INFILTRATION RATE TEST

1.0 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 )

infiltration velocity(cm/hr),

VIR

where,

follows;

is the inner ring incremental

is the volume of water used during time interval to

maintain constant head in the inner ring (mL),

and

V IR

AIR

is the internal area of inner ring (cm2)

is the time interval (hour). For the annular space between rings, calculate as

V A V A /( AA .t )

velocity (cm/hr),

V A

where

VA

is the annular space incremental infiltration

is the volume of water used during time interval to maintain

constant head in the annular space between the rings (mL),

2

space (cm ) and

AA

is the area of annular

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

Infiltration Capacity

Infiltration Rate

(s)
300
600
900
1200
1500
1800

(mm)
17.5
17.7
17.7
17.8
17.8
17.8

(mm)
82.5
82.3
82.3
82.2
82.2
82.2

(mm/s)
0.275
0.137
0.091
0.069
0.055
0.046

calculation :
Time, t = 5 min 60 sec
= 300 sec
100 - inner
Infiltration rate = infiltration capacity / time
= 82.2 / 300

Infiltration
Capacity

= 100 17.5
= 82.5 mm

= 0.275 mm/s

8.0 QUESTIONS
1. Graf
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 are dry, after plot a graph of infiltration rate versus time. The process of
infiltration was because they have a lot of void. So, the water was faster to absorb
inside the soil during the experiment was carried out.