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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #72149
Title: MEASUREMENT METHODS TO IDENTIFY AND QUANTIFY SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF INFILTRATION ON RANGELANDS

Author
item Paige, Virginia
item Stone, Jeffry

Submitted to: ARS Workshop on Real World Infiltration
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: This paper summarizes the current state of the art in measuring the spatial variability of infiltration on rangeland watersheds. Infiltration is known to vary extensively across space and time due to differences in the soil properties as well as the vegetation and cover characteristics. Studies conducted to measure the spatial variability of infiltration on rangelands have found that the results are a function of both the method and the scal of measurement. Current measurement methods are primarily conducted at point or small plot scale and measure either saturated (ponded) infiltration or unsaturated (rainfall) infiltration. The benefits and limitations of these methods as well as areas for future research are discussed.

Technical Abstract: This paper summarizes the current state of the art in measuring the spatial variability of infiltration on rangeland watersheds. Infiltration is known to vary extensively across spatial and temporal scales due to heterogeneities in the soil properties as well as the vegetation and cover characteristics. Studies conducted to measure the spatial variability of infiltration on rangelands have found that the results are a function of both the method and the scale of measurement. Current measurement methods are primarily conducted at point or small plot scale and measure either saturated (ponded) infiltration or unsaturated (rainfall) infiltration. The benefits and limitations of these methods as well as areas for future research are discussed.