JT607 WATER ENGINEERING

WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 1 0F 7

1.0 Experiment outcomes

At the end of the lab/practical session, students should be able to:

i) conduct appropriately the infiltration test in group according to the double-ring infiltration
standard of procedures.

ii) analyse the experimental data in relation to the Kostiakov theoretical equation.

iii) write properly the appropriate report based on the experiment results.

2.0 Theory

The infiltration rate is the velocity or speed at which water enters into the soil. It is usually measured by
the depth (in mm) of the water layer that can enter the soil in one hour. An infiltration rate of 15
mm/hour means that a water layer of 15 mm on the soil surface, will take one hour to infiltrate.

In dry soil, water infiltrates rapidly. This is called the initial infiltration rate. As more water replaces the air
in the pores, the water from the soil surface infiltrates more slowly and eventually reaches a steady rate.
This is called the basic infiltration rate (Table 1).

The infiltration rate depends on soil texture (the size of the soil particles) and soil structure (the
arrangement of the soil particles: see Volume 1) and is a useful way of categorizing soils from an irrigation
point of view (see Table 2).

The most common method to measure the infiltration rate is by a field test using a cylinder or ring
infiltrometer.

Table 1 BASIC INFILTRATION RATES FOR VARIOUS SOIL TYPES

Soil type Basic infiltration rate (mm/hour)

sand less than 30
sandy loam 20 - 30
loam 10 - 20
clay loam 5 - 10
clay 1-5

3.0 Apparatus/Equipments

Shovel/hoe
Hammer (2 kg)
Watch or clock
5 litre bucket
Timber (75 x 75 x 400)

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012

 JT607 WATER ENGINEERING
WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 2 0F 7

Hessian (300 x 300) or jute cloth

At least 100 litres of water

Ring infiltrometer of 30 cm diameter and 60 cm diameter. Instead of the outer cylinder a bund could be
made to prevent lateral water flow.

Measuring rod graduated in mm (e.g. 300 mm ruler)

Figure 1: Set-up of field test

4.0 Safety Precautions

1. Act safely at all times, using appropriate precautions when necessary.

2. Only work in the lab with proper supervision from the instructor.

3. Obey all instructions from the laboratory instructor.

4. Take care all equipment used.

5.0 Procedures

Step 1: Hammer the 30 cm diameter ring at least 15 cm into the soil. Use the timber to protect the ring

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012

 JT607 WATER ENGINEERING
WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 3 0F 7

from damage during hammering. Keep the side of the ring vertical and drive the measuring rod into
the soil so that approximately 12 cm is left above the ground.
Step 2: Hammer the 60 cm ring into the soil or construct an earth bund around the 30 cm ring to the same
height as the ring and place the hessian inside the infiltrometer to protect the soil surface when
pouring in the water (Figure 75).
Step 3: Start the test by pouring water into the ring until the depth is approximately 70-100 mm. At the
same time, add water to the space between the two rings or the ring and the bund to the same
depth. Do this quickly.
The water in the bund or within the two rings is to prevent a lateral spread of water from the
infiltrometer.
Step 4: Record the clock time when the test begins and note the water level on the measuring rod.
Step 5: After 1-2 minutes, record the drop in water level in the inner ring on the measuring rod and add
water to bring the level back to approximately the original level at the start of the test while
required. Record the water level. Maintain the water level outside the ring similar to that inside.
Step 6: Continue the test until the drop in water level is the same over the same time interval. Take
readings frequently (e.g. every 1-2 minutes) at the beginning of the test, but extend the interval
between readings as the time goes on (e.g. every 20-30 minutes).
Note that at least two infiltration tests should be carried out at a site to make sure that the correct results
are obtained.

Table 2 : Example of Data Sheet: Infiltration Rate

Site Location : Soil Type: Test Date :

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Reading on Time Cumulative Water level Infiltration Infiltration Cumulative
Infiltration
the clock difference time reading rate rate infiltration
Before After
filling filling
Hr min sec min min mm mm mm mm/min mm/hr mm
Start=0
14 05 0 Start=0 100 Start=0
2 (100-92)= 8 (8/2)= 4 240
14 07 0 (0+2)= 2 92 (0+8)= 8
3 (92-85)=7 (7/3)=2.3 138
14 10 0 (2+3)= 5 85 (8+7)= 15
5 (85-75)=10 (10/5)= 2 120
14 15 0 (5+5)= 10 75 100 (15+10)= 25
10 (100-83)=17 (17/10)= 1.7 102
14 25 0 (10+10)= 20 83 (25+17)= 42
10 (83-72)=11 (11/10)= 1.1 66
14 35 0 (20+10)= 30 72 102 (42+11)= 53
10 (102-95)= 7 (7/10)= 0.7 42
14 45 0 (30+10)= 40 95 (53+7)= 60
20 (95-86)= 9 (9/20)= 0.45 27*

