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Unsaturated Water Flow Through a Simulated Wheel Track
Author(s) -
Reicosky D. C.,
Voorhees W. B.,
Radke J. K.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500010001x
Subject(s) - penetrometer , hydraulic conductivity , compaction , loam , hydraulic head , pressure head , head (geology) , geotechnical engineering , environmental science , water flow , soil science , water content , water retention curve , track (disk drive) , field capacity , soil water , geology , hydrology (agriculture) , engineering , mechanical engineering , geomorphology
The effect of a simulated wheel track on water movement and soil matric potential distribution was studied in the laboratory. Water retention and conductivity data were obtained using standard laboratory techniques. The 2‐mm fraction of a Barnes loam was packed into a large soil container. The simulated wheel track (40 cm wide by 50 cm long) was imposed in the center of the soil container using a specially designed compaction tool attached to a penetrometer proving ring that compacted the soil in 25‐cm 2 segments at a pressure of 3.25 kg/cm 2 . Hydraulic head was measured using miniature spring‐loaded tensiometers installed at 5‐cm grid spacings in the wall of the soil container. In experimental runs, water content, bulk density and penetrometer resistance were measured for the soil packed “wet” and packed “dry.” Compaction from the simulated wheel track changed the pore size distribution, lowered hydraulic head values within 2 hours after evaporation started, and increased hydraulic gradients under the wheel track compared with those in the nonwheel‐track area. Two‐dimensional plots of hydraulic head at selected times showed that isopotential lines curved around the wheel‐track area. The data suggested less water flow in the wheel track.