Soil water content was measured at 0–30 cm and 0–60 cm depth at 54 sites within a 10-ha north-facing forested slope of Watershed 1 on 14 dates from August 2016–October 2017. Soil properties were measured at 13 soil moisture sites during the summer of 2017. Soil properties include bulk density, percent sand, percent clay, percent silt, gravimetric rock content, volumetric water content at field capacity, volumetric water content at turgor loss point, and saturated hydraulic conductivity at 15 and 45 cm depth. Total soil depth and resistance to penetration were also measured at 38 sites using a dynamic cone penetrometer. Volumetric water content (VWC) and soil water potential were recorded every 30 min at 9 locations in Watershed 1. VWC sensors were installed at 5, 50, and 100 cm and soil water potential were installed at 50 cm at each location.
Karla Jarecke, Kevin D. Bladon, Steven M. Wondzell
We designed our study to test if the redistribution of water, following surface topography, controlled the spatial patterns of soil moisture across a steep forested hillslope with well-drained soils.