Comparison of various techniques to estimate the extent and persistence of soil water repellency

New techniques to estimate the extent and persistence of soil water repellency (SWR) were compared with commonly used techniques in assessing the results taken in the long-term agricultural experimental orchards in northern Israel irrigated with either freshwater (FW), primary treated wastewater (WW) or (secondary or tertiary) treated wastewater (TWW), where SWR induced by irrigation was registered (Ha Ma'apil, Neve Etan, and Shafdan). The extent of SWR was assessed by the repellency index RI, combined repellency index RI_c and modified repellency index RI_m. The persistence of SWR was assessed by the water drop penetration time WDPT and water repellency cessation time WRCT. Soils from different textural classes were classified as slightly to strongly water repellent according to WDPT or RI values. Relationship between RI_c and RI values can be well fitted by the linear equation, i.e., RI_c could be a good substitute for RI. Relationships between WRCT and WDPT values as well as RI_m and RI_c or RI values cannot be accurately described by the linear equation, i.e., RI_m is not a good substitute for RI for the values taken in this study.