International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology E-ISSN 0976-3945

Research Article
INFILTRATION STUDIES OF DIFFERENT SOILS UNDER
DIFFERENT SOIL CONDITIONS AND COMPARISON OF
INFILTRATION MODELS WITH FIELD DATA
Jagdale Satyawan Dagadu1, Nimbalkar P. T.2
Address for Correspondence
1
Student M.Tech Civil (Hydraulic Engineering), 2 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,
Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University College of engineering, Pune-43
ABSTRACT
The constant infiltration rates of different soils under different soil conditions were calculated at Sangola, district solapur of
Maharashtra region. Experimentation work was carried out on black cotton, clay, and sandy soil. Soil conditions considered
for black cotton soil were compacted, ploughed, and harrowed, for clay soil unploughed and ploughed, and for sandy soil
unploughed. The double ring infiltrometer method was used for measurement of infiltration rate. The study aimed to
determine constant infiltration rates of those soils under different soil conditions and comparing it with the infiltration rates
obtained by Kostiakov, Modified Kostiakov, Horton’s and Green-Ampt infiltration models. The values of various constants
of the models were calculated by method of averages suggested by Davis (1943), and by graphical approach. For getting best
fitting model for particular soil and soil condition the results obtained from various infiltration models were compared with
observed field data and graphs were drawn. The parameters considered for best fitting of model were correlation coefficient
and standard error. The results shown that, The Horton’s model, and Green – Ampt model were best fitting to observed field
data to estimate infiltration rates at any given time with high degree of correlation coefficient and minimum degree of
standard error.
KEY WORDS: Infiltration, Infiltration rate, Infiltration models, soil condition.
INTRODUCTION MEASUREMENT OF INFILTRATION RATES:
Infiltration is the movement of water into the Double ring infiltrometer method was used for
soil from the surface. The water is driven into t he measurement of infiltration rates at all the sites. In
porous soil by force of gravity and capillary this two concentric rings were used with 25cm deep,
attraction. First the water wets soil grains and and diameter of 30cm for inner ring and 60cm for
then the extra water moves down due to outer ring. The rings were driven at about 15cm deep
resulting gravitational force. The rate at which a in soil by using falling weight type hammer striking
given soil can absorb water at given time is on a wooden plank placed on top of ring uniformly
called infiltration rate and it depends on soil without or undue disturbance to soil surface.
characteristics such as soil texture, hydraulic Water was poured into the rings to maintain depth of
conductivity, soil structure, vegetation cover etc. 7 to 12 cm and the quantity of water was added to
the infiltration plays an important role in maintain this depth at regular time interval of 5, 10,
generation of runoff volume, if infiltration rate of 20, 30 min. up to getting a constant infiltration rate.
given soil is less than intensity of rainfall then it The observations for infiltration rate were carried out
results in either accumulation of water on soil on inner ring with field type point gauge and stop
surface or in runoff. The different soil conditions watch etc.
affect the soil infiltration rate. Compacted soils due INFILTRATION MODELS
to movement of agricultural machines have a low The following infiltration models were assessed for
infiltration rate which is prone to runoff finding best fitting model to observed field
generation. infiltration rate data.
In the present study the constant infiltration rates HORTON’S MODEL:
of different soils under different soil conditions Horton expressed decrease of infiltration capacity
were calculated by double ring infiltrometer with time as an exponential decrease as
method, and compared with calculated values from f = fc + (fo - fc) e-kt
Kostiakov, Modified Kostiakov, Horton’s and Where
Green-Ampt infiltration models. And assessment of f is infiltration capacity at any time t.
fc is final steady state infiltration capacity.
the suitability of different models for estimation
fo is initial infiltration capacity.
of infiltration rate of particular soil under k Horton’s constant representing rate of decrease in infiltration
particular soil condition was carried out with capacity.
correlation coefficient and standard error as a t is time in hours.
tools. KOSTIAKOV MODEL:
MATERIALS AND METHODS f = atb
Study area Where
f is cumulative infiltration at any time t.
Sangola region in solapur district of Maharashtra
t is time in min.
state was selected for the study, which was having on a and b are constants
latitude of 17°26’N and longitude of 75°07’E. Six MODIFIED KOSTIAKOV MODEL:
regions as per type of soil and soil conditions were f = atb + c
selected for infiltration rate measurement. For black Where
cotton soil three regions were selected first region f is cumulative infiltration at any time t.
was of compact soil type, second region was t is time in min.
a, b and c are constants whose values depends on soil type.
ploughed, and third was of harrowed condition. Two
regions were selected for clay soil, first was GREEN – AMPT MODEL:
unploughed condition and second was ploughed
condition. For sandy soil one region was selected.
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 International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology E-ISSN 0976-3945

