VARIABILITY OF SOIL WATER RETENTION CURVES AND PREDICTED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITIES ON A SMALL PLOT

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Abstract
Soil water retention curves were measured on cores taken from 5 sites at 6 depths in a Bainsville [Canada] clay loam soil. There were differences in both the shape and magnitude of the average moisture characteristic curves from 1 location to another in the 225 m2 plot. Coefficients of variation ranged from 4.2-13% in the surface layers and from 2.4-6.5% in the deeper layers. There were no consistent trends in variability with respect to tensions from 0 to -500 cm H2O. Predicted and measured hydraulic conductivity functions were variable, often showing a 100-fold difference at a given water content. The measured functions were steeper than those predicted, and the match between them was considered reasonable only at the lower water contents.

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