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Antecedent Rainfall and Tillage Effects upon Infiltration
Author(s) -
Freebairn D. M.,
Gupta S. C.,
Onstad C. A.,
Rawls W. J.
Publication year - 1989
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/sssaj1989.03615995005300040032x
Subject(s) - tillage , infiltration (hvac) , loam , environmental science , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , surface runoff , hydraulic conductivity , silt , geology , soil water , agronomy , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , materials science , composite material , biology , ecology
Infiltration characteristics of a Port Byron (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludoll) silt loam soil located in the karst terrain of southeastern Minnesota were determined using both ponded water and simulated rainfall. Three tillage treatments, with and without surface cover, were studied to provide a range of soil physical conditions. Simulated rainfall was applied after various amounts of both natural and artificial rain had fallen since tillage. Large differences in infiltration characteristics were attributed to the development of a surface crust. In the absence of a crust, this soil was highly permeable (>200 mm h −1 ) while surface‐crusted infiltration rates were as low as 10 mm h −1 . Infiltration characteristics were related to depth of rainfall since tillage, cover, and random roughness. Statistical analysis showed that >77% of variation in infiltration rate, Green and Ampt hydraulic conductivity, and curve number was explained by the depth of rainfall since tillage, surface cover, and random roughness. A procedure is suggested that describes the change in infiltration characteristics as a function of rainfall since tillage for various tillage conditions.