Vatteninfiltrometry

Vatteninfiltrometry is a soil physics and hydrology technique used to quantify the rate at which water infiltrates the soil surface. By determining how fast water enters soil, the method provides information about hydraulic properties such as infiltration capacity and, with appropriate models, saturated hydraulic conductivity. The technique is applied in fields ranging from agriculture and irrigation planning to urban hydrology and environmental engineering.

The principle relies on measuring water movement into a soil surface under controlled conditions. In field practice, an infiltrometer confines water to a defined surface area to minimize lateral flow. The most common forms are the single-ring and double-ring infiltrometers; the latter helps reduce lateral losses and yields more stable measurements. The disk or ring is filled with water, and the decline of water depth or the increase in infiltrated volume is recorded over time. Measurements typically run for several minutes to an hour, depending on soil and equipment, and may require pre-wetting or surface smoothing to standardize initial conditions.

Data from the infiltration experiment are expressed as an infiltration rate f(t) or a cumulative infiltration F(t). These data can be analyzed with empirical infiltration curves or hydraulic models, such as the Horton, Philip, or Green-Ampt formulations, to estimate soil properties like Ks (saturated hydraulic conductivity) and soil water suction parameters. Antecedent moisture, soil texture, structure, and surface roughness all influence results and should be considered during interpretation.

Limitations include soil heterogeneity, crust formation, and operator practice, which can affect accuracy. Despite these, vatteninfiltrometry remains a widely used, relatively simple method to assess soil infiltration behavior in situ and under laboratory conditions.