Infiltration and Hydrological

Monitoring
Dr Ambrish Kumar
 Setup of the infiltrometer in the field

The entry of water from the soil

surface into the soil is known as
Infiltration.

Infiltrometer
• Double ring concentric cylinders
infiltrometer is used for calculation of
infiltration rate of the soils.

•Rolling steel of 2- 5 mm thickness of each

cylinder is used for fabrication of
infiltrometer

•The lower edge should be properly

sharpened so that it can be driven into the
soil with minimum of disturbance
 Schematic Diagram and Lay out of Infiltrometer

•A steel plate is placed over

the top of the cylinder and a
hammer is used to drive the
infiltrometer uniformly into the
soil.

•A hook gauge is fitted with

inner cylinder to measure the
infiltration rate.

•As the infiltration rate is very

high initially, measurements
should be made at quick
intervals initially and gradually
the interval can be increased.
Datesheet for collection of observations
i) Date of observation,
ii) Location of experiment site,
iii) Experiment plot no./ID,
iv) Initial Soil moisture content (%),
v) soil type,
vi) Age and height of bamboo plantation:
Date/time Before After filling Time interval During period
filling (cm) (cm) Depth (cm) Average rate, Ia Accumulated
(cm/hr) Infiltration, Iac
(cm)

08:00 hrs - 10 - - - -
08:05 9.2 10 05 0.8 9.6 1.5
08:15 8.8 10 10 1.2 7.2 2.7
08:25 9.1 10 10 0.9 5.4 3.6
08:45 8.5 10 20 1.5 4.5 5.1
09:00 8.9 10 15 1.1 4.4 6.2
09:20 8.5 10 20 1.5 4.5 7.7
09:40 8.5 10 20 1.5 4.5 9.2
10:05 8 10 25 2 4.8 11.2
10:30 8 10 25 2 4.8 13.2
Average infiltration rate and accumulated infiltration curve
 Water Infiltration

Influencing Factors of infiltration

• Soil texture
• Initial soil water content
• Surface sealing (structure, etc.)
• Soil cracking
• Tillage practices
• Method of application (e.g., Basin vs. Furrow)
• Water temperature
Cumulative Infiltration Depth vs. Time
For Different Soil Textures
Infiltration Rate vs. Time
For Different Soil Textures