Determination of soil hydraulic properties in non-level landscapes

Non-Peer ReviewedMajority of the landscapes in Saskatchewan are non-level. However, specifically designed instruments are not available for the estimation of hydraulic properties of surface soils in non-level landscapes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of available tools (tension infiltrometer and double ring infiltrometer) for the estimation of surface soil hydraulic properties in non-level lands. A field experiment was conducted in a loamy soil in Laura, Saskatchewan. Soil surface was prepared to represent 0, 7, 15 and 20% slopes. Infiltration rates were measured using a tension infiltrometer and a double ring infiltrometer. Hydraulic properties were estimated. Steady infiltration rates measured using double ring infiltrometer were not significantly different among slopes (p < 0.05). Saturated hydraulic conductivity and inverse macroscopic capillary length scale predicted from tension infiltrometer were not statistically different (p < 0.05) among the slopes tested indicating that these instruments are suitable for characterization of surface hydraulic properties in hummocky landscapes in Saskatchewan. A computer simulation is planned for further confirmation of these results