Addressing soil data needs and data gaps in catchment-scale environmental modelling: the European perspective

• DOI: 10.5194/soil-10-587-2024
• Publication Date: 2024-09-09T11:49:48Z
• Authors: Brigitta Szabó; Piroska Kassai; Svajunas Plunge; Attila Nemes; Péter Braun; Michael Strauch; Felix Witing; János Mészáros; Natalja Čerkasova

Abstract. To effectively guide agricultural management planning strategies and policy, it is important to simulate water quantity quality patterns quantify the impact of land use climate change on soil functions, health, hydrological other underlying processes. Environmental models that depict alterations in surface groundwater at catchment scale require substantial input, particularly concerning movement retention unsaturated zone. Over past few decades, numerous information sources, containing structured data diverse basic advanced parameters, alongside innovative solutions estimate missing data, have become increasingly available. This study aims (i) catalogue open-source datasets pedotransfer functions (PTFs) applicable simulation studies across European catchments; (ii) evaluate performance selected PTFs; (iii) present compiled R scripts proposing estimation address physical, hydraulic, chemical needs gaps catchment-scale environmental modelling Europe. Our focus encompassed properties, bulk density, porosity, albedo, erodibility factor, field capacity, wilting point, available saturated hydraulic conductivity, phosphorus content. We aim recommend widely supported sources pioneering prediction methods maintain physical consistency them through streamlined workflows.