Identification of hydropedological flowpaths in Stevenson–Hamilton catena from soil morphological, chemical and hydraulic properties

Abstract

Soil acts as a first-order control in the portioning of hydrological flowpaths and governing residence periods of water in a landscape. Water, on the other hand, is a primary agent in soil formation and leaves unique soil morphological signatures of water movement and storage. This interactive relationship between soil and water serves as the basis for a relatively new, interdisciplinary field of study called hydropedology (Lin 2010; Lin et al. 2006a). This synergistic research field promotes a more integrated approach to address complex issues regarding water resource management in variable water regimes of semi-arid landscapes (Kutílek & Nielsen 2007; Lin 2003; Lin et al. 2006b). Hydropedological studies at landscape scale typically include various components of the hydrological cycle and recognise the intimate relationship between surface and groundwater at various spatiotemporal scales (Van Tol & Lorentz 2018).