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Vadose Zone Journal is a unique platform for interdisciplinary research on the vadose zone, a critical part of the Earth's surface extending from the soil's upper layer to the groundwater. This international, peer-reviewed journal publishes diverse content, including original research, reviews, and special sections, spanning numerous disciplines. It disseminates fundamental and applied research, promoting science-based decision-making and sustainable vadose zone management. Topics covered range from fluid flow and climate change impacts to waste disposal, biogeochemical processes, subsurface heterogeneity, and more.
Vadose Zone Journal is ranked Number 1 in Best Earth Science Journals for Soil Science on Research.com.
SPECIAL SECTIONS: Call for papers! View the open calls for papers for upcoming issues of Vadose Zone Journal.
Featured
Shear strength equation of soils in a wide suction range under various initial void ratios
Shear strength equation is a basic theory for solving many geotechnical engineering problems. Although the shear strength equation has received widespread attention, shear strength of clay under wide suction range and different initial void ratio e conditions cannot be well predicted. A recently published study by Song and Zhang aims to establish a new strength equation applicable to soils within a wide suction range. Read more.
Browse Articles
Open access
Evaluation of a practical approach for field scale moisture flow modeling in heterogeneous media at a semiarid site
- 6 October 2024
Core Ideas
- Numerical simulation results of field-scale moisture flow are compared with field observations.
- Directional dependence of pore-scale tortuosity-connectivity leads to unsaturated K macroscopic anisotropy.
- Ensemble averaged Richards equation steady-state simulations capture well the central tendency of field data.
Open access
Segmental retention models for representing the hydraulic properties of evolving structured soils
- 1 October 2024
Core Ideas
- We show a method for dividing existing retention curves into smooth sub-curves corresponding to pore size classes.
- To represent an evolving soil structure, we scale the sub-curves and sum them to form a composite retention curve.
- We estimate the effect of (de)compaction on permeability using the composite retention curve and the Mualem model.
- We apply the approach to modeled response of soil structure to mechanical compaction and to organic amendments.
Open access
Soil water content estimation by using ground penetrating radar data full waveform inversion with grey wolf optimizer algorithm
- 12 September 2024
Core Ideas
- A novel and efficient inversion scheme using GWO for estimating SWC from GPR full waveform data.
- The proposed scheme was tested on numerical models with noise-free and noisy data and field experimental data.
- Results show the potential of GPR FWI based on GWO for estimating SWC.
free access
Issue Information
- 9 September 2024
Graphical Abstract
On the cover: The day that the seed is planted is the first day of the rest of its life. The seedling has moved into its new home, which provides the moisture and nutrition required for germination and growth. This soil environment provides the first step sustaining the plant throughout its life cycle. Photo credit: Connor Sible.
Open access
Joint multiscale dynamics in soil–vegetation–atmosphere systems: Multifractal cross‐correlation analysis of arid and semiarid rangelands
Ernesto Sanz, Andrés F. Almeida-Ñaulay, Carlos G. H. Díaz-Ambrona, Sergio Zubelzu Mínguez, Ana M. Tarquis,
- 3 September 2024
Core Ideas
- We show multifractal detrended cross-correlation analysis as a tool to describe joint and complex dynamics.
- Differences are found in the ecological interaction between arid and semiarid rangelands.
- Cross-correlated and average univariate analyses provide differences in multifractal parameters.
- Almeria shows higher multifractality, indicating more complex and variable environmental interactions.
- Soil water availability patterns influence normalized difference vegetation index and biomass dynamics more in Madrid than in Almeria.
Latest news
Open access
Modeling Soil Processes: Review, Key Challenges, and New Perspectives
H. Vereecken, A. Schnepf, J.W. Hopmans, M. Javaux, D. Or, T. Roose, J. Vanderborght, M.H. Young, W. Amelung, M. Aitkenhead, S.D. Allison, S. Assouline, P. Baveye, M. Berli, N. Brüggemann, P. Finke, M. Flury, T. Gaiser, G. Govers, T. Ghezzehei, P. Hallett, H.J. Hendricks Franssen, J. Heppell, R. Horn, J.A. Huisman, D. Jacques, F. Jonard, S. Kollet, F. Lafolie, K. Lamorski, D. Leitner, A. McBratney, B. Minasny, C. Montzka, W. Nowak, Y. Pachepsky, J. Padarian, N. Romano, K. Roth, Y. Rothfuss, E.C. Rowe, A. Schwen, J. Šimůnek, A. Tiktak, J. Van Dam, S.E.A.T.M. van der Zee, H.J. Vogel, J.A. Vrugt, T. Wöhling, I.M. Young,
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 1-57
- 13 May 2016
Open access
The role of hydropedology when aiming for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 14 July 2023
Core Ideas
- Linking soil research with the SDG debate favors its recognition in the policy and public arena.
