MEASURING HYDROLOGIC PROPERTIES OF SOIL WITH A DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER AND MULTIPE-DEPTH TENSIOMETERS

A ring infiltrometer with varying width of buffer zone in combination with multiple-depth tensiometers was tested for determining the hydrologic properties of a Typic Dystrandept (Tantalus silty clay loam) soil profile on a Hawaii forested watershed. With location of one multiple-depth tensiometer at the vertical axis of the axi-symmetric flow system and one or more at a given radius outside the inner ring, both vertical and radial hydraulic gradients could be simultaneously measured. It was thus possible to estimate the lateral flow components and determine vertical infiltration rates and hydraulic conductivities (at field saturation) of the different soil horizons. Lateral flow decreased with time during infiltration. Under the moist to wet conditions of the soil under study, lateral flow was not appreciable. From an inner ring of 30-cm diameter, the latter was practically eliminated when a buffer ring of 90-cm diameter was employed. Its effect on the final infiltration rate was negligible even when a buffer ring of 60-cm diameter was used.

• Corporate Authors:

  Soil Science Society of America

  677 South Segoe Road
  Madison, WI  United States  53711
• Authors:
  • Ahuja, L R
  • EL-SWAIFY, S A
  • Rahman, A
• Conference:
  • Soil Science Society of America, Proceedings
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 494-499
• Serial:
  • Volume: 40
  • Issue Number: 4

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Flow; Hydraulic gradient; Hydrologic phenomena; Infiltration; Measuring instruments; Permeability coefficient; Soil horizon; Soil profiles; Streamflow; Tensiometers; Water; Watersheds
• Old TRIS Terms: Hydrologic data
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00141373
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 1 1977 12:00AM