Call for Papers

Preferential Flow and Eco-Hydrological Processes in the Vadose Zone

Submission deadline: Saturday, 31 January 2026

Preferential flow refers to situations where most of the water flow in the vadose zone predominately occurs through localized paths at a faster rate, bypassing the soil matrix without limited resistance. Due to its faster rate relative to matrix flow, preferential flow determines the distribution of water through the entire soil profiles even to the deeper soil layers. Although preferential flow accounts for only a minor fraction of the soil layers, its contribution to water flow may exceed that of matrix flow by several orders of magnitude. A large number of studies have treated preferential flow as an important factor driving the eco-hydrological processes in various landscapes. Preferential flow can significantly affect severe land degradation by improving soil infiltration ability to control runoff generation, increasing groundwater recharge by water regulation, and increasing vegetation root zone water replenishment and availability. Despite the promising focus on this topic, the mechanisms of the formation of preferential flow paths hinder the development in understanding preferential flow clearly.

There is an urgent need for scientific advances in developing new measurement techniques and theoretical approaches on this topic. The proposed special issue will welcome studies on the following topics, but not limited to:

  • Tracking preferential flow using high-tech techniques
  • Linking preferential flow with soil spatial variation, living or decayed roots, rainfall etc
  • Modeling preferential flow using machine learning methods
  • Novel insights for the development of preferential flow theory
  • Coupling preferential flow and soil carbon dynamics
  • Coupling preferential flow and soil erosion processes
  • Coupling preferential flow and debris flow, landslides, and other geological disaster processes

We encourage submitting papers on these and other topics related to preferential flow and eco-hydrological processes in the vadose zone.


Guest Editors:

Jianzhi Niu
Beijing Forestry University,
Beijing

Ronny Berndtsson
Lund University,
Sweden

Yinghu Zhang
Nanjing Forestry University,
China

Xiongwen Chen
Alabama A&M University,
United States

Linus Zhang
Lund University,
Sweden

John Koestel
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
Sweden


Keywords: Preferential flow; Eco-hydrological processes; Soil carbon dynamics; Soil properties; Roots; Machine learning; Soil erosion; Debris flow; Landslide.


Submission Guidelines/Instructions:

Please refer to the Author Guidelines to prepare your manuscript. When submitting your manuscript, please answer the question "Is this submission for a special issue?" by selecting the special issue title from the drop-down list.

Submit now