Using Dye and Bromide Tracers to Identify Preferential Water Flow in Agricultural Hillslope Soil under Controlled Conditions

Processes in hillslope soils present a particular challenge for agricultural production and soil management due to their hydropedological specifics high erosion risk. Soil heterogeneities can cause preferential and/or lateral flow on the entire resulting off-site movement of water, fertilizers chemicals used crop production. A study was conducted under controlled conditions laboratory with undisturbed cores (250 cm3), which were estimate hydraulic properties (SHP) using HYPROP WP4C devices, while columns (diameter = 16 cm, length 25 cm) evaluation pathways potassium bromide Brilliant Blue. Samples excavated triplicate from hilltop, backslope footslope regions within inter-rows vineyard critical zone observatory, SUPREHILL, Croatia Dystric Luvic Stagnosol. The aim this determine if erosion-affected position affected physical, chemical identify water possible dye tracers. results sensor measurements estimated SHPs agreement, showing faster leaching irrigated rainwater column. tracer experiments showed variability even taken same hillslope, be linked plant roots fauna activity. Altogether, deeper loose layer at as consequence erosion, then resulted higher conductivity leached mass better structure pore connectivity. Thus, significant differences bromide, research should later expanded field reveal impact surface runoff, subsurface larger scale.