Groundwater recharge and discharge response to rainfall on a hillslope

Soil Research ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 343 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Talsma ◽  
EA Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Hydraulic Gradients ◽  
Rainfall Recharge

Groundwater recharge was investigated within a representative hillslope segment of a small forested catchment, where the depth to the water table increased when progressing upslope from a free water outlet. Catchment soils varied with progression upslope from grey through yellow to red earths, which were underlain by low hydraulic conductivity B horizons and permeable substrata. The catchment was equipped for measuring stream discharge, rainfall characteristics, water table position, soil water content and soil hydraulic properties. Measurements commenced when soil water was severely depleted by drought, and were continued to monitor infiltration and redistribution with depth after more than 1000 mm of rainfall. Water movement occurred under approximately unit hydraulic gradients to the layer of restricted hydraulic conductivity; with movement through this layer proceeding under gradients considerably in excess of unity. Between rainfall events water movement in the soil profiles with deep water tables occurred by redistribution, with the capillary flux exceeding the gravitational flux. Where water tables were shallow (<m), profile recharge occurred within 7 weeks, after which sustained recharge to the groundwater body occurred at rates of the order of 3 mm day-1. Where water tables were deep (>7 m) it took many months for the soil water deficit to be replenished by rainfall. Recharge to groundwater in this case commenced with a flux of about 0.5 mm day-1 and decreased to an estimated value of 0.3 mm day-1 some 5 months later. Following winter rain more than 30% of the annual groundwater discharge from the catchment originated from a relatively small but expanding area near the free water outlet.

scholarly journals Effect of the spatial distribution of physical aquifer properties on water table depth and stream discharge in a headwater catchment

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 6929-6966
Author(s):  
C. Gascuel-Odoux ◽  
M. Weiler ◽  
J. Molenat
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Water Table Depth ◽  
Transitional Area ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Crystalline Bedrock ◽  
Solute Fluxes ◽  
The Hill

Abstract. Water table depth and its dynamics is often poorly predicted upslope despite they control both water transit time within the catchment and solute fluxes at the catchment outlet. The paper analyses how relaxing the assumption of lateral homogeneity of physical properties can improve simulations of water table depth and dynamics. Four different spatial models relating of saturated hydraulic conductivity to topography have been tested: a simple linear relationship, a linear relationship with two topographic indexes, two domains with a transitional area. The Hill-Vi model has been modified to test these hypotheses. The studied catchment (Kervidy-Naizin, western France) is underlain by schist crystalline bedrock. A shallow and perennial groundwater highly reactive to rainfall events mainly develops in the weathered saprolite layer. The results indicate that 1) discharge and the water table in the riparian zone are similarly predicted with the four models, 2) distinguishing two domains constitutes the best model and slightly improves prediction of the water table upslope, and 3) including spatial variations in the other parameters such as porosity or rate of hydraulic conductivity decrease with depth does not improve the results. These results underline the necessity of better investigation of upslope areas in hillslope hydrology.

USE OF TEMPE CELL, MODIFIED TO RESTRAIN SWELLING, FOR DETERMINATION OF HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY AND SOIL WATER CONTENT

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. SOMMERFELDT ◽  
G. B. SCHAALJE ◽  
W. HULSTEIN
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Clay Content ◽  
Core Sample ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
The Core ◽  
Silty Loam

The Tempe cell, modified by others to determine saturated hydraulic conductivity (K), was further modified to restrain swelling of the soil and to facilitate air and water movement across the top and bottom of the sample. An apparatus was developed whereby K and water content (θ) could be determined for several soil samples concurrently and suction levels could be varied without disturbing the sample. K and θ were determined for several prepared soil samples by the constant head permeameter method and by the Tempe cell with and without swelling restrained, and for soil cores by the Tempe cell with swelling restrained. With swelling restrained, the K results from the prepared samples did not differ significantly from those of the core samples. For the sandy to silty loam soils at suction levels 0, 10, and 20 kPa, θ of the core sample was less than that from the other samples, whereas for the clay loam soils, θ of the core sample was less than that from the others at suction levels of 0 and 10 kPa. For all methods, θ was correlated to clay content of the soil. These results indicate that the Tempe cell, as finally modified with swelling restraints, can be used to determine K and θ for characterizing the drainability of a nonstructured to weakly structured soil, using either prepared samples or cores. Key words: Hydraulic conductivity, pore volume, soil water content, Tempe cell

scholarly journals How Do Newly-Amended Biochar Particles Affect Erodibility and Soil Water Movement?—A Small-Scale Experimental Approach

