WATER INFILTRATION AS AFFECTED BY SOIL CRUST AND MOISTURE PROFILE

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Abstract
The effect of wetting front depth on the infiltration rate (IR) of Calcic Haploxeralf and Typic Chromoxerert soils was studied under field conditions using a rainfall simulator. In both soils the IR decreased more sharply when the wetting front was deeper, but this difference became smaller as the rainstorm continued. The infiltration rate of the soils at the end of the rainstorm (8 x 10−2 m) was 8.5 x 10−3, 6.3 x 10−3, and 5.0 x 10−3 m h−1 for the Calcic Haploxeralf soil prewetted with water at amounts equivalent to 0, 3 x 10−2, and 2 x 10−1 m, respectively, and 1.5 x 10−3, and 1.0 x 10−3 m h−1 for the Typic Chromoxereret soil prewetted with water at amounts equivalent to 0, and 2 x 10−1 m, respectively. When the dry soil surface was covered with mulch, however, the steady-state value of the IR was 3.5 x 10−2 m h−1 for both soils. The high permeability of the soils during the rainstorm in the presence of mulch and the low steady-state IR values for the various prewetting treatments both suggest that the moisture regime in the profile had a negligible effect on the IR in the presence of soil crust.

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