Estimation of macropore flow characteristics in stony soils of a small mountain catchment

摘要: Abstract The rapid movement of water in a complex system preferential pathways soils is common natural phenomenon. However, quantification the properties this phenomenon not easy and such results are often found literature. paper presents number macropores, their relative volume ratio infiltrating through macropores for five study sites with stony located mountain catchment northern Slovakia. These characteristics were calculated from saturated unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivities under assumptions Poiseuille’s law. Saturated estimated by single ring infiltrometer measurements field falling head method laboratory. Unsaturated tension infiltration (using minidisc infiltrometer, Decagon Devices). largest amount (defined as pores radius larger than 1.5 mm) entire profile (7–5276 per 1 m2) was at forest overgrown spruce high to extremely stoniness. decreased depth all sites. contribution macropore flow varied approximately 63% almost 100%. Although can conduct large proportion water, small (0.001–0.9%). (active non-active) porosity retention function range 2–23%.