Infiltration measurements with double-ring infiltrometers and a rainfall simulator under different surface conditions on an Oxisol

Abstract

Measurements of infiltration rate were carried out with double-ring infiltrometers and a rainfall simulator in a field experiment with different mulch covers and tillage systems on an Oxisol in Paraná, Brazil. Both methods of infiltration measurement showed the infiltration rate under black oats ( Avena strigosa Schieb.) to be the highest of the mulches tested, and to correlate significantly with mulch rate. Infiltration rates measured with double-ring infiltrometers were highest under conventional tillage and lowest under no-tillage, whereas the rainfall simulator produced inverse results. Final infiltration rates (after 2 h) obtained with the infiltrometers were 5.4, 3.2 and 2.2 times higher than those obtained with the rainfall simulator, for conventional, chisel plough and no-tillage systems, respectively.