Preferential water and solute fluxes in a model macropored porous medium as a function of flow rate (original) (raw)

Macropores in soils significantly influence water flow and solute transport, especially near saturation. This research investigates water flow and tracer transport in a macropored medium by analyzing solute breakthrough curves (BTCs) at varying flow rates in a controlled setup. Results indicate that high flow rates promote preferential flow through macropores with a mono-modal BTC, while lower rates lead to bimodal transfer, revealing interactions with the surrounding matrix. The findings enhance understanding of solute behavior in macropored soils, challenging existing dual porosity models and emphasizing the need for further exploration of such systems.