Summary
This review synthesises evidence that soil hydraulic function—critical to terrestrial ecosystems and agriculture—is shaped by dynamic biological feedbacks rather than fixed parameters as typically modelled. The authors argue that plants, soil fauna and microbiota modify soil structure in ways that alter water retention and movement, and that climate and land-use change will accelerate these shifts, potentially triggering irreversible alternative stable states in soil moisture behaviour. The paper calls for a new generation of land surface and soil-plant-atmosphere models that incorporate dynamic soil structure evolution and coupled biophysical feedbacks.
UK applicability
The findings are broadly applicable to UK agriculture and ecosystems, particularly given projected increases in extreme precipitation, droughts and heatwaves. UK soil modelling and hydrological predictions may require revision to account for biological feedbacks, especially in response to land-use intensification and climate variability.
Key measures
Soil hydraulic parameters; soil water content; soil structure; biological feedback mechanisms affecting hydraulic function
Outcomes reported
The paper argues that biological feedbacks from plants, macro-fauna and microbiota influence soil structure and thus soil hydraulic parameters, and that environmental change will modify these soil hydraulic functions with potential irreversible consequences.
Topic tags
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