The interaction between plant functional diversity and soil hydrological conditions - an ecohydrological process model approach

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The aim of this research is to elucidate the processes by which plant diversity influences vertical water fluxes in the soil. For this we will investigate (1) how plant diversity influences soil hydraulic parameters (via changes in soil organic carbon content, and change of soil pore distribution including macropores) (2) how these changes influence water contents and vertical water flow (direction and quantity) along a plant species-diversity gradient. Our investigation will be based on a combined measurement and modelling approach. We will measure soil hydraulic properties (saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity, pore size distribution) along a diversity gradient (2-4-8 species, Block I and II). The results will be related to ecosystem variables, such as species diversity, above ground productivity (SP Z), soil organic carbon content (SP 10), root standing biomass (SP 7), earthworm activity (SP 4) and information on depth of root water uptake (SP 11). The directly measured soil hydraulic parameters will be than be integrated in a model for vertical water flow. This model will be applied to understand how strongly plant diversity induced changes of soil hydraulic parameters affect the resulting vertical water fluxes and water related solute transport in the soil.