Characterizing unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of western Kentucky surface mine spoils and soils
A large-scale laboratory infiltrometer system was used to determine infiltration characteristics of reconstructed surface mine spoil and soil horizons. Soil water characteristic curves were determined using the Brooks-Corey and the Gardner procedures and developed based on desorption tensiometer data. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity values were determined using the plane of zero flux procedure and compared with predictions resulting from models described by Campbell, Burdine, and Mualem for situations involving reconstructed soil and spoil materials. There was generally good agreement between the models and excellent agreement between Campbell's predictions and plane of zero flux results. Both the Gardner equation and the Brooks-Corey equation gave good estimates of the soil water characteristic curves for the materials. The physical significance of the parameters when determined by statistical procedures, appears very questionable. In this study, the final steady-state infiltration rate appeared to be a good estimate of the hydraulic conductivity at apparent saturation.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
- OSTI ID:
- 5929017
- Journal Information:
- Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 47:5; ISSN SSSJD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
KENTUCKY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEASURING METHODS
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
SIMULATION
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
USA
WATER