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Subsurface Water Movement in an Upland Coastal Plain Soil as Influenced by Plinthite
Author(s) -
Blume L. J.,
Perkins H. F.,
Hubbard R. K.
Publication year - 1987
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/sssaj1987.03615995005100030036x
Subject(s) - water table , piezometer , hydrology (agriculture) , coastal plain , infiltration (hvac) , evapotranspiration , soil water , geology , loam , soil horizon , aquifer , environmental science , groundwater , soil science , paleontology , ecology , physics , geotechnical engineering , biology , thermodynamics
Water movement in a Tifton loamy sand (Plinthic Paleudult) was monitored using bromide as a tracer for 86 weeks under natural rainfall conditions following treatment in late summer. Potassium bromide (KBr) was placed at depths between 10 and 43 cm and 60 and 102 cm in a soil having a 4.4% slope. Bromide content of water from piezometers at distances up to 60 m downslope was determined at 2‐ to 4‐week intervals during periods of perched water starting 22 weeks after the injection date. Determinations were then made for a 65‐week period. Soil samples taken at depths to 4.72 m 1 yr after treatment were analyzed for bromide content. A perched or secondary water table occurred during periods of high rainfall and low evapotranspiration. Data indicate that subsurface flow downslope occurred primarily above and within the plinthic horizon during periods when a perched water table was present. Data from soil samples collected 1 yr after KBr treatment indicate that bromide moved slowly through the plinthic layer, was interceted by subsurface layers of high density, and was retained in the watershed until removed by lateral flow.