Functional and chemical calibrates of ceramic cup water samplers in forest soils

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the properties of a tension porous-ceramic cup soil-solution sampler and its usefulness in extncting soil solutions in selected forest soils (haplic Umbrisols) at "Sierra De Gata'' Mountains, CWSpain. The main characteristics of the sampler evaluated were hydraulic c&ductivity, the time requircd to obtain the soil-water sarnple, and the volume of water uptake for optimum calibration prior to analysis of the chemicaI composition of the soil water solution. Hydraulic conductivity values were not substantially modified dunng the sampling (two hydrologic cycles). The time required to obtain the samples was relatively short (mem value 2 h) and the sphere of sarnpling influence was small (radii ranging from 6 to 15 cm), both depending on the size of the sampler. The chemical analyses obtained after calibrating the ceramic cup sarnpler pointed to: a) an effect of light acisorption by the ceramic cup, involving PO, 3-, DOC, major and minor catbns (Na', K+, caz", M~~+, ~e~+, A? +, ~n~+, and 2n2+)