1. Cornie van Huyssteen University of the Free State Bloemfontein, South Africa Hydropedology in support of Hydrology and Eco-hydrology 17 November 2013 Farm Inn, Pretoria What makes wetlands function?

2. Wetlands  saturated in growing season  when the plants grow  hydrophytic vegetation  in the rooting zone  impacts soil morphology  redox morphology grey matrix redox accumulations Introduction

3. NWA: “Land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil.” Introduction

4. Land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil.” Introduction soil, terrain, climate driven by water may be inundated exclude extremes / human plant = indicator soil = substrate grading, not modal

5. Weatherley Weatherley Laboratory Study Manguzi Laboratory Study Florisbad What is a “saturated soil”

6. Weatherley grassland, six years weekly measurements, 28 sites

7. Weatheley Laboratory Study

8. Manguzi Laboratory Study

10. Weatherley free water rH = 20

11. Saturation in ot increased with: ne < ye < ye-gs < gr-gs < sp < gh depth to impervious layer decreased Weatherley Topsoils

12. Saturation (months/year) ChromaFe mottlesUnderlying horizon Depth to impervious layer (mm) <1>2nonere, ye, ne>650 1-3>2fewgs with many Fe mottles <650 3-6≤2commongs, sp with many Fe mottles, over gh <550 >6≤2common or many gh, gs with many Fe mottles

13. Florisbad

14. rH = 2(Eh/59 + pH) Ox Red

15. “… vegetation...adapted to life in saturated soil.”  soil saturated with water AD s>0.7 in growing season –species variation –regional variation  water must be reduced rH <20 Conclusion