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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #106590
Title: RAPID FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF SOIL HYDRAULIC AND SOLUTE TRANSPORT PROPERTIES

Author
item ALJABRI, S - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item HORTON, R - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Jaynes, Dan

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Aljabri, S.A., Horton, R., Jaynes, D.B. 1999. Rapid field measurements of soil hydraulic and solute transport properties [CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Madison, Wisconsin.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Determining the hydraulic and chemical transport properties of field soils is important for developing best management practices to protect soil and groundwater resources. A procedure was developed to rapidly measure the hydraulic and solute transport properties using a point source method. A drip line with six openings spaced 2 m apart was placed on a clay loam soil. The hydraulic properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity and macroscopic capillary length) were determined by applying four different flow rates. The solute transport properties (immobile water fraction and mass exchange coefficient) were determined by applying four conservative tracers sequentially through the drip line. Calculated saturated hydraulic conductivity averaged 12.09 cm/hr (CV = 20%) while macroscopic capillary length averaged 4.93 cm (CV = 39%). Calculated immobile water fraction averaged 0.573 (CV = 12%) while mass exchange coefficient averaged 0.0012 min**-1 (CV = 33%). We were able to make measurements at multiple sites for the same time period with small labor requirement.