Technical Memorandum Report No. 67
Field Methods for Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity and Sorptivity
Richard E. Green and She-Kong Chong
June 1983
ABSTRACT
The application of mathmatical models incorporating water flow theory to practical hydrologic problems (e.g., runoff, groundwater recharge, irrigation) requires a characterization of soil hydraulic properties. Such properties may vary widely over land areas of practical interest so that many measurements may be required for adequate soil characterizations, thus, the methods used must be relatively rapid and economical. Field methods which have been successfully used in Hawaii to measure the hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity of surface soil are described. The methods are relatively simple and thus are useful for characterizing land areas on the scale of plantation fields or small watersheds. Underlying principles and detailed procedures are given for each method.