1.

INTRODUCTION
Infiltration is the downward entry of water into the soil. The velocity at which
water enters the soil is infiltration rate. Infiltration rate is typically expressed in inches
per hour. Water from rainfall or irrigation must first enter the soil for it to be of value.
Infiltration is an indicator of the soils ability to allow water movement into and
through the soil profile. Soil temporarily stores water, making it available for root
uptake, plant growth and habitat for soil organisms.
When water is supplied at a rate that exceeds the soils infiltration capacity, it
moves downslope as runoff on sloping land or ponds on the surface of level land.
When runoff occurs on bare or poorly vegetated soil, erosion takes place. Runoff
carries nutrients, chemicals, and soil with it, resulting in decreased soil productivity,
off-site sedimentation of water bodies and diminished water quality. Sedimentation
decreases storage capacity of reservoirs and streams and can lead to flooding.
Restricted infiltration and ponding of water on the soil surface results in poor
soil aeration, which leads to poor root function and plant growth, as well as reduced
nutrient availability and cycling by soil organisms. Ponding and soil saturation
decreases soil strength, destroys soil structure, increases detachment of soil particles,
and makes soil more erodible. On the soil surface rather than in the soil profile,
ponded water is subject to increased evaporation, which leads to decreased water
available for plant growth.

2.0

OBJECTIVE
To identify the characteristics of the infiltration rate of water into soils in the
field.

3.0

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the knowledge and
skills they have learned to:
a. Understand the concept of infiltration of water into soils.
b. Understand the factors which influence the infiltration rates.

4.0

THEORY
The volume of water used during each measured time interval is converted
into an incremental infiltration velocity for both the inner ring and annular space

using the following equations;

VIR VIR /( AIR .t )

incremental infiltration velocity(cm/hr),

VIR

where,

is the inner ring

is the volume of water used during time

interval to maintain constant head in the inner ring (mL),

inner ring (cm2) and

V IR

AIR

is the internal area of

is the time interval (hour). For the annular space between

rings, calculate as follows;

V A V A /( AA .t )

incremental infiltration velocity (cm/hr),

V A

where

VA

is the annular space

is the volume of water used during time

interval to maintain constant head in the annular space between the rings (mL),
the area of annular space (cm2) and

AA

is

is the time interval (hour). The infiltration rate

calculated with the inner ring should be the value used for results if the rates for the
inner ring and annular space differ. The difference in rates is due to divergent flow

5.0

EQUIPMENT

1. Two stainless steels rings measure 12 and 24 diameter x 20 high.

2. Hammer
3. Float valves

6.0

PROCEDURE
1. An undisturbed site was selected for this experiment.
2. Hammer the outer ring at least 2/5 height ring into the soil. Use the timber to
protect the ring from damage during hammering. Keep the side of the ring
vertical.
3. Hammer the inner ring into the soil or construct an earth bund around the 2/5
height ring to the same height as the ring and place the hessian inside the
infiltrometer to protect the soil surface when pouring in the water. Make sure the
ring in the centre outer ring.
4. Start the test by pouring water into the outer ring until the depth is 10cm. Wait the
water down until the depth is 5cm. Then add the outer or large ring with
water until the depth is10cm again. At the same time, add water to the space
between the two rings or the ring and the bund to the same depth. Do this quickly.
5. The water in the bund or within the two rings is to prevent a lateral spread of
water from the infiltrometer. Record the clock time when the test begins and note
the water level on the measuring rod.

6. After 5 minutes, record the drop in water level in the inner ring on the measuring
rod and add water to bring the level back to approximately the original level at the
start of the test. Record the water level. Maintain the water level outside the ring
similar to that inside.
7. The test continued until the water level dropped over the same time interval.
Readings taken frequently at the beginning of the test until it become constant 3
times.
7.0

RESULT AND CALCULATION

Time, t

Inner

(s)

Infiltration Capacity

(mm)

30
90
150

0
0
0

Infiltration Rate

(mm)
100
100
100

(mm/s)
3.33
1.11
0.67

a. Calculation
Infiltration Capacity
100mm Inner
100mm 0 = 100mm
Infiltration Rate
Infiltration Capacity / Time
a. 100mm / 30s = 3.33mm/s
b. 100mm / 90s = 4.44mm/s
c. 150mm / 150s = 5.11mm/s
8.0

QUESTIONS
1. Graphs
a. Infiltration capacity vs time (refer graph)
b. Infiltration rate vs time (refer graph)
2. From graph in 1(b), please identify the basic of infiltration rate.
From the graph of infiltration rate versus time, the basic of infiltration rate
for this soil is dry soils
3. Sketch the graph infiltrationrate versus time for the three different characteristics
of soils :
a. Dry soil

Infiltration rate (mm/s)

Time, t (s)

For the dry soil, we can see that the infiltration occurred faster than
other soil. This is because, water easier to absorb to the dry soil because
inside the soil, they have a lot of void.
b. Wet soil
Infiltration rate (mm/s)

Time, t (s)

For the wet soil, infiltration not too fast. It is slow than saturated
soil. This is because they already have a water inside the soil. So, the water
was slowly to absorb inside the soil

c. Saturated soil
Infiltration rate (mm/s)

Time, t (s)

For the saturated soil, infiltration occurred very slow because

they have a lot of water inside the saturated soil that wet soil.

9.0

DISCUSSION
From the experiment, we can see that the types of soils influence the
infiltration rates. For dry soils, infiltration occurred faster, water can absorb faster
than wet soil and saturated soil because inside the soil, they have a lot of void. For
wet soil, infiltration occurred in modest time between dry soil and saturated soil
because they already contain water inside the soil. So, water slowly absorb into the
soil. For saturated soil, infiltration occurred very slowly because they have a lot of
water inside the saturated soil that wet soil. From the experiment, we consider that the
soil is wet after plot a graph of infiltration rate versus time. That is because a day
before the experiment been initialize, a stormy night, rain and thunder. Also, exactly 4
hours on the day the experiment was done, drizzle on the noon. The process of
infiltration didnt happen because void in soil already been filled with water from last
rain. So, the water was fail to absorb inside the soil during the experiment was carried
out