Design Matters: Investigating Solute Leaching Dynamics With Multicolumn Experiments and Dual‐Porosity Inverse Modeling

Pirlot, Clémence; Degré, Aurore

doi:10.1002/clen.70140

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Design Matters: Investigating Solute Leaching Dynamics With Multicolumn Experiments and Dual‐Porosity Inverse Modeling

Pirlot, Clémence; Degré, Aurore

2026 • In Clean: Soil, Air, Water, 54 (3)

Peer reviewed

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/344046

DOI
10.1002/clen.70140

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Keywords :

column diameter; column height; dispersivity; preferential flow; sampling method; soil structure

Abstract :

[en] ABSTRACT Soil column experiments are widely used to study contaminant leaching, but variations in methodological designs can strongly affect transport results and risk assessments. This study quantitatively evaluates the influence of four key factors: sampling method, soil structure, column dimensions, and the presence of stratified layers. Twenty‐one columns were built using silty agricultural soil, including both disturbed and intact cores, with diameters of 8.4 and 24 cm and heights of 20 and 35 cm. Columns were sampled either manually or with a mechanical corer. Tracer leaching experiments were conducted, and dual‐porosity (DP) inverse modeling with Hydrus 1‐D was used to determine water and solute mobility parameters. The results demonstrate that soil structure, column dimensions, and sampling techniques strongly affect water and solute transport dynamics. Soil structure has a critical influence on solute transport dynamics. Disturbed columns tend to underestimate the rapid transport of contaminants and overestimate their retention, providing an unreliable representation of groundwater contamination risk. Column diameter had limited effect in disturbed soils, but larger columns exhibited increased mobile zone fractions. Column height significantly influenced the results, with shorter columns overestimating leaching potential. Furthermore, columns sampled with mechanical corers showed artificial preferential flow induced by vibration, compromising the representativeness of solute transport. This study highlights the critical role of column design in leaching experiments. By clarifying how these methodological factors influence leaching experiments and DP parameters, this work aims to support the development of standardized practices in soil column leaching research and improve the reliability of contamination risk assessments.

Research Center/Unit :

TERRA Research Centre. Echanges Eau - Sol - Plantes - ULiège

Disciplines :

Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Agriculture & agronomy

Author, co-author :

Pirlot, Clémence ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre

Degré, Aurore ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Echanges Eau - Sol - Plantes

Language :

English

Title :

Design Matters: Investigating Solute Leaching Dynamics With Multicolumn Experiments and Dual‐Porosity Inverse Modeling

Publication date :

March 2026

Journal title :

Clean: Soil, Air, Water

ISSN :

1863-0650

eISSN :

1863-0669

Publisher :

Wiley

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Development Goals :

6. Clean water and sanitation

Additional URL :

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/clen.70140

Funders :

SPGE - Société Publique de Gestion de l'Eau

Available on ORBi :

since 16 April 2026

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