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Calculation of Steady State Capillary Rise from the Groundwater Table in Multi‐Layered Soil Profiles
Author(s) -
Bloemen G. W.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
zeitschrift für pflanzenernährung und bodenkunde
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.644
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1522-2624
pISSN - 0044-3263
DOI - 10.1002/jpln.19801430612
Subject(s) - water table , groundwater , soil science , soil water , capillary action , capillary fringe , soil texture , humus , table (database) , soil horizon , geology , geotechnical engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , geography , computer science , meteorology , data mining
Abstract A computer program CRISP is presented to calculate steady state capillary rise from the groundwater table in single‐ and multi‐layered soil profiles. The calculation is based on an integration of Darcy's equation and uses k‐v functions, described with a modified formula of Brooks and Corey (1964). The three constants in this formula can be evaluated from texture and organic matter content, accounting for hysteresis (Bloemen, 1980). Application of the program CRISP shows that the heights of capillary rise from the groundwater table in single‐layered soil profiles may be largely different. Of more interest for practical matters is capillary rise in multi‐layered soil profiles, which may be strongly influenced by the depth of the groundwater table. The deepest admissable level of the groundwater table that guarantees a certain water supply to the root zone appears to vary widely for different soil profiles. This can be the starting point for a classification of soil profiles on the basis of their potentialities for capillary water supply. Characteristic textures and humus contents of upper soils and subsoils of different geo‐genetical groups may thus become distinctive features. Possibly a subdivision of these groups is necessary. The depths of changes between distinguished layers are significant. The actual range of variations of the depth of the groundwater table should play part in a soil classification.