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Publications | Soil and Water Sciences

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The Robert  H Smith Faculty
of Food, Agriculture and Environment
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Publications

2017
Nadav, I. ; Tarchitzky, J. ; Chen, Y. . Water Repellency Reduction Using Soil Heating In Infiltration Ponds Of A Wastewater Soil Aquifer Treatment (Sat). Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde 2017, 180, 142-152. Publisher's VersionAbstract
Reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in agriculture is a common alternative water source in arid regions suffering from fresh water (FW) shortage. Soil aquifer treatment (SAT) is frequently used for advanced TWW purification. Infiltration rates of water through the soil can decrease as a consequence of organic matter (OM) accumulation and the consequent induction of water repellency. In this research, soil heating to high temperatures was examined for its efficiency in OM content reduction and increased infiltration. In a laboratory experiment conducted using a hand burner and a combustion oven, water repellency was found to be reduced following increased heating temperature or heating duration, directly resulting in reduction of OM level. Chemical analysis of OM extracted from the heat treated soils revealed reduction in hydrophobic substances as a consequence of increased temperatures by soil heating and heating duration. In model ponds built to simulate large infiltration basins, OM content was reduced as a result of intensive and moderate soil heating in comparison to the untreated pond. However, no reduction in water repellency and only slight changes in infiltration rate were found as a consequence of soil heating. The differences in results obtained in the laboratory and the field experiments were probably related to the fact that the soil in the field experiment has been continuously reloaded with TWW containing OM. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
2016
Reichmann, O. ; Chen, Y. ; Litaor, I. M. . The Impact Of Rainfall-Runoff Events On The Water Quality Of The Upper Catchment Of The Jordan River, Israel; 2016; pp. 129-146. Publisher's VersionAbstract
This study examined the influence of rainfall-runoff events on water quality of the Upper Catchment of the Jordan River (UCJR) with a special emphasize on P fate and transport. We sampled 60 locations across the catchment to test the hypothesis that under Mediterranean climate conditions, most of the nutrient losses from the fields to waterways will occur in few major events while the actual contributing areas will be limited to critical source areas (CSA). Water analyses included nutrients (SRP, TP, TSS, NO3, & NH4), fecal indicators (Fecal Coliforms, E-Coli and Enterococcus) and EC & pH. Spatial analysis was conducted to identify CSA. In general, the results demonstrated the influence of runoff events on the water quality in the UCJR and the high heterogeneity of these events in space and time. The study showed that the levels of SRP, TP, TSS as well as indicators of fecal contamination were primarily transported with surface runoff and increased significantly in the stream during these events. Phosphorous concentrations in some sub-catchments reached extremely high concentrations (19 mg/l) during runoff compared with an average of 1.9 mg/l for the entire watershed. The medium to high correlation between the fecal indicators, total P and TSS suggest that during runoff events, P and bacteria attached to soil particles were mobilized to the stream from CSA. Water sampling along the streams flow paths together with the spatial analysis, identified CSA where an elevated nutrient concentration has been identified. Autocorrelation test identified CSA where an external pollution source influences the water nutrients content. The study provides watershed management science-based remediation options to reduce the potential of water pollution during major rainfall-runoff events. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016. All rights are reserved.
Rosen, V. ; Chen, Y. . A Novel Automated Method For The Adjustment Of Ionic Metal Concentrations In Soil Extracts. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science 2016, 179, 615-617. Publisher's VersionAbstract
A novel method is proposed for correcting metal fraction concentrations remaining within the sediment containing the solid residue of the sequentially extracted fraction. An easy-to-use Excel spreadsheet was prepared to assist adjustment of concentration in each fraction and demonstrate the difference between adjusted and non-adjusted metal concentration of the fraction. The demonstration of a calculation of the modified BCR protocol data showed that this difference may reach 10–15% of the result value. The spreadsheet is available to download at: http://departments.agri.huji.ac.il/zabam/Rosen_Chen_Fraction_Adjustment_.... Copyright © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Schacht, K. ; Chen, Y. ; Tarchitzky, J. ; Marschner, B. . The Use Of Treated Wastewater For Irrigation As A Component Of Integrated Water Resources Management: Reducing Environmental Implications On Soil And Groundwater By Evaluating Site-Specific Soil Sensitivities; 2016; pp. 459-470. Publisher's VersionAbstract
The use of non-conventional water resources like treated wastewater (TWW) is a contribution to alleviate the pressure on available natural water resources in water scarce regions, as it allows higher quality water to be available for other purposes. Population growth, improved living standards and expected climate change impacts will raise the importance of water reuse progressively. TWW can be utilized for various purposes, such as for irrigation, conservation, groundwater recharge or domestic and industrial use. In the eastern Mediterranean region, irrigation with water of marginal quality has a long history, with Israel being the promoting pioneer in advanced treated wastewater use policy and technology. However, apart from health and crop quality concerns, there are potential adverse effects of TWW application on soil and groundwater quality to be considered. In aiming to avoid unsustainable exposures, the regional risks related with TWW irrigation have to be specified and differentiated according to regional soil properties. Within the multinational joint research project network GLOWA (Global Change and the Hydrological Cycle) Jordan River, a regional based land evaluation was conducted for the area of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority by combining supraregional spatial soil data using a geographic information system (GIS). These data were used to identify land more or less sensitive towards TWW irrigation and for the implementation in regional decision support systems (DSS) related to water allocation and the extension of irrigation infrastructure. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016. All rights are reserved.