Infiltration Rate and Cumulative Infiltration
I. Introduction
The study of infiltration, i.e. the process of water entry into the soil, is of importance, not
only as it affects the water economy of plant communities which is important in irrigation
studies, but also, as it determines the amount of surface runoff and its attendant danger of soil
erosion. Two essential parameters in describing the infiltration process are the infiltration
rate i and the cumulative infiltration I.
II. Principles
The infiltration rate i, is defined as the volume flux of water flowing into a profile per unit of
soil surface area. The infiltration rate i (m s-1) can be represented by following the equation
developed by Kostiakov:
i = at-b
where t = time after infiltration starts (s)
a & b = empirical constants which are functions of soil characteristics
The cumulative infiltration I is defined as the total amount of water infiltration a unit cross-
sectional area since the beginning of the water application. Cumulative infiltration I
(expressed in m) can be represented by following the equation developed by Kostiakov:
I = c t
Where t = time after infiltration starts (s)
a & b = empirical constants which are functions of soil characteristics.
Both equations can be solved by transferring them into a linear equation ( y = a + bx). This
gives then the following respective equations:
log i = log a – b log t
and
log I = log c + log t
The unknown parameters a, b, c and can be found by means of linear regression.
The moat practical and simplest method to measure the infiltration rate i and the cumulative
infiltration rate I, is the cylinder infiltrometer method. Either a single or double-ring
infiltrometer can be used, but the latter is preferred because it reduces errors due to lateral
flow divergence (see Figure 1).
III. Procedure
A large ( = 45 – 50 cm) and a small ( = 20 cm) diameter steel cylinder are hammered
concentrically into the ground up to a depth of about 15 cm and leveled. Each ring is filled
with water to an equal height of about 15 to 20 cm above the ground surface. Install a
measuring gauge with floating device on top of the inner ring. If such a system is not
available, a simple ruler can be used which even gives more accurate readings.
The height of the water level in the inner ring is allowed to fall to about 5 to 10 cm between
refills up to its original level. It is also important that the water level within the two cylinders
are maintained at equal depths to promote vertical infiltration from the inner ring.
Outer ring Inner ring ruler
water
Direction of water flow
Figure 1. The double-ring infiltrometer.
Record the fall of the water in the inner ring in one-minute intervals. When the rate of the
inflow has slowed down, record at greater time intervals. This procedure is continued until a
more or less constant rate of inflow is reached.
IV. Calculations
1. Calculate the power function i = at-b (Kostiakov equation) and give the infiltration rate i (
in m s-1) at time t = 4 hrs.
2. Calculate the power function I = c t (Kostiakov equation) and give the cumulative
infiltration I (m) at time t = 4 hrs.
3. Plot the infiltration rate i and the cumulative infiltration I versus time t.
V. Tables
Time t (min) Depth water Intake (cm) Cumulative Infiltration rate, i
level (cm) intake, I (cm) (cm s-1)
0
1
2
3
4
5
7
9
12
15
20
25
30
40
60
70
80
90
Infiltration rate i (m s-1) at t = 4 hrs
Cumulative infiltration I (m) at t = 4 hrs
Note: You can calculate the infiltration and cumulative for inner and outer rings.
IV. Reaction
What learnings and observations did you get from this activity?