Berm Method for Quantification of Infiltration at the Plot Scale in High Conductivity Soils
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 19, Issue 2
Abstract
Measuring infiltration at the plot scale is difficult, especially for high hydraulic conductivity soils. At the plot scale, the infiltration rate is usually calculated by comparing surface runoff to rainfall. Direct measurement of infiltration beyond the point scale is typically limited to locations where land forming (e.g., infiltration pond) has been performed or fields with basin irrigation systems. The standard method for field measurement of point-scale infiltration is the double ring infiltrometer, which is limited in size (typically 30 cm diameter). In this research, a new method is proposed that uses a temporary berm constructed of a water-filled 15-cm diameter vinyl hose with the edges sealed to the soil using bentonite. The berm is capable of confining infiltration plot areas of various sizes (e.g., and areas in this research). Water tanks with 0.8 and capacity were used to supply water to the plots by gravity flow. A constant head could be maintained within the plot using either an automatic float valve for lower infiltration rates or a manually operated gate valve for higher infiltration rates. Observation wells were installed outside the plots to monitor for water table rise and tracers that leached into the groundwater. Guidelines are provided for tank size and refilling frequency for conducting field experiments. The procedure was tested on soils ranging from silt loam to coarse gravel using 12 and plots at three alluvial floodplain sites. Measured infiltration rates ranged over two orders of magnitude () and were typically greater than the estimated permeability of the limiting layer reported in soil surveys, suggesting the need for larger scale field measurements of infiltration rates.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the U.S. Geological Survey with a 104(g) grant. This material was also developed under STAR Fellowship Assistance Agreement No. FP-917333 awarded by the U.S. EPA. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA; thus, the views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors, and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this paper. The authors also acknowledge Mrs. Shannon Robertson, Mr. Dan Butler, and Mrs. Sara Boelkins for providing access to the alluvial floodplain property.
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 18, 2012
Accepted: Feb 6, 2013
Published online: Feb 9, 2013
Discussion open until: Jul 9, 2013
Published in print: Feb 1, 2014
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