Dalbianco et al. (2026) Land-use controls on soil hydraulic functioning: the role of pore organization and gravel distribution in an agricultural catchment

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-10-01
• Authors: Leandro Dalbianco, Jean Paolo Gomes Minella, Gizachew Ayalew Tiruneh, Maria Cândida Moitinho Nunes, Jose Miguel Reichert
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136541

Research Groups

• Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil
• Department of Natural Resource Management, Debre Tabor University, Ethiopia
• Soils Department, Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Brazil
• Soil Department, UFSM, Santa Maria-RS, Brazil

Short Summary

This study investigates the role of pore organization and gravel distribution in an agricultural catchment's soil hydraulic functioning. The results show that near-surface hydraulic properties are more closely associated with pore organization and coarse-fragment abundance than with texture or SOC.

Objective

• Investigate how land-use and tillage systems affect near-surface soil permeability and water storage.
• Examine the relationships between pore organization, gravel distribution, and hydraulic behavior in an agricultural catchment.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: 1.19 km² agricultural headwater catchment in southern Brazil.
• Temporal Scale: Long-term studies document interactions among management, runoff, erosion, sediment transport, water quality, and spatial connectivity in the catchment.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: None mentioned.
• Data sources: Soil sampling data from 69 irregularly distributed locations across the catchment.

Main Results

• Near-surface hydraulic properties are more closely associated with pore organization and coarse-fragment abundance than with texture or SOC.
• Gravel content is positively associated with macroporosity, air permeability, and Ksat, and negatively associated with water retention at higher tensions.
• Land-use differences in water retention are strongest near saturation and diminish at higher suctions.

Contributions

• This study provides a mechanistic basis for understanding the role of pore organization and gravel distribution in soil hydraulic functioning in agricultural catchments.
• The results highlight the importance of considering pore-related properties and gravel abundance when assessing hydraulic heterogeneity in catchments.

Funding

• Not mentioned.

Citation

@article{Dalbianco2026Landuse,
  author = {Dalbianco, Leandro and Minella, Jean Paolo Gomes and Tiruneh, Gizachew Ayalew and Nunes, Maria Cândida Moitinho and Reichert, Jose Miguel},
  title = {Land-use controls on soil hydraulic functioning: the role of pore organization and gravel distribution in an agricultural catchment},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136541},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.136541}
}