Soil Systems ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Seitz ◽  
Sandra Teuber ◽  
Christian Geißler ◽  
Philipp Goebes ◽  
Thomas Scholten
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Biochar Amendment

Biochar amendment changes chemical and physical properties of soils and influences soil biota. It is, thus, assumed that it can also affect soil erosion and erosion-related processes. In this study, we investigated how biochar particles instantly change erodibility by rain splash and the initial movement of soil water in a small-scale experiment. Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC)-char and Pyrochar were admixed to two soil substrates. Soil erodibility was determined with Tübingen splash cups under simulated rainfall, soil hydraulic conductivity was calculated from texture and bulk soil density, and soil water retention was measured using the negative and the excess pressure methods. Results showed that the addition of biochar significantly reduced initial soil erosion in coarse sand and silt loam immediately after biochar application. Furthermore, biochar particles were not preferentially removed from the substrate surface, but increasing biochar particle sizes partly showed decreasing erodibility of substrates. Moreover, biochar amendment led to improved hydraulic conductivity and soil water retention, regarding soil erosion control. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that biochar amendments reduce soil degradation by water erosion. Furthermore, this effect is detectable in a very early stage, and without long-term incorporation of biochar into soils.

Soil characteristics in relation to groundwater for selected Dark Brown Chernozems in southern Alberta

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Miller ◽  
D.S. Chanasyk
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Flow ◽  
Groundwater Recharge ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Calcareous Soil ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
The Other ◽  
Slope Position ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Water Tables

Limited information exists on soil characteristics in relation to groundwater for undulating morainal landscapes of the Dark Brown soil zone in western Canada. A 4-yr (1985-1988) field study was conducted in southern Alberta to investigate these relationships for selected Dark Brown Chernozems. Soil morphology, physical and chemical properties of the soil horizons, water fluxes in the saturated zone, and tritium content of shallow groundwater were determined at nine sites. Three Orthic Dark Brown Chernozemic soils occurred in groundwater recharge areas with water tables ≥1.81 m, indicating that leaching of carbonates from the B horizons was consistent with downward groundwater flow. The other three Orthic soils occurred in groundwater discharge areas, and they may have developed because of deeper (≥2.60 m) water tables. High water-soluble Na in these latter three Orthic soils suggested a sodic influence from a shallower water table sometime in the recent past. The two Calcareous Dark Brown Chernozems, and saline Calcareous Dark Brown Chernozem occurred in groundwater recharge areas. One calcareous soil at a lower slope position had a shallow (0.84-2.02 m) water table, suggesting carbonates were brought upward into the Cca horizon from the groundwater. The other calcareous soil at the upper slope position had a deeper (>6.62 m) water table, suggesting carbonates were leached downward and precipitated in the Cca horizon. The saline Calcareous Dark Brown Chernozem was located in an area of groundwater recharge with a deeper (4-9 m) water table, suggesting that salinization likely occurred sometime in the past. Groundwater flow conditions during this study could not explain the genesis of some soils in this study area, suggesting that past groundwater, climatic, and environmental conditions need to be considered to explain the genesis of some relict soils.

scholarly journals IS DEEP SOWING BENEFICIAL FOR DRY SEASON CROPPING WITHOUT IRRIGATION ON SANDY SOIL WITH SHALLOW WATER TABLE?

2013 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-381
Author(s):  
B. BUAKUM ◽  
V. LIMPINUNTANA ◽  
N. VORASOOT ◽  
K. PANNANGPETCH ◽  
R. W. BELL
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Shallow Water Table ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Permanent Wilting Point ◽  
Wilting Point

SUMMARYDeep sowing (15 cm) on sands in the dry season is a practice used in post-rice sowing of legumes without irrigation, designed to increase moisture access for germination, growth and crops yield. However, with such deep sowing there can be a penalty for emergence and growth if there is abundant water stored in the upper soil profile during the growing season. Hence, there is a need to define the soil water regimes under which deep sowing is advantageous for different legumes. To investigate the adaptation of legume crop species to deep sowing, we studied their emergence, growth and yield on three deep soils (3–16% clay) with shallow water tables during two years in northeast Thailand. At site 1 and 2, peanut, cowpea, mungbean and soybean were sown shallow (~5 cm) or deep (~15 cm). At site 3, only cowpea and peanut were shallow or deep sown. Shallow water tables maintained soil water content (0–15 cm) above permanent wilting point throughout the growing season. Deep sowing of all legumes delayed emergence by 3–7 days at all locations. Shoot dry weight of legumes after deep sowing was mostly similar or lower than weight after shallow sowing. Yield and harvest index of legumes did not differ meaningfully among sowing depths. Therefore, deep sowing was not beneficial for dry season cropping without irrigation when there was a shallow water table and sufficient water for crop growth throughout soil profiles in the growing season. Taken together with previous studies, we conclude that shallow rather than deep sowing of legumes was preferred when the soil water content at 0–15-cm depth remained higher than permanent wilting point throughout the growing season due to shallow water table.

