Estimating hydraulic conductivity of a sandy soil under different plant covers using minidisk infiltrometer and a dye tracer experiment

The objective of this study was to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of sandy soil under different plant cover at the locality Mláky II at Sekule (southwest Slovakia). Two sites were demarcated at the locality, with mainly moss species at glade site, and pine forest at forest site. The estimation of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity was conducted by (a) minidisk infiltrometer and (b) the analysis of a dye tracer total resident concentration. The latter approach assumed the applicability of the stochastic—convective flow theory in the sandy soil. In the dye tracer experiment, two plots (1 × 1 m each) were established in both sites, and 100 mm of dye tracer (Brilliant Blue FCF) solution was applied on the soil surface. Similar results were obtained in both plots, with more than 70 % area of horizons stained in the depth of 30–50 cm. In some cases, the predicted and measured hydraulic conductivity were found within an order of magnitude, thus revealing similar impact of different plant cover on hydraulic properties of sandy soil studied. In contrast to sandy soils used for agriculture, the influence of the plant/surface humus and topsoil interface extended in the form of a highly heterogeneous matrix flow to the depth of 50–60 cm, where it was dampened by horizontal layering.