Where Table: 3.3 Calculated infiltration rates from different

f is infiltration capacity. infiltration models for black cotton compact soil.
F is cumulative infiltration.
m and n are Green - Ampt parameters of infiltration.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
The measured infiltration rates of different soils
under different soil conditions are shown in table 1.
The values of different parameters of infiltration
models for different soil conditions are given in table
2. And calculated infiltration rates from different
infiltration models are given in table 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4,
3.5, 3.6
Table:1. The measured infiltration rates (cm/hr) of
different soils under different soil conditions

Table: 3.4 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for black cotton ploughed soil

Table: 2. The values of different parameters of

infiltration models for different soils under different soil
conditions.

Table: 3.5 Calculated infiltration rates from

different infiltration models for harrowed black
cotton soil

Table: 3.1 Calculated infiltration rates from

different infiltration models for unploughed clay soil.

Table: 3.6 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for sandy soil

Table: 3.2 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for ploughed clay Soil

From the results it was found that the values of

parameters of infiltration models vary from soil to
soil and soil type. Also the correlation coefficients
and standard errors were different for different soils

IJAET/Vol.III/ Issue II/April-June, 2012/154-157

 International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology
and different soil conditions. From analysis it is
found that for all type of soils and soil conditions
Horton’s model is best fitting with high degree of
correlation coefficient and minimum standard error,
Except for ploughed clay soil. The values of
correlation coefficient and standard error for different
soils and soil conditions for Horton’s model are, for
unploughed clay soil correlation coefficient of 0.98
and minimum standard error of 0.07, For black cotton
compact soil correlation coefficient of 0.96 and
minimum standard error of 0.06, For black cotton
ploughed soil correlation coefficient of 0.99 and
minimum standard error of 0.22, For black cotton
harrowed soil correlation coefficient of 0.99 and
minimum standard error of 0.15, For sandy soil
correlation coefficient of 0.99 and minimum standard
error of 0.13. For ploughed clay soil Green – Ampt
model is best fitting with correlation coefficient of
0.99 and minimum standard error of 0.03.
Graph:1.1 observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for unploughed clay soil.
Graph 1.2: observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for ploughed clay soil.
Graph 1.3: observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for black cotton compact
soil.
IJAET/Vol.III/ Issue II/April-June, 2012/154-157
E-ISSN 0976-3945
Graph 1.4: observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for black cotton ploughed
soil.
Graph: 1.5 observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for black cotton harrowed
soil.
Graph: 1.6 observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for sandy soil.
Also the graphs of measured infiltration rate and
calculated infiltration rate by different infiltration
models against time were drawn for different soils
under different soil conditions and it was observed
that initially infiltration rates were higher and
decreased with time up to steady infiltration rate.
CONCLUSIONS:
From the research work it was found that constant
infiltration rate of clay unploughed and clay ploughed
soil was 1.2cm/hr and 1.6cm/hr. respectively. For
black cotton compact soil 1.2cm/hr, black cotton
ploughed soil 1.6cm/hr, black cotton harrowed soil
1.46cm/hr, and for sandy soil 8.53cm/hr in the
selected region.
From the results after analysis it was found that the
values of parameters of infiltration models varies
from soil to soil and soil type. From the correlation
coefficient and standard error calculations it was
found that for all type of soils and their conditions
Horton’s model is best fitting with high degree of
correlation coefficient and minimum standard error
except for ploughed clay soil to which Green – Ampt
model is best fitting. So from the study it is
concluded that Horton’s model is best fitting with
measured values of infiltration rates for all types of
soils and soil conditions except for ploughed clay soil
in the region.
From the research work it is found that the soil
condition affects the infiltration rate. From the graphs
of infiltration rates against time it is found that
initially infiltration rates were high and decreased
with time up to constant infiltration rate.
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Journal of IWRS. Vol. 24, pp 19-26.
 International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology E-ISSN 0976-3945
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