The role of pebbles in the water dynamics of a stony soil cultivated with young poplars | Le rôle des cailloux dans la dynamique de l'eau d'un sol cultivé

[Departement_IRSTEA]Territoires [TR1_IRSTEA]SEDYVIN

International audience

English. Stony soils are widespread and often support plant production; nevertheless, their physical properties remain poorly understood, particularly regarding the role of rock fragments in plant water uptake. Understanding the hydric interactions between rock fragments and fine earth in stony soils remains central to water management in the context of climate change. A soil water retention curve of stony soil was developed based on a water retention curve for both rock fragments and fine earth. Water transfer between fine earth, rock fragment and plant roots was monitored during experiments under controlled evaporation conditions. During desiccation, the water retention curves for fine earth and rock fragments exhibited water movement from the rock fragment to the fine earth. During our evaporation experiment, fine earth water content decreased as soon as desiccation started, whereas the rock fragments released water after several days. We demonstrated that rock fragments are a water reservoir for plants; plants can uptake water directly from pebbles or after it is transferred into surrounding fine earth.

French. Basé sur une expérimentation en sols remaniés avec de jeunes peupliers, nous avons étudié la dynamique de l'eau entre les différentes phases du sol. Nous avons démontré que les cailloux sont un réservoir d'eau pour les plantes. Ces plantes peuvent asborber l'eau directement de la porosité des cailloux ou après un transfert vers la terre fine.