Artificial Macropore Installation in Degraded Soils for Enhancing Infiltration to Restore Soil Environment.

Soil is largest carbon storage body in all terrestrial medium such as vegetation and the atmosphere. However, these days, soils could not perform their functions as water storage layer or culture medium for plant, because of heavy rain caused by climate change or soil degradation after rough management.  In this study, artificial macropores are introduced in soils for purposing enhancing infiltration without cultivation. Fibrous material was inserted to reinforce the macropore structure. Moreover, capillary force caused by fibers would be expected to drag the surface water into the deeper soil profile prior to saturation. Capillary force caused by fabric introduced vertical transport, while micropore (matrix) enhanced horizontal flow. It makes it possible effective infiltration than empty macropores. Column experiment showed artificial macropore reduced surface runoff for rainfall intensity of 2, 4, 20 mm h^-1 but not for 80 mm h^-1. At the field experiments, soil moisture sensors installed at 10, 30, 50 cm depth effectively responded rainfall, showing artificial macropore successfully introduce surface water into soil profile. One year later after the artificial macropore installation, field survey was conducted for organic matter in soils and plant biomass. The amount of plant biomass showed double number and there were significant carbon increment in soils. Artificial macropore successfully introduced surface water and organic matter into soils, which could also stimulate plant vegetation. The introduced technique has advantages for its following natural process, low cost and simple structure.