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Determination of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity from Soil Percolation Test Results
Author(s) -
Fritton D. D.,
Ratvasky T. T.,
Petersen G. W.
Publication year - 1986
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/sssaj1986.03615995005000020003x
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , permeameter , soil water , soil science , infiltrometer , geotechnical engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , mathematics , environmental science , geology
Percolation times and saturated hydraulic conductivity rates from 28 test holes were used with data from the literature to relate saturated hydraulic conductivity, K , to percolation time, P . Sites were chosen to represent seven central and western Pennsylvania soils developed in shale and sandstone colluvium, alluvium, glacial outwash, or residual limestone parent materials. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined by the shallow well pump‐in method, an in‐situ test that measures three‐dimensional water flow into the soil. Percolation time was determined using a modification of approved procedures of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Dep. of Environmental Resources. Linear regression analysis performed on the base 10 logarithm of the 28 pairs of data from this study resulted in the equation: log K = −0.309 log P −4.296 (with P in units of s/m and K in units of m/s). This equation was compared to an equation derived from literature data and to a steady‐state three‐dimensional infiltration equation derived from soil‐water flow theory. It was concluded that the literature data and the theoretical equation were different from that generated in this study due to the use of a saturated hydraulic conductivity technique that was sensitive to the layered nature of the soils used. It was further concluded that an equation derived from theory, log K = ‐log ( P ) − log (1 + 4/πα r o ), could be used to convert percolation times, P , to saturated hydraulic conductivity values, K .