Bursts of rain may deal a double whammy to soil moisture, nitrogen
New research indicates that climate change-induced intense rainfall events are reducing soil water storage and causing nitrogen loss. These findings suggest that concentrated rain patterns may negate the benefits of increased total annual precipitation.
Why it matters
Understanding soil health and nutrient retention is vital for global food security and agricultural sustainability.
Two new studies, published in Nature and Nature Geoscience , have found that as climate change concentrates rainfall into fewer, more intense events, the land below may face a double whammy. In their May 13 paper in Nature , Dartmouth College, U.S., researchers concluded that more concentrated rain can reduce the amount of water stored in soils and aquifers across all global climates. This is because heavy bursts of rain can exceed the soil’s infiltration capacity, leading to an “infiltration excess” where water pools on the surface.
The article summarizes scientific findings from peer-reviewed journals without political bias.
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