FROM DROUGHT TO FLOOD - CATCHMENT RESPONSES REVEALED USING NOVEL SOIL-WATER PROBES

New soil water probes, developed at the Macaulay Land Use Research Ins titute (MLURI), were used in catchment studies during the transition f rom drought to flood, revealing insights into both spatial and tempora l behaviour of water in the soil profile. Measured soil water content showed that the mineral horizons became progressively wetter upwards f rom the base of the profile, which was confirmed by linked hydrochemic al studies. After severe droughts the amounts of water required to rai se soils back to field capacity may have long-term consequences on wat er abstraction. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.