A COMPARISON OF 4 FIELD METHODS FOR MEASURING SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY

A comparison was made of the Guelph permeameter, the velocity permeameter, a pumping test procedure, and the auger hole method for measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity. The methods were compared on a Ravenna silt loam and a Hoytville silty clay loam. The evaluations were conducted during high water table conditions established by subirrigation. All the methods showed a wide variability in saturated hydraulic conductivity within each research plot. The pumping test, auger hole, and velocity permeameter methods provided results within similar ranges whereas the Guelph permeameter provided significantly lower estimates. Saturated hydraulic conductivity estimates for the Ravenna silt loam ranged from 0.03 to 35 mm/h with an average value of 3.4 mm/h. Estimates for the Hoytville silty clay loam ranged from 0.01 to 260 mm/h with an average value of 2.2 mm/h.