soil water retention properties using pedotransfer rules

Global analysis of the potential for N₂O production in natural soils