Freeze–thaw cycles and soil water content effects on infiltration rate of three Saskatchewan soils

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 485-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ymène Fouli ◽  
Barbara J. Cade-Menun ◽  
Herb W. Cutforth

Fouli, Y., Cade-Menun, B. J. and Cutforth, H. W. 2013. Freeze–thaw cycles and soil water content effects on infiltration rate of three Saskatchewan soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 485–496. Many soils at high latitudes or elevations freeze and thaw seasonally. More frequent freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) may affect ecosystem diversity and productivity because freeze–thaw cycles cause changes in soil physical properties and affect water movement in the landscape. This study examined the effects of FTCs (0, 1, 5, and 10) and antecedent soil water content [at soil water potentials (SWP) −1.5, −0.033 and −0.02 MPa] on the infiltration rate of three Saskatchewan soils (a clay, a loam, and a loamy sand). A tension infiltrometer was used at tensions [water potentials of the tension infiltrometer (WPT)] −5, −10 and −15 cm. Infiltration rates increased with increasing SWPs for the loam and clay soils due to higher infiltrability into drier soils. Infiltration rates decreased with increasing SWPs for the loamy sand, probably the result of less surface tension, unimodal porosity, and increased gravitational potential. Infiltration rates either decreased or did not change with increasing FTCs, and this may be due to increased water viscosity as temperatures approach freezing. Also, ice may have formed in soil pores after frequent FTCs, causing lower infiltration rates. Infiltration rates for clay at −1.5 MPa were higher than for loam or loamy sand, probably the result of clay mineralogy and potential shrinking and cracking. Soil texture and initial water content had a significant effect on infiltration rates, and FTCs either maintained or lowered infiltration rates.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14
Author(s):  
Bandi Hermawan ◽  
Pajrina Pajrina ◽  
Sumardi Sumardi ◽  
Indra Agustian

Most of the water loss from the soil profile occurred through the evapotranspiration process especially when the plant covers were under maximum growth periods.  This study aimed to apply a technique of measuring a dielectric variable for calculating soil water content and crop water use in the coarse and medium textured soils grown with upland rice.  A couple of wires were inserted into the soil repacked in a 10-kg polybag grown with upland rice, the electrical impedance representing the dielectric value was measured using an instrument called the impedance meter.  The impedance values were converted into the soil water content using a nonlinear regression model of ? = a.ebZ where a and b were constants.  Results showed that the proposed technique of measuring the electrical impedance has successfully been applied to calculate the soil water content and the water use by upland rice grown in loamy sand and sandy loam soils.  Cumulative water loss from loamy sand was about 4 L plant-1 higher for the coarse loamy sand in the first 30 days of a measurement period, but about 10 L plant-1 higher for finer sandy loam on the 90th day of the rice growth period.  Higher biomass of upland rice in the sandy loam soil could increase the evapotranspiration rates and be the main reason for higher water use in this soil.


2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. vzj2012.0075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Parkin ◽  
Axel P. von Bertoldi ◽  
Amber J. McCoy

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamorudeen O Yusuf ◽  
Rasheed O Obalowu ◽  
Gideon T Akinleye ◽  
Selia I Adio-Yusuf

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness and accuracy of tension infiltrometer (TI) over double ring infiltrometer (DI) for determining infiltration rate (I) of loamy sand. Sorptivity (S), infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity (K) are soil properties that govern the rate of entry of water into the soil and its movement within the soil. The ease and accurate measurement of these properties depend on the instruments used. DI operates by ponding water and could be affected by preferential water flow during infiltration test which could not be avoided especially on a fertile soil. DI and TI at water potentials of -0.02, -0.04, -0.05 and -0.06 m were used to determine infiltration rate of the soil. The mean values of sorptivity for DI and TI at water potentials of -0.02, -0.04, -0.05 and -0.06 m were 847.02, 63.50, 33.15, 29.90 and 19.46 mm/h1/2, respectively. Mean values of infiltration rates for DI and TI at -0.02, -0.04, -0.05 and -0.06 m water potentials were 471.26, 176.84, 73.73, 71.32 and 37.73 mm/h, respectively. Mean values of hydraulic conductivity for DI and TI at -0.02, -0.04, -0.05 and -0.06 m were 344.45, 22.42, 18.61and 16.83 mm/h, respectively. DI required 100-150 litres for the infiltration test, difficult where water is very scarce and gave higher values of infiltration rate. TI saved water (2-3 litres), controlled preferential water flow and values of S, I and K were within the range obtained by other researchers. TI is more effective for measuring hydraulic properties soil than DI.Keywords:Double ring infiltrometer, tension infiltrometer, sorptivity, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Donny Harisuseno ◽  
Dian Noorvy Khaeruddin ◽  
Riyanto Haribowo

