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Correcting laboratory‐measured moisture retention data for gravels
Author(s) -
Khaleel R.,
Relyea J. F.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/97wr01068
Subject(s) - moisture , fraction (chemistry) , soil water , water content , soil science , bulk density , vadose zone , environmental science , mineralogy , geology , geotechnical engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , materials science , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry
Vadose zone soils in desert environments often contain a high gravel fraction (>2 mm size). Laboratory measurements of moisture retention are typically made on the fine fraction ∥<2 mm size); the measurements are then corrected for field conditions by accounting for the gravel fraction in the sample. A frequently used correction procedure for gravelly soils is tested. A total of 23 samples, containing gravel fractions up to 80% (by weight), were analyzed in the laboratory. Retention data on <2 mm size fraction were obtained and compared with measurements on bulk (soil and gravel) field samples. Results indicate that for the relatively wet moisture regime considered in this study, retention data for gravelly soils can be estimated reasonably well by correcting the pressure cell measurements for the field bulk density and the fraction of fines present in the field samples. Further work is needed on testing the correction procedure for the dry moisture regime.