Abstract
A method for estimating hydraulic conductivity from in-situ measurements of soil's hydraulic parameters from a point application of water was tested for three soil types. The method is based on Wooding's (1968) and Warrick's (1985) solutions of water flow from a shallow circular pond and point source, respectively. Measurements of the saturated radii and the associated flow rates are used to determine the saturated hydraulic conductivity and a for the assumed Gardner's (1958) exponential relationship between hydraulic conductivity and soil matric head. Effects of flow rate on saturated and unsaturated surface wetted regimes were also observed. The surface wetted areas were found to be significantly affected by flow rate in all three soils. The results from the point application method were compared to those from ring infiltrometer measurements and gave consistent values for saturated hydraulic conductivity. The method's simplicity, repeatability and the ability to make rapid in-situ measurement makes it practical and applicable to use under varying conditions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 115-120 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Applied Engineering in Agriculture |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - Mar 1998 |
Keywords
- Hydraulic conductivity
- Hydrology
- Soil
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Engineering