- Hydropedology is more effective in the above context than separate activities of soil physics or pedology.
- Innovative modeling and measurement methods, digital mapping, and proximal sensing are needed to vitalize hydropedology.
- Hydropedological contributions to ecosystem services requires a lean, interdisciplinary, operational, and cost-effective approach.
Open access
Review and Evaluation of Root Respiration and of Natural and Agricultural Processes of Soil Aeration
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 1-47
- 15 February 2018
Open access
Soil water potential: A historical perspective and recent breakthroughs
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 10 June 2022
Core Ideas
- A historical perspective and recent breakthroughs on soil water potential is provided.
- Critical analysis of historical definitions of soil water potential is provided to identify their strength and flaws.
- Fundamental differences between adsorptive and capillarity soil water potentials are clarified.
- A general soil water potential definition unifying both adsorption and capillarity mechanisms is provided.
- Practical implications of unified soil water potential definition to fundamental soil properties are illustrated.
UPDATES
Open access
Current understanding of subsurface transport of micro‐ and nanoplastics in soil
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 4 February 2021
- 49
SPECIAL SECTION: AGROGEOPHYSICS: GEOPHYSICS TO INVESTIGATE SOIL–PLANT–ATMOSPHERE INTERACTIONS & SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT I
Open access
Sensing the electrical properties of roots: A review
Solomon Ehosioke, Frédéric Nguyen, Sathyanarayan Rao, Thomas Kremer, Edmundo Placencia-Gomez, Johan Alexander Huisman, Andreas Kemna, Mathieu Javaux, Sarah Garré,
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 8 December 2020
- 42
SPECIAL SECTION: AGROGEOPHYSICS: GEOPHYSICS TO INVESTIGATE SOIL–PLANT–ATMOSPHERE INTERACTIONS & SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT I
Open access
Time‐lapse geophysical assessment of agricultural practices on soil moisture dynamics
Guillaume Blanchy, Chris. W. Watts, Jake Richards, Jennifer Bussell, Katharina Huntenburg, Debbie L. Sparkes, Mark Stalham, Malcolm J. Hawkesford, W. Richard Whalley, Andrew Binley,
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 28 October 2020
- 32
TECHNICAL NOTE
Open access
Effect of freeze–thaw cycling on the soil‐freezing characteristic curve of five Canadian soils
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 23 May 2020
- 29
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open access
Rock outcrops change infiltrability and water flow behavior in a karst soil
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 17 December 2019
- 24
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open access
Soil evaporation and its impact on salt accumulation in different landscapes under freeze–thaw conditions in an arid seasonal frozen region
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 3 February 2021
- 22
Original Research
Open access
Monitoring Soil Water Content Using Time‐Lapse Horizontal Borehole GPR Data at the Field‐Plot Scale
Anja Klotzsche, Lena Lärm, Jan Vanderborght, Gaochao Cai, Shehan Morandage, Miriam Zörner, Harry Vereecken, Jan van der Kruk,
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 1 November 2019
- 27
SPECIAL SECTION: AGROGEOPHYSICS: GEOPHYSICS TO INVESTIGATE SOIL–PLANT–ATMOSPHERE INTERACTIONS & SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT I
Open access
3D mapping of soil organic carbon content and soil moisture with multiple geophysical sensors and machine learning
Tobias Rentschler, Ulrike Werban, Mario Ahner, Thorsten Behrens, Philipp Gries, Thomas Scholten, Sandra Teuber, Karsten Schmidt,
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 4 September 2020
- 23
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
Open access
On the impact of increasing drought on the relationship between soil water content and evapotranspiration of a grassland
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 8 May 2020
- 24
SPECIAL SECTION: TRANSDISCIPLINARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN SOIL PHYSICAL HYDROLOGY I
Open access
Modeling tomato evapotranspiration and yield responses to salinity using different macroscopic reduction functions
- Vadose Zone Journal
- 30 September 2020
- 21
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