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012

 JT607 WATER ENGINEERING
WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 4 0F 7

15 05 0 (40+20)= 60 86 (60+9)= 69
20 (86-77)= 9 (9/20)= 0.45 27*
15 25 0 (60+20)= 80 77 (69+9)= 78

*Basic Infiltration rate

- Column 1 indicates the readings on the clock in hours, minutes and seconds.
- Column 2 indicates the difference in time (in minutes) between two readings.
- Column 3 indicates the cumulative time (in minutes); this is the time (in minutes) since the test started.
- Column 4 indicates the water level readings (in mm) on the measuring rod: before and after filling (see step 5).
- Column 5 indicates the infiltration (in mm) between two readings; this is the difference in the measured water
levels between two readings. How the infiltration is calculated is indicated in brackets.
- Column 6 indicates the infiltration rate (in mm/minute); this is the infiltration (in mm; column 5) divided by the
difference in time (in minutes, column 2).
- Column 7 indicates the infiltration rate (in mm/hour); this is the infiltration rate (in mm/minute, column 6)
multiplied by 60 (60 minutes in 1 hour).
- Column 8 indicates the cumulative infiltration (in mm); this is the infiltration (in mm) since the test started. How
the cumulative infiltration is calculated is indicated in brackets.

Figure 1:

In Figure 1 , the cumulative time (in minutes, column 2) is set out against the cumulative infiltration (in mm,
column 8) and a curve is formed. From Figure 73 it can, for example, be observed that for the soil type used in the
example it takes 70 minutes to infiltrate approximately 74 mm of irrigation water.

The basic infiltration rate can be determined from Table 2, column 7: the infiltration rate in am/hour. Once the
values of the Infiltration rate are constant, the basic infiltration rate has been reached. In this example the basic
infiltration rate is 27 mm/hour and was reached after 60 minutes. After 60 minutes the cumulative infiltration was
69 mm. After the first 60 minutes the infiltration rate is constant: 27 mm/hour. So after 120 minutes (2 hours) the
cumulative infiltration will be 69 + 27 = 96 mm (indicated on the graph with a dotted line). After 3 hours the
cumulative Infiltration will be (96 + 27 =) 123 mm, etc. Once the curve has been established it is possible to
determine how long it will take to infiltrate a certain amount of water. This is of course important to know when
determining the irrigation time.

Figure 1 Example of an infiltration curve

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012

 JT607 WATER ENGINEERING
WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 5 0F 7

Note: The infiltration curve should be

determined for normal soil moisture
conditions before irrigation takes place,
i.e. usually when the top soil is dry.

6.0 Result/Data

Data Sheet: Infiltration Rate

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Reading on Time Cumulative Water level Infiltration Infiltration Cumulative
Infiltration
the clock difference time reading rate rate infiltration
Before After
filling filling
Hr min sec min min mm mm mm mm/min mm/hr mm
Start=0
Start=0 Start=0

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012

 JT607 WATER ENGINEERING
WE-1 INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST

EXPERIMENT : WE -1
TITLE : INFILTRATION RATE AND DOUBLE-RING INFILTROMETER TEST
DURATION : 2 HOURS
PAGE : 6 0F 7

7.0 Discussion

Get the basic infiltration rate(mm/hr) and compare to the value in Table 1
Plot in the same graph :
7.1 Cumulative Infiltration,mm Againts Cummulative Time,min
7.2 Infiltration rate Againts Cummulative Time
Change the cumulative time and cumulative infiltration value into log value.
Plot the graph base on (2) value above
Get the value of c and α.

Discuss it.

8.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

Your conclusion should be related to your practical and theoretical understanding on the related topic.

9.0 References

Soil –Water Engineering Field & Laboratory Manual No. 1 (pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAS246.pdf)

Version : 021211_0.0 _Effective:Jun 2012