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Shallow-Layer Soil Water Potential Changes Due to Waterdrop Impact¹

ABSTRACT

Soil shear strength is inversely related to soil water matric potential (_m), which changes in the soil during a rainstorm. An understanding of surface soil _m changes due to rainfall may give an insight in soil erosion dynamics. Changes in soil water matric potential (_m) under 1- and 3-mm simulated soil surface seals were monitored following single waterdrop impacts on the soil surface. Selected _m's were applied to the base of the seals with a hanging water column during the tests. After waterdrop impact, changes in _m were detected within 2 to 3 s under 1-mm surface seals and within 6 to 10 s under 3-mm surface seals. The time required for _m to equilibrate with the preimpact _m (that _m applied continuously with the hanging water column) ranged from 160 to 280 s. Equilibration time decreased slightly with increasing preimpact _m's and was significantly affected by the type of soil material used to make the seal, the applied _m, and the thickness of the seal. Increases in _m under the 1-mm surface seal due to waterdrop impact ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 kPa depending on _m applied via the hanging water column. Smaller _m changes were observed under the 3-mm surface seal.

¹ Journal Paper J-11192 of the Iowa Agric. & Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, IA. Project 2412. Funds were provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the Iowa Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Iowa State Univ., Iowa Conserv. Commission, and Wildlife Management Inst., cooperating).

² Associate Professor, Agronomy Dep., Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011, and Research Associate, Dep. of Plant and Soil Science, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (formerly Research Assistant, Iowa State Univ.), respectively.

Received for publication September 29, 1983. Accepted for publication January 11, 1984.

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