Stony soils

Abstract

This chapter provides a basic overview of the properties of stony soils: their main differences compared to non-stony soils, their occurrence, classification, basic physical and hydrophysical properties, as well as the methodology for their quantification, sampling methods, measurement of the hydrophysical properties of stony soils and the definition of so-called effective parameters needed for water-flow modelling in stony soils. The chapter also contains links to the latest literature in this area. An illustrative example of the evaluation of effective stony-soil parameters for particular stony soil from the Western High Tatra Mts. (Slovakia) and results of the illustrative water-flow modelling in the stony soil (a case study) are presented and discussed.