MEASUREMENT OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY OF PEATS

Abstract

The measurement of hydraulic conductivity of peats in a northeastern Ontario peatland is described. Several sizes of piezometer were tested and revealed little effect on the hydraulic conductivity. Various lengths of piezometer chamber were used to measure both vertical and horizontal components of hydraulic conductivity at a number of sites. Open bog sites had a higher vertical component of hydraulic conductivity than the poor fen site. The poor fen site exhibited a greater dependence of the hydraulic conductivity on piezometer chamber length than the open bog site, indicating a greater horizontal component of the hydraulic conductivity. A significant correlation between the differential heads and hydraulic conductivity is demonstrated. This indicates a deviation of Darcian flow in the peatland. The ratios of differential heads in piezometer are constant, however, and therefore the proportionality of Darcy's Law is exhibited by the piezometer method.