A constant head well permeameter formula comparison: its significance in the estimation of field saturated hydraulic conductivity in heterogenous shallow soils

Archer, N.A.L.; Bonnell, M.; MacDonald, A.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-1499; Coles, N.. 2014 A constant head well permeameter formula comparison: its significance in the estimation of field saturated hydraulic conductivity in heterogenous shallow soils. Hydrology Research, 45 (6). 788-805. https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2014.159

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Abstract/Summary

We evaluate the application and investigate various formulae (and the associated parameter sensitivities) using the constant head well permeameter method to estimate field hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) in a previously glaciated temperate landscape in the Scottish Borders where shallow soils constrain the depth of augering. In finer-textured soils, the Glover equation provided Kfs estimates nearly twice those of the Richards equation. For this environment we preferred the Glover equation with a correction factor for the effect of gravity, which does not include soil capillarity effects because: (1) the low depth to diameter ratio of the auger holes (AH) required in the shallow stratified soils of temperate glaciated environment needs a correction for gravity; (2) the persistently moist environment and the use of long pre-wetting times before measurements seem to reduce the effect of soil capillarity; (3) the Richards equation is dependent on accurate α* values, but the measured AH intersected soil horizon boundaries that had different soil structure and texture, which caused difficulty in selecting the most appropriate α* value; (4) when comparing the different solutions to estimate Kfs using the constant-head well permeameter method against the AH method and ponded permeameter measurements, the Glover solution with a correction for gravity gave the best comparable result in fine-textured soil.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2014.159
ISSN:	0029-1277
NORA Subject Terms:	Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	25 Sep 2014 13:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508381

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2014.159

ISSN:

0029-1277

NORA Subject Terms:

Agriculture and Soil Science

Date made live:

25 Sep 2014 13:01 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/508381