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China's vast and diverse landscapes present a unique challenge in characterizing soil hydraulic properties (SHPs). These properties, encompassing soil water retention, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, infiltration rate and air-filled porosity, are fundamental for understanding soil water processes, nutrient cycling, and plant growth across the country. This special issue collection aims to showcase the latest advancements and regional considerations in SHP characterization within China. It will highlight characterizing the spatio-temporal variability of soil properties, and can also incorporate solute transport process and mechanisms of root water uptake in soil models.

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This fully Open Access special issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and methodological contributions that address various aspects of SHP characterization in China. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Field-based and laboratory methods: Novel approaches and advancements in field and laboratory techniques used to measure SHPs in Chinese soils. This could include the application of new technologies, adaptations of existing methods for specific soil types, and evaluations of measurement uncertainties.

Regional variations: Studies that investigate the influence of specific Chinese geographic regions on SHPs. This may involve the impact of soil types (e.g., Loess Plateau, black soils), land-use practices (e.g., deforestation, agriculture), and climatic conditions on water retention and flow characteristics.

Modeling and prediction: Development and application of inverse modelling, pedotransfer functions (PTFs) and machine learning models for soil hydraulic properties characterization. Research on regionalization of PTFs and exploring the potential of machine learning for robust predictions of SHPs under various scenarios are encouraged.

From Soil Properties to Sustainable Practices: Contributions that demonstrate the practical application of SHP characterization in China. This could encompass simulation of modelling of saturated unsaturated hydrological processes, soil water vapour heat transport processes, optimizing irrigation practices, managing water resources, mitigating soil erosion, and informing land-use planning decisions.

Li Na, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, China

Wang Lichun, Tianjin University, China

Paolo Nasta,  Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli, Italy

Yonghong Hao, Tianjin Normal University, China

Lingzao Zeng, Zhejiang University, China

Tiejun Wang, Tianjin University, China

Ying Zhao, Ludong University, China

Meng Mao, China Agricultural University, China