Scientists from an array of disciplines attended an international workshop on Preferential Flow and Transport Processes in Soil to present recent and ongoing research about the increasingly recognized phenomenon of non-uniform movement of water and solutions in soil.
At issue is whether water, and solutes transported by water, normally percolate uniformly through soils – the current conventional understanding – or if the more normal flow pattern includes preferential flow channels or pathways which divert water, fertilizers and pesticides and have environmental and economic consequences.
Based on research findings of others as well as their own, the 75-plus participants from 18 countries representing a variety of disciplines agreed that indeed preferential flow and transport processes are more the norm than the exception. In addition they agreed that a better understanding of the mechanisms, consequences, means for measuring and modeling, and management of preferential flow is of vital importance for accurate land use planning, education and resource use in an increasingly environmentally sensitive world. The conventional view of how water and solutes move in soils and the factors affecting it need revising they concluded.
The conference also honored the research career of Hannes Flühler one of the pioneers in the recognition and study of preferential flow and transport processes in soil. The group met at Centro Stafano Franscini on Monte Verita, the mountain of truth, in Ascona, Switzerland.
A paper reviewing the conference and conclusions is in the works and a special issue of the European Journal of Soil Science on this topic is due to be published in February 2008. Meanwhile, many of the conference presentations can be viewed on the conference Web site: www.ito.ethz.ch/conferences/preferential-flow.
