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Connecting bacterial colonization to physical and biochemical changes in a sand box infiltration experiment

Rubol, Simonetta ; Freixa, Anna ; Brangarí, Albert C. LU ; Fernandez-Garcia, Daniel ; M.Romani, Anna and Sanchez-Vila, Xavier (2014) In Journal of Hydrology 517. p.317-327
Abstract
Infiltration through sediments is linked to complex biogeochemical processes occurring at small spatial scales, often leading to a progressive reduction in infiltration rates due to microbial growth and/or mechanical clogging. Unraveling the linkage between microbial dynamics and water infiltration in a heterogeneous medium is of concern in artificial recharge ponds and natural infiltration systems. We present an 84-day laboratory infiltration experiment that aims at studying the temporal variation of selected biogeochemical parameters at different depths along the infiltration path. The experimental setup consists of a 1.2 m high tank packed with a heterogeneous soil and instrumented with arrays of sensors as well as soil and liquid... (More)
Infiltration through sediments is linked to complex biogeochemical processes occurring at small spatial scales, often leading to a progressive reduction in infiltration rates due to microbial growth and/or mechanical clogging. Unraveling the linkage between microbial dynamics and water infiltration in a heterogeneous medium is of concern in artificial recharge ponds and natural infiltration systems. We present an 84-day laboratory infiltration experiment that aims at studying the temporal variation of selected biogeochemical parameters at different depths along the infiltration path. The experimental setup consists of a 1.2 m high tank packed with a heterogeneous soil and instrumented with arrays of sensors as well as soil and liquid samplers. Results indicate that: (i) microbial processes are responsible for infiltration reduction, enhancing the spatially heterogeneous distribution of infiltration rates with time, (ii) bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are present at all monitored depths, indicating the potential for deep biological clogging, (iii) bacteria functioning and richness exhibit depth zonation after the system reaches a mature state and (iv) the retention curve changes towards highest saturation by the end of the experiment. The increase in water holding capacity is largest at depth, where the presence of EPS is noticeable. The reduction in time of the quantity of water infiltrating along the tank can only be accounted for with a truly interdisciplinary approach involving physical, chemical and biological processes. (Less)
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author
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Infiltration, Microbial growth, Clogging, Water retention curve, EPS, Preferential flow
in
Journal of Hydrology
volume
517
pages
10 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84904892922
ISSN
0022-1694
DOI
10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.041
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
e350788a-9ca2-4981-9383-ec421dc0f293
date added to LUP
2018-04-16 14:10:39
date last changed
2022-03-25 01:21:48
@article{e350788a-9ca2-4981-9383-ec421dc0f293,
  abstract     = {{Infiltration through sediments is linked to complex biogeochemical processes occurring at small spatial scales, often leading to a progressive reduction in infiltration rates due to microbial growth and/or mechanical clogging. Unraveling the linkage between microbial dynamics and water infiltration in a heterogeneous medium is of concern in artificial recharge ponds and natural infiltration systems. We present an 84-day laboratory infiltration experiment that aims at studying the temporal variation of selected biogeochemical parameters at different depths along the infiltration path. The experimental setup consists of a 1.2 m high tank packed with a heterogeneous soil and instrumented with arrays of sensors as well as soil and liquid samplers. Results indicate that: (i) microbial processes are responsible for infiltration reduction, enhancing the spatially heterogeneous distribution of infiltration rates with time, (ii) bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are present at all monitored depths, indicating the potential for deep biological clogging, (iii) bacteria functioning and richness exhibit depth zonation after the system reaches a mature state and (iv) the retention curve changes towards highest saturation by the end of the experiment. The increase in water holding capacity is largest at depth, where the presence of EPS is noticeable. The reduction in time of the quantity of water infiltrating along the tank can only be accounted for with a truly interdisciplinary approach involving physical, chemical and biological processes.}},
  author       = {{Rubol, Simonetta and Freixa, Anna and Brangarí, Albert C. and Fernandez-Garcia, Daniel and M.Romani, Anna and Sanchez-Vila, Xavier}},
  issn         = {{0022-1694}},
  keywords     = {{Infiltration; Microbial growth; Clogging; Water retention curve; EPS; Preferential flow}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  pages        = {{317--327}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Hydrology}},
  title        = {{Connecting bacterial colonization to physical and biochemical changes in a sand box infiltration experiment}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.041}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jhydrol.2014.05.041}},
  volume       = {{517}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}