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Seasonal variation in field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity in two swelling clay soils in Sweden
Author(s) -
MESSING I.,
JARVIS N. J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1990.tb00059.x
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , soil water , shrinkage , soil science , porosity , clay soil , swell , mineralogy , geology , materials science , geotechnical engineering , composite material , oceanography
SUMMARY A simple method (the inversed auger hole method) for measuring field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K fs ) was investigated. Measurements were carried out in the spring, summer and autumn at three depths in two Swedish clay soils (Ultuna and Limsta, with clay contents of 45–60%0 and 65–80%, under barley and grass/clover ley respectively). Seasonal fluctuations in K fs at Limsta were more pronounced, and were observed deeper in the profile. This was attributed primarily to larger structural changes due to a higher capacity for swell/shrink (normal shrinkage over the available water range) and an earlier drying up of the soil under grass/clover ley. It was shown that the measured K fs values were strongly correlated with the total inter aggregate (macro‐) porosity (e t ), estimated from a simple model of soil shrinkage. Combining the data from both soils, a single power‐law relation was adequate ( r = 0.73) to describe the variations in K fs with e t