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Factors Affecting Field-Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Measured by the Borehole Permeameter Technique

P.O. Box 91, Port Royal, PA 17082-0091

D. D. Fritton

Dep. of Agronomy, Pennsylvania State Univ., 116 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, University Park, PA 16802

*Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

The borehole permeameter method for measuring field-saturated hydraulic conductivity, K_fs, is prone to variability due to soil smearing during borehole excavation, and swelling that results from differences in initial soil-water content. The effects of borehole preparation techniques and initial soil-water pressure on K_fs were analyzed in this study. Eighty boreholes were studied in a strongly structured clayey soil (a fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf). A version of the borehole permeameter method was used to measure K_fs in soil that was initially at soil-water pressures of 0, –0.016, –0.050 and –0.080 MPa. Three different borehole excavation techniques were also studied to determine the effect on K_fs of soil smearing during borehole preparation. The treatments consisted of removing a uniform thickness of soil from the sides of the borehole with an ice pick, scarifying the sides of the borehole with a wire brush, and no treatment. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity for the brushed treatments was similar to K_fs values obtained when no treatment was used. The ice pick method resulted in significantly higher K_fs. When K_fs values measured using the ice pick method were analyzed, no significant effect of initial soil-water pressure was evident. This could possibly be due to soil variability.

Contribution from the Pennsylvania Agric. Exp. Stn. Supported by Hatch Project 2764.

Received for publication November 6, 1992.