Soil-macropore and layer influences on saturated hydraulic conductivity measured with borehole permeameters

L. Wu, J. B. Swan, J. L. Nieber, R. R. Allmaras

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dye application during an infiltration test demonstrated water movement in macropores and erratic saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) or matric flux potential (φm). To evaluate the effects of macropores, cracks, and layered soil on Ksat and φm, a finite element solution of the Richards equation was used to simulate infiltration from a borehole. Borehole infiltration (for 2 h) was simulated for a Rozetta silt loam with four configurations. Three methods were tested for calculating Ksat. A negative Ksat was computed using the simultaneous equations approach with the Guelph model when macropores intersected the base of a borehole; negative Ksat or φm were produced when cylindrical macropores laterally intersected the borehole wall, depending on the vertical locations of the macropores. Soil with layered hydraulic properties also produced unrealistic Ksat. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)917-923
Number of pages7
JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal
Volume57
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1993

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