Hydrophysical properties of irrigated and irrigable soils with regards to their ongoing degradation

MSc. Cansu Almaz

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

The thesis presented herein comprises a collection of publications spanning the years 2019 to 2023. This collection has been organized into distinct sections and interconnected based on the objectives and the scientific hypotheses they aimed to explore. The methodological approaches and findings detailed in this thesis adhere closely to established scientific protocols. The research methodologies employ comprehensive approaches tailored to each study's requirements. The focus of this thesis revolves around the essential domain of soil hydrology, encompassing diverse aspects such as hydraulic conductivity, field capacity estimation, and the effects of surfactants on soil properties. The research draws upon a rich array of datasets from various sources, integrating fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and advanced statistical evaluations to derive meaningful conclusions. The oversight and guidance provided by the Department of Water Resources at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, have been instrumental in shaping and steering this body of work. As we proceed on this journey, we anticipate that this work will contribute to long-term environmental sustainability and more effective soil and water management across diverse environmental contexts. Below are the publications that constitute the thesis: Almaz, C., Kara, R. S., Miháliková, M., & Matula, S. (2023). Implications of surfactant application on soil hydrology, macronutrients, and organic carbon fractions: An integrative field study. Soil and Water Research 18(4), 269-280. https://doi.org/10.17221/88/2023-SWR Almaz, C., Miháliková, M., Báťková, K., Vopravil, J., Matula, S., Khel, T., & Kara, R. S. (2023). Simple and Cost-Effective Method for Reliable Indirect Determination of Field Capacity. Hydrology, 10(10), 202. https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology10100202 Batkova, K., Matula, S., Hrúzová, E., Miháliková, M., Kara, R. S., & Almaz, C. (2022). A comparison of measured and estimated saturated hydraulic conductivity of various soils in the Czech Republic. Plant, Soil and Environment, 68(7), 338-346. https://doi.org/10.17221/123/2022-PSE Báťková, K., Matula, S., Miháliková, M., Hrúzová, E., Abebrese, D. K., Kara, R. S., & Almaz, C. (2023). Prediction of saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks of agricultural soil using pedotransfer functions. Soil & Water Research, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.17221/130/2022-SWR

Keywords

hydrophysical properties, soil water retention, hydraulic conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon, pedotransfer functions

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 17. 11. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Ing. Svatopluk Matula, CSc.
• Reader: Radim Vácha, externi, Václav Kuráž, externi, Peter Šurda, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Doctoral programme / field:
Agricultural Specialization / Exploitation and Protection of Natural Resources