Moisture-dependent Water Repellency of Greenlandic Cultivated Soils

Nearly all soils from sub-arctic agricultural fields in South Greenland exhibit extreme water repellency, governed by organic carbon content and soil water retention. The study found that 99% of 145 soil samples were highly water-repellent at their maximum repellency, with loss-on-ignition (LOI) at 550°C being the strongest predictor of total water repellency area (SWRAREA) and the water content threshold for becoming hydrophilic (WNON). Clay content further improved predictive models. The Campbell-Shiozawa model's inverse slope correlated strongly with SWRAREA and WNON, suggesting soil water retention drives moisture-dependent water repellency. These findings align with pasture soils from New Zealand, indicating consistent behavior across sub-arctic and temperate regions.

Weber, P. L., Hermansen, C., Norgaard, T., Pesch, C., Moldrup, P., Greve, M. H., Müller, K., Arthur, E., & de Jonge, L. W. (2021). Moisture-dependent Water Repellency of Greenlandic Cultivated Soils. Geoderma, 402, 115189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115189