Soil hydrologic functions are important for ecological restoration in karst landscapes where soil and water loss are serious. For examining how different strategies of napiergrass cultivation affect soil hydrologic function, and to identify reasonable strategies for maintaining soil hydrologic function, researchers in the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISA) investigated the effects of napiergrass (Pennisetum hydridum) management on soil hydraulic properties using an orthogonal experiment.

Researchers employ The BEST method (Beerkan estimation of soil transfer parameters though infiltration experiments) by Lassabatere et al. (2006) to measure and estimate soil hydraulic properties (soil field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), water retention parameter (α)).

The team found the farming practices (nitrogen fertilization, cutting frequency and cutting intensity) of napiergrass had higher influence on the soil hydraulic properties of the topsoil than those of the subsoil; nitrogen fertilization influenced the soil hydraulic properties more significantly than cutting frequency and cutting intensity.

"This study suggests that the implementation of different farming practices differently alters soil hydrologic functions. Hence, in karst landscapes where water resources are limited for agricultural production, the selection of optimal farming practices for high productivity should also take soil hydrologic functions into consideration," said YANG Jiao, a doctoral student at ISA.

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41471233, 41501042), the Hundred Talents Program (2060299) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the West Light Foundation of The Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y523061111).

The study entitled "Effects of Napiergrass Management on Soil Hydrologic Functions in a Karst Landscape, Southwestern China" has been published in the April issue of Soil and Tillage Research, details could be found at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198715300647.