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Abstract
Continuous monitoring of soil-water pressures, rainfall and runoff under natural conditions was tested as a technique for determining soil hydrologic characteristics of a remote forest watershed plot. A completely battery-powered (and thus portable) pressure transducer–scanner–recorder system was assembled for monitoring of soil-water pressures in the tensiometric range. Measurements during several heavy rainstorms incorporating a period of steady infiltration rate were utilized to determine the saturated (or near-saturated, because of entrapped air) hydraulic conductivities of different soil horizons. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivities were obtained as usual from drainage data. Use of the monitored soil-water pressure data under natural conditions in conjunction with the measured unsaturated soil properties to calculate deep percolation, infiltration-minus-evapotranspiration and evapotranspiration is illustrated.
Citation
Ahuja, L.R.; S.A. El-Swaify. 1979. Determining soil hydrologic characteristics on a remote forest watershed by continuous monitoring of soil water pressures, rainfall and runoff. Journal of Hydrology 44: 135-147.
