the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Technical Note: Best of both worlds? Combining undisturbed soil monoliths for indoor runoff experiments
Peter Strauss
Abstract. A major decision in soil hydrological research is whether to conduct experiments outdoor or indoors. Both approaches have their advantages and trade-offs. Using undisturbed soil monoliths combines some of the advantages of outdoor and indoor experiments, however, there are often size limitations. While push-methods can be used for small- to medium-sized soil blocks, acquiring larger monoliths necessitates heavy machinery. A promising approach is the combination of smaller blocks to a single large monolith, thereby optimizing cost and labour efficiency as well as representativity and upscaling potential. To this end, we compared the runoff properties of medium-sized (1x 0.5 x 0.35 m) grassland soil monoliths cut in half and re-combined with uncut blocks. We conducted artificial runoff experiments and analyzed the outflow from four flow pathways (surface runoff, subsurface interflow, percolating water, laterally exported water) and surface runoff velocity parameters. Our results suggest that the effects of the re-combination procedure are negligible compared to the variation in the data caused by the inherent soil heterogeneity. Further research is needed for a definite conclusion. Nevertheless, we propose that the benefits of combining soil monoliths outweigh the potential disadvantages.
- Preprint
(1497 KB) -
Supplement
(3958 KB) - BibTeX
- EndNote
David Ramler and Peter Strauss
Status: final response (author comments only)
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RC1: 'Comment on hess-2022-240', Narryn Thaman, 27 Jul 2022
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2022-240/hess-2022-240-RC1-supplement.pdf
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Ramler, 11 Oct 2022
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2022-240/hess-2022-240-AC1-supplement.pdf
- AC4: 'Response to RC1', David Ramler, 02 Dec 2022
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AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Ramler, 11 Oct 2022
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RC2: 'Comment on hess-2022-240', Anonymous Referee #2, 01 Sep 2022
Review of
Technical Note: Best of both worlds? Combining undisturbed soil monoliths for indoor runoff experiments
by Ramler and Strauss
General comments:
This is a technical note investigating the possibility to perform indoor runoff experiments using unperturbed rather small soil samples and combined soil samples. The paper is accompanied by a Supplement. The note is reasonably well written but could be improved by clarifying the presentation of the experimental design and by shortening the Discussion section.
Recommendation: major revisions.
Particular comments:
- Soil characteristics (Table 1): TOC is undefined. Key soil characteristics such as porosity, dry density, gravel content, organic matter should be given if they are available. Could this method be applied to other soil types?
- Statistical analysis: differences between experiments are analyzed using statistical metrics. The Methods section does not clearly explain how this is done. For example, H and P (Line 132) are undefined. L. 114: Significance of what? What would have been the results at the 0.01 level?
- Experimental design is unclear. For example, on L. 116, a “second experimental set” is mentioned. What is this? The first line of Table 2 is not complete for understanding the experimental plan. A new Table listing all experiments would be useful.
- Discussion: Section 4.2 is too long, especially for a technical note. Could be more concise.
- The title of the paper could be improved.
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AC2: 'Reply on RC2', David Ramler, 11 Oct 2022
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2022-240/hess-2022-240-AC2-supplement.pdf
- AC5: 'Response to RC2', David Ramler, 02 Dec 2022
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RC3: 'Comment on hess-2022-240', Anonymous Referee #3, 11 Sep 2022
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2022-240/hess-2022-240-RC3-supplement.pdf
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AC3: 'Reply on RC3', David Ramler, 11 Oct 2022
The comment was uploaded in the form of a supplement: https://hess.copernicus.org/preprints/hess-2022-240/hess-2022-240-AC3-supplement.pdf
- AC6: 'Response to RC3', David Ramler, 02 Dec 2022
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AC3: 'Reply on RC3', David Ramler, 11 Oct 2022
David Ramler and Peter Strauss
Video supplement
Macropore Outlet David Ramler https://doi.org/10.5446/57776
David Ramler and Peter Strauss
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