Title | Evaluation of preferential flow processes in reclamation soil covers |
Publication Type | Thesis |
Year of Publication | 2009 |
Authors | Welter, D. C. |
Pagination | 101 pages |
Date Published | 06/2009 |
Publisher | University of Saskatchewan Department of Soil Science |
Place Published | Saskatoon, SK |
Publication Language | eng |
Keywords | field, laboratory, salinity, sodicity, soil moisture, soil water, UofS |
Abstract | To predict the effectiveness of land reclamation, it is important to understand how water and solutes are transported within reconstructed landscapes. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of preferential flow on salt leaching in reclamation soil covers. The study site was a reconstructed landscape where saline- sodic minespoil from oil sands mining was capped with layers of glacial and peat mix soil. Preferential flow was investigated using laboratory column experiments and in situ adsorptive dye and conservative tracer experiments. Results from column experiments and dye tracer experiments indicate that preferential flow is an important and prevalent mechanism of solute transport. Column experiments, which used time-domain reflectometry to monitor the transport of a chloride tracer through an undisturbed core of peat mix soil, determined immobile water fractions (θim/θ) ranging from 80-99% and diffusive mass transfer rates (α) between 0.15 - 2.0 h-1. Breakthrough curves showed the early arrival of chloride and extended tailing. Dye tracer experiments, in which Brilliant Blue dye was applied in solution to the soil surface, were carried out at 6 hillslopes plots. Approximately 24 hours after dye application, a vertical soil face was excavated to reveal stained flow patterns. Preferential flow as macropore flow, fingering, and / or funneling was observed at each plot. |
URL | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-07142009-155627/unrestricted/DanielleWelterThesis2009.pdf |
Active Link | |
Group | OSEMB |
Citation Key | 52304 |