Model Study of Ring Infiltrometer Performance under Low Initial Soil Moisture

Abstract

A glass-faced tank provides an excellent opportunity to observe the nature and rate of advance of the wetting front from a ring infiltrometer under varying conditions of profile, soil moisture and ring size. A comparison of the hydraulic conductivity of the soil material contained within the ring infiltrometer with the observed infiltration velocity illustrates the significance of the hydraulic gradient upon the observed rate. The study further indicates the relative importance of ring size, ring depth and profile upon infiltration velocities.