HYDRAULIC CHARACTERISTICS OF FOUR PEATLANDS IN MINNESOTA

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
ABRAHAM GAFNI ◽  
KENNETH N. BROOKS
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Organic Soil ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Groundwater Velocity ◽  
Hydraulic Gradients ◽  
Factor Governing

A field study in northern Minnesota was conducted to assess the relative importance of factors that control lateral water movement in peatlands. Hydraulic gradients and groundwater velocities were measured for one mined and three unmined peatlands. Groundwater velocities were measured at shallow depths in the organic soil using the point dilution method. Hydraulic conductivities at different soil depths were estimated by applying the field measurements to Darcy's Law. Hydraulic gradients were persistent from early summer through fall and were generally less than 0.1%, a major factor governing rates of lateral water movement in undisturbed peatlands. Maximum groundwater velocities averaged 0.49 cm h−1 in the upper and least decomposed peat layers and diminished dramatically with depth and increasing decomposition. The von-Post scale of peat decomposition was found to be useful in predicting the hydraulic conductivity of peat layers. The rate of water movement at depths below 35 cm in the natural peatlands averaged less than 0.03 cm h−1. The data contribute to a better understanding of the hydrologic function of peatlands. Key words: Organic soils, peatlands, groundwater velocity, hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic gradient

Estimation of hydrogeologic parameters and groundwater-balance components based on fluctuations of the water tables

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 1803-1812 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zaltsberg
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Specific Yield ◽  
Groundwater Balance ◽  
Stream Discharge ◽  
Vertical Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Groundwater Regime ◽  
Observation Wells ◽  
Experimental Basin

The Wilson Creek experimental basin is located on the slope of the Manitoba Escarpment, southwestern Manitoba. Observations of groundwater regime, weather conditions, and stream discharge were carried out in this basin from 1965 to 1980. Using groundwater fluctuations in observation wells, it was found that the values of the specific yield of till range from 0.03 to 0.04 and the specific yield of shale is equal to 0.04. Calculated vertical hydraulic conductivity of till ranges from 2 × 10−4 to 3 × 10−4 m/day.On the basis of these determinations, groundwater balances for separate segments of the watershed and for the whole of the basin were calculated. Considering the basin as a whole, it was found that the average values of groundwater-balance components during spring–summer seasons were as follows: infiltration, 111 mm or 30% of precipitation; evaporation, 58 mm or 19% of precipitation; and groundwater runoff, 61 mm or 20% of precipitation.

Infiltration and water movement in an in situ swelling soil during prolonged ponding

Soil Research ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Talsma ◽  
AVD Lelij
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Soil Water Potential ◽  
Clay Mineralogy ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Structural Heterogeneity ◽  
Mean Values

Infiltration, swelling, and water movement were studied during ponding on a swelling clay soil. The soil was uniform in texture and clay mineralogy to 2 m depth. Most structural heterogeneity, caused by gilgai and shrinkage cracks, had been removed by grading, cultivation, and pre-ponding irrigations. Measurements were made of infiltration, moisture content, soil water potential, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, vertical soil swelling, and the effect of overburden on tensiometer readings. Infiltration was rapid and water penetrated deeply during the first ponding day. Thereafter, qualitative agreement was found between measured infiltration and that expected from theory from 1 to 45 days after ponding. From 45 to 120 days after ponding, the development of a time-variable flow restriction near the soil surface prevented the attainment of a final, steady infiltration rate. During ponding a transient water table developed, moisture profiles were distinctly hydric, and seepage to a deep water table or aquifer was not negligible. Core sample values of hydraulic conductivity agreed with those obtained from mean flux and potential gradients, although conductivity and infiltration rate varied greatly from place to place. Measured swelling compared favourably with that calculated from bulk density changes. The maximum measured soil swelling, in the rather narrow range of moisture contents involved, was 25 mm. This is consistent with reported data on similar soils. Mean values of � = �/P near saturation at 0.2 and 0.4 m depth were between 0.20 and 0.25, indicating that the effect of overburden potential on flow was not large.

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