Measurement of hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils with thermocouple psychometers
A method of measuring the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soil using the instantaneous profile method with psychometric probes to measure water potential is developed and described. Soil is compacted into cylindrical tubes, and the tubes are sealed and instrumented with thermocouple psychrometers. The soil is moistened or dried from one end of the tube. Psychrometers are read periodically. Hydraulic conductivity is computed from the psychrometer readings and the appropriate moisture characteristic curve for the soil and then plotted as a function of water potential, water content, or degree of saturation. Hydraulic conductivities of six soils were measured at water potentials as low as -80 bar. The measured hydraulic conductivities and moisture characteristic curves were used along with the known boundary flux in a computer program to calculate the final water content profiles. Computed and measured final water content profiles agreed tolerably well.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Austin
- OSTI ID:
- 5856802
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 46:6; ISSN SSSJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYGROMETRY
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MOISTURE
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POTENTIALS
PSYCHROMETRY
SATURATION
SOILS
THERMOCOUPLES
WATER
WATER SATURATION