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 Dunn, G. H. Articles by Phillips, R. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dunn, G. H. Articles by Phillips, R. E. Agricola Articles by Dunn, G. H. Articles by Phillips, R. E.

Equivalent Diameter of Simulated Macropore Systems during Saturated Flow

Dep. of Agronomy, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0091

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

Under natural conditions, soil pore systems that conduct water vary in shape, cross-sectional area, and continuity. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to predict the flow of water through these pore systems. We conducted an experiment to measure the equivalent spherical diameter, d_eq, of simulated nonuniform macropore systems for 11 combinations of lengths of three radii of cylindrical, straight-walled glass tubing during saturated flow. Also, we wanted to determine if experimental data of d_eq of the simulated macropores are described by a derived theoretical equation where d_eq is a function of the total length of the three tubes, their individual lengths, and their radii. Three known, uniform-i.-d. tubes of differing lengths, of cylindrical, straight-walled glass, in series configuration were used to simulate to a small degree the geometry of macropores as they occur in the field. Inside diameters were 5.08 (L), 1.88 (M), and 0.94 (S) mm. A constant length of 0.60 m was maintained for the pore system. The d_eq values of these non-uniform pore systems were measured. Flux values were measured at eight hydraulic pressures. Equivalent diameters were calculated using Poiseuille's law from the measured flux. The data points of d_eq of the pore system were described well by the derived equation. The experimental saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) was also well described by a derived function.

Contribution from the Kentucky Agric. Exp. Stn. as Journal no. 90-3-108.

Received for publication June 11, 1990.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K.-J. S. Kung, M. Hanke, C. S. Helling, E. J. Kladivko, T. J. Gish, T. S. Steenhuis, and D. B. Jaynes Quantifying Pore-Size Spectrum of Macropore-Type Preferential Pathways Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., June 28, 2005; 69(4): 1196 - 1208. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Bodhinayake, B. C. Si, and C. Xiao New Method for Determining Water-Conducting Macro- and Mesoporosity from Tension Infiltrometer Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2004; 68(3): 760 - 769. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Vidal-Beaudet and S. Charpentier Percolation Theory and Hydrodynamics of Soil-Peat Mixtures Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 1, 2000; 64(3): 827 - 835. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Ghodrati, M. Chendorain, and Y.J. Chang Characterization of Macropore Flow Mechanisms in Soil by Means of a Split Macropore Column Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 1999; 63(5): 1093 - 1101. [Abstract] [Full Text]