ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Analysis of Water Retention Capacity
for Select Forest Soils in Poland
Piotr Hewelke1, Tomasz Gnatowski1, Edyta Hewelke2, Jan Tyszka3, Stanisław Żakowicz1
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1Department of Environmental Improvement, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
2Laboratory – Water Center, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW, Ciszewskiego 6, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
3Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute,
Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland
Submission date: 2014-02-14
Acceptance date: 2014-10-28
Publication date: 2015-05-20
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2015;24(3):1013-1019
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ABSTRACT
Our paper presents an analysis of the water retention characteristics of mineral soils for select forest soils
in Poland. Direct measurement of the soil retention characteristics is relatively complicated and time consuming,
therefore often indirect methods are sought instead. The main objective of the paper was to establish statistical
relationships between the soil basic physical properties and the moisture content at predefined soil
matrix potentials (e.g. pF curves). The relationship between individual soil texture classes, bulk density, specific
density, and organic matter content at certain soil suction (pF values) were analyzed. The empirical models
were described by multiple regression equation. The research covers 62 mineral forest soil layers of a
diverse textured composition, from sand to clays. They were classified as Haplic Podzols and Cambisols representing
pine and spruce ecosystems. For verification of the used method, calculated and measured values of
total available water content were compared. The relationships between examined properties and the soil moisture
content at certain pF value was provided statistically. The obtained data set can be a valuable representation
of water retention characteristics and physical parameters of forest soil in pine and spruce ecosystems
across Poland.