Measurement of surface-soil hydraulic properties: Disk permeameters, tension infiltrometers, and other techniques

Ian White, Michael J. Sully, Keith M. Perroux

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

110 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this chapter we describe the development of in situ techniques to measure the hydraulic properties of the soil surface and to assess quantitatively the contributions of preferential flow paths to, and the impact of soil management practices on water entry into field soils. Both confined, one-dimensional techniques (tension infiltrometers, rainfall, sprinkler, and drip infiltrometers) and unconfined, threedimensional methods (the disk permeameter and multi-sized surface sources) are discussed. The assumptions and theory underpinning their use are presented. Applications of the three-dimensional techniques to measure sorptivity, S0; hydraulic conductivity, K0; and the hydraulic conductivity relation, K(Ψ), are given. Measurements of the soil structural parameters; mean characteristic pore size, λ0 and macroporosity area, AM are described. The relevance of these parameters to water entry, erosion, and plant growth are demonstrated. The limitations of all techniques are also discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Measurement of Soil Physical Properties
Subtitle of host publicationBringing Theory into Practice
PublisherWiley
Pages69-103
Number of pages35
ISBN (Electronic)9780891189251
ISBN (Print)9780891188018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

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