Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Infiltration Rate Test
Infiltration Rate Test
0 INTRODUCTION
Infiltration is the downward entry of water into the soil. The velocity at which
water enters the soil is infiltration rate. Infiltration rate is typically expressed in inches
per hour. Water from rainfall or irrigation must first enter the soil for it to be of value.
Infiltration is an indicator of the soils ability to allow water movement into and
through the soil profile. Soil temporarily stores water, making it available for root
uptake, plant growth and habitat for soil organisms.
When water is supplied at a rate that exceeds the soils infiltration capacity, it
moves downslope as runoff on sloping land or ponds on the surface of level land.
When runoff occurs on bare or poorly vegetated soil, erosion takes place. Runoff
carries nutrients, chemicals, and soil with it, resulting in decreased soil productivity,
off-site sedimentation of water bodies and diminished water quality. Sedimentation
decreases storage capacity of reservoirs and streams and can lead to flooding.
Restricted infiltration and ponding of water on the soil surface results in poor
soil aeration, which leads to poor root function and plant growth, as well as reduced
nutrient availability and cycling by soil organisms. Ponding and soil saturation
decreases soil strength, destroys soil structure, increases detachment of soil particles,
and makes soil more erodible. On the soil surface rather than in the soil profile,
ponded water is subject to increased evaporation, which leads to decreased water
available for plant growth.
2.0 OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of the infiltration rate of water into soils in the
field.
3.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the knowledge and
skills they have learned to:
4.0 THEORY
The volume of water used during each measured time interval is converted
into an incremental infiltration velocity for both the inner ring and annular space
area of inner ring (cm2) and t is the time interval (hour). For the annular space
(mL),
A A is the area of annular space (cm 2) and t is the time interval (hour).
The infiltration rate calculated with the inner ring should be the value used for results
if the rates for the inner ring and annular space differ. The difference in rates is due to
divergent flow
5.0 EQUIPMENT
6.0 PROCEDURE
a. Calculation
Infiltration Capacity
100mm Inner
100mm 0 = 100mm
Infiltration Rate
Infiltration Capacity / Time
a. 100mm / 30s = 3.33mm/s
b. 100mm / 90s = 4.44mm/s
c. 150mm / 150s = 5.11mm/s
8.0 QUESTIONS
1. Graphs
a. Infiltration capacity vs time (refer graph)
b. Infiltration rate vs time (refer graph)
2. From graph in 1(b), please identify the basic of infiltration rate.
From the graph of infiltration rate versus time, the basic of infiltration rate
for this soil is dry soils
3. Sketch the graph infiltrationrate versus time for the three different characteristics
of soils :
a. Dry soil
Infiltration rate (mm/s)
Time, t (s)
For the dry soil, we can see that the infiltration occurred faster than
other soil. This is because, water easier to absorb to the dry soil because
inside the soil, they have a lot of void.
b. Wet soil
Infiltration rate (mm/s)
Time, t (s)
For the wet soil, infiltration not too fast. It is slow than saturated
soil. This is because they already have a water inside the soil. So, the water
was slowly to absorb inside the soil
c. Saturated soil
Time, t (s)