Hydraulic Properties of a Cultivated Soil in Temperate Continental Climate Determined by Mini Disk Infiltrometer

Abstract

Hydraulic conductivity at and near saturation (Ks and K(h)) are among the most important characteristics defining water behavior in soil. Characterization of possibilities, advantages and limitations of the Mini Disk infiltrometer (MDI) for Ks and K(h) determination in comparison with Hood infiltrometer (HI) was the main aim of this study. The MDI device was subjected to testing on a cultivated silty clay loam soil under three different tillage treatments; conventional, reduced and no-tillage plot. The results are based on 72 infiltration experiments carried out during four experimental phases within one year. Steady-state and transient data analysis methods were applied. K(h) values were determined for van Genuchten hydraulic parameters taken from different sources (two versions of User’s manual, Rosetta). The results show suitability of MDI to determine K(h) of tested soil; clear differences have been observed between the K(h) values measured on plots with different tillage treatment. However, these values were significantly lower (ANOVA, α = 0.05) than those measured by HI. MDI based data were reflecting seasonal changes in structure and pore-size distribution with quantification of macropore contribution to the total saturated flux. Application of K(h) MDI data for fine-textured and structural soils evaluated before 2010 should be reconsidered.