Abstract Time of concentration, Tc, is defined as time elapsed from the beginning of rainfall infiltrated into soil layer until it reaches a constant infiltration rate (fc) which is indicated an equilibrium subsurface flow rate. In hydrological view, time of concentration plays a significant role in elaboration of transformation of rainfall into runoff in a watershed. The aims of this research are to define influence of soil density and soil water content in determining time of concentration using infiltration concept based on water balance theory, and to find out the effect of land slope this time. Watershed laboratory experiment using rainfall simulator was employed to examine time of concentration associated with infiltration process under different slope, soil density and soil water content based on water balance concept. The steady rainfall intensity was simulated using sprinklers which produced 2 dm3∙min−1. Rainfall, runoff and infiltration analysis were carried out at laboratory experiment on soil media with varied of soil density (d) and soil water content (w), where variation of land slopes (s) were designed in three land slopes 2, 3 and 4%. The results show that relationship between soil density and land slope to time of concentration showed a quadratic positive relationship where the higher the soil density address to the longer time of concentration. Moreover, time of concentration had an inverse relationship with soil water content and land slope that means time of concentration decreased when the soil water content increased.


CATENA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 166 ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuting Cheng ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
Guoce Xu ◽  
Zhanbin Li ◽  
Tian Wang ◽  
...  

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debjit Roy ◽  
Xinhua Jia ◽  
Dean D. Steele ◽  
Xuefeng Chu ◽  
Zhulu Lin

Predicting surface runoff and flooding in seasonally frozen areas such as the Red River of the North Basin (RRB) in USA is a challenging task. It depends on the knowledge of the complex process of infiltration in frozen soil, such as phase changes of water, ice content and distribution in the infiltration zone (the top 0–30 cm of the soil profile), soil pore size distribution, soil temperature and freeze–thaw cycles. In this study, the infiltration rates into frozen soil (Colvin silty clay loam according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Classification, and Chernozem according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) international soil Classification) were measured at three different initial water contents: permanent wilting point (PWP), θpwp; field capacity (FC), θfc; and between FC and PWP, θmid. Laboratory infiltration experiments were conducted using a Cornell sprinkle infiltrometer with three replications for each initial water content. Volumetric soil water content (θv) and soil temperature at three depths were also continuously monitored using sensors. The average infiltration rates were 0.66, 0.38, and 0.59 cm/min for three initial water contents (θpwp, θmid, and θfc, respectively). Initial infiltration into frozen soil occurred quickly in the soil with θpwp because the soil was dry. Melted ice water contributed to the total soil water content over time, so it made the initial infiltration comparatively slower in the soil with θmid. Initial infiltration was also slower in the soil with θfc because the wet soil had very small pore space, so the soil rapidly reached its saturation after the infiltration started. The Horton infiltration equation was fitted with the observed infiltration rates for the soils with three initial water contents, and the goodness of fit was evaluated by using the coefficient of determination (R2) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE). The final infiltration rates from the fitted Horton equations were 0.060, 0.010, and 0.027 cm/min for the initial water contents (θpwp, θmid, and θfc, respectively). The soil water content along the soil profile changed with the amount of infiltrating water over time. However, the initial soil water content and melt water from ice resulting from soil temperature rise regulated the change in soil water content. The amount of ice melt water contribution to soil water content change varied among the soils with different initial water contents (θpwp, θmid, and θfc, respectively). The θv changed gradually in the θpwp soil, rapidly at 0 °C in the θmid soil, and less in the θfc soil. The change in pore distribution due to freeze–thaw cycles and soil packing altered the soil hydraulic properties and the infiltration into the soil. This study can provide critical information for flood forecasting model and subsurface drainage design in the RRB.


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