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Simple Field Method for Determining Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity
Author(s) -
Ankeny Mark D.,
Ahmed Mushtaque,
Kaspar Thomas C.,
Horton Robert
Publication year - 1991
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/sssaj1991.03615995005500020028x
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , infiltration (hvac) , vadose zone , conductivity , soil science , geotechnical engineering , mechanics , geology , materials science , soil water , chemistry , physics , composite material
A new method is proposed for determining in situ unsaturated hydraulic conductivities from unsaturated infiltration measurements made at several tensions on the same infiltration surface. Wooding's equation for steady‐state unconfined infiltration rates is used in calculating hydraulic conductivities. Hydraulic conductivities calculated with the new method are consistent with unit gradient laboratory measurements of saturated and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. This simple field method is potentially valuable because it is faster than unit gradient laboratory methods, and it is less disruptive of pore continuity than other field infiltration techniques.