HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ben-Hur, M. Articles by Morin, J. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ben-Hur, M. Articles by Morin, J. Agricola Articles by Ben-Hur, M. Articles by Morin, J.

Variability of Infiltration in a Field with Surface-sealed Soil¹

ABSTRACT

The infiltration rates (IR) for water were measured at 30 random sites within a 1-ha field by sprinkler and flood infiltrometers. A portable rainfall infiltrometer was used to measure the infiltration rate under water-drop impact conditions, and double-ring infiltrometers were used to measure IR in flooded conditions. No spatial dependence of the steady-state IR values measured with the two methods was found. The mean steady-state IR measured with the flood infiltrometer was 57.8 mm h^–1 with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 41.8%. The mean steady-state IR measured with the sprinkler infiltrometer was 8.6 mm h^–1 with a CV of 14.7%. This difference was due to the formation of a soil surface seal from the impact of falling drops. The seal's hydraulic conductivity was much lower and less variable than that of bulk soil. Frequency distributions of the steady-state IRs measured with the two methods were different; that from the double-ring infiltrometer had a small deviation to the left, while that of the sprinkler infiltrometer had a large deviation to the right. The distribution of steady-state sprinkler IR values corresponds with the distribution in the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) in the field, verifying the known dependence between surface seal formation and the soil CEC and ESP relationship. This dependence was not found for the IR values measured by flooding. No correlation was found between the IR values measured by the two methods. Thus, for soils that seal, it is impossible to predict IR under water drops from measurements under flooding conditions.

¹ Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel. no. 1451-E, 1985 series.

² Soil Scientists, Institute of Soils and Water, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, and Soil Scientist, Soil Erosion Research Station, Emeq-Hefer, Israel, respectively.

Received for publication January 24, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Lado, M. Ben-Hur, and S. Assouline Effects of Effluent Irrigation on Seal Formation, Infiltration, and Soil Loss during Rainfall Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., August 4, 2005; 69(5): 1432 - 1439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Ben-Hur and S. Assouline Tillage Effects on Water and Salt Distribution in a Vertisol during Effluent Irrigation and Rainfall Agron. J., November 1, 2002; 94(6): 1295 - 1304. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]