Hydraulic properties of a duplex soil determined from in situ measurements

Abstract

The hydraulic conductivity characteristics of a duplex soil profile were determined in the field from in situ measurements. For a given soil water suction, hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil was generally lower than the surface soil. Hydraulic conductivity characteristics calculated using the equations of Marshall and Millington and Quirk were in good agreement with field-measured hydraulic conductivity after matching at low soil water suctions. Implications of hydraulic properties for crop production and water management are noted.