International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

E-ISSN 0976-3945

Research Article

INFILTRATION STUDIES OF DIFFERENT SOILS UNDER

DIFFERENT SOIL CONDITIONS AND COMPARISON OF
INFILTRATION MODELS WITH FIELD DATA
Jagdale Satyawan Dagadu1, Nimbalkar P. T.2

Address for Correspondence

1

Student M.Tech Civil (Hydraulic Engineering), 2 Professor, Department of Civil Engineering,

Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University College of engineering, Pune-43
ABSTRACT
The constant infiltration rates of different soils under different soil conditions were calculated at Sangola, district solapur of
Maharashtra region. Experimentation work was carried out on black cotton, clay, and sandy soil. Soil conditions considered
for black cotton soil were compacted, ploughed, and harrowed, for clay soil unploughed and ploughed, and for sandy soil
unploughed. The double ring infiltrometer method was used for measurement of infiltration rate. The study aimed to
determine constant infiltration rates of those soils under different soil conditions and comparing it with the infiltration rates
obtained by Kostiakov, Modified Kostiakov, Hortons and Green-Ampt infiltration models. The values of various constants
of the models were calculated by method of averages suggested by Davis (1943), and by graphical approach. For getting best
fitting model for particular soil and soil condition the results obtained from various infiltration models were compared with
observed field data and graphs were drawn. The parameters considered for best fitting of model were correlation coefficient
and standard error. The results shown that, The Hortons model, and Green Ampt model were best fitting to observed field
data to estimate infiltration rates at any given time with high degree of correlation coefficient and minimum degree of
standard error.
KEY WORDS: Infiltration, Infiltration rate, Infiltration models, soil condition.

INTRODUCTION
Infiltration is the movement of water into the
soil from the surface. The water is driven into t he
porous soil by force of gravity and capillary
attraction. First the water wets soil grains and
then the extra water moves down due to
resulting gravitational force. The rate at which a
given soil can absorb water at given time is
called infiltration rate and it depends on soil
characteristics such as soil texture, hydraulic
conductivity, soil structure, vegetation cover etc.
the infiltration plays an important role in
generation of runoff volume, if infiltration rate of
given soil is less than intensity of rainfall then it
results in either accumulation of water on soil
surface or in runoff. The different soil conditions
affect the soil infiltration rate. Compacted soils due
to movement of agricultural machines have a low
infiltration rate which is prone to runoff
generation.
In the present study the constant infiltration rates
of different soils under different soil conditions
were calculated by double ring infiltrometer
method, and compared with calculated values from
Kostiakov, Modified Kostiakov, Hortons and
Green-Ampt infiltration models. And assessment of
the suitability of different models for estimation
of infiltration rate of particular soil under
particular soil condition was carried out with
correlation coefficient and standard error as a
tools.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
Sangola region in solapur district of Maharashtra
state was selected for the study, which was having on
latitude of 1726N and longitude of 7507E. Six
regions as per type of soil and soil conditions were
selected for infiltration rate measurement. For black
cotton soil three regions were selected first region
was of compact soil type, second region was
ploughed, and third was of harrowed condition. Two
regions were selected for clay soil, first was
unploughed condition and second was ploughed
condition. For sandy soil one region was selected.
IJAET/Vol.III/ Issue II/April-June, 2012/154-157

MEASUREMENT OF INFILTRATION RATES:

Double ring infiltrometer method was used for
measurement of infiltration rates at all the sites. In
this two concentric rings were used with 25cm deep,
and diameter of 30cm for inner ring and 60cm for
outer ring. The rings were driven at about 15cm deep
in soil by using falling weight type hammer striking
on a wooden plank placed on top of ring uniformly
without or undue disturbance to soil surface.
Water was poured into the rings to maintain depth of
7 to 12 cm and the quantity of water was added to
maintain this depth at regular time interval of 5, 10,
20, 30 min. up to getting a constant infiltration rate.
The observations for infiltration rate were carried out
on inner ring with field type point gauge and stop
watch etc.
INFILTRATION MODELS
The following infiltration models were assessed for
finding best fitting model to observed field
infiltration rate data.
HORTONS MODEL:
Horton expressed decrease of infiltration capacity
with time as an exponential decrease as
f = fc + (fo - fc) e-kt
Where
f is infiltration capacity at any time t.
fc is final steady state infiltration capacity.
fo is initial infiltration capacity.
k Hortons constant representing rate of decrease in infiltration
capacity.
t is time in hours.

KOSTIAKOV MODEL:
f = atb
Where
f is cumulative infiltration at any time t.
t is time in min.
a and b are constants

MODIFIED KOSTIAKOV MODEL:

f = atb + c
Where
f is cumulative infiltration at any time t.
t is time in min.
a, b and c are constants whose values depends on soil type.

GREEN AMPT MODEL:

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

Where
f is infiltration capacity.
F is cumulative infiltration.
m and n are Green - Ampt parameters of infiltration.

E-ISSN 0976-3945

Table: 3.3 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for black cotton compact soil.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

The measured infiltration rates of different soils
under different soil conditions are shown in table 1.
The values of different parameters of infiltration
models for different soil conditions are given in table
2. And calculated infiltration rates from different
infiltration models are given in table 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4,
3.5, 3.6
Table:1. The measured infiltration rates (cm/hr) of
different soils under different soil conditions
Table: 3.4 Calculated infiltration rates from different
infiltration models for black cotton ploughed soil

Table: 2. The values of different parameters of

infiltration models for different soils under different soil
conditions.
Table: 3.5 Calculated infiltration rates from
different infiltration models for harrowed black
cotton soil

Table: 3.1 Calculated infiltration rates from

different infiltration models for unploughed clay soil.

Table: 3.6 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for sandy soil

Table: 3.2 Calculated infiltration rates from different

infiltration models for ploughed clay Soil

From the results it was found that the values of

parameters of infiltration models vary from soil to
soil and soil type. Also the correlation coefficients
and standard errors were different for different soils
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

and different soil conditions. From analysis it is
found that for all type of soils and soil conditions
Hortons model is best fitting with high degree of
correlation coefficient and minimum standard error,
Except for ploughed clay soil. The values of
correlation coefficient and standard error for different
soils and soil conditions for Hortons model are, for
unploughed clay soil correlation coefficient of 0.98
and minimum standard error of 0.07, For black cotton
compact soil correlation coefficient of 0.96 and
minimum standard error of 0.06, For black cotton
ploughed soil correlation coefficient of 0.99 and
minimum standard error of 0.22, For black cotton
harrowed soil correlation coefficient of 0.99 and
minimum standard error of 0.15, For sandy soil
correlation coefficient of 0.99 and minimum standard
error of 0.13. For ploughed clay soil Green Ampt
model is best fitting with correlation coefficient of
0.99 and minimum standard error of 0.03.

E-ISSN 0976-3945

Graph 1.4: observed Infiltration rate and calculated

infiltration rate verses time for black cotton ploughed
soil.

Graph: 1.5 observed Infiltration rate and calculated

infiltration rate verses time for black cotton harrowed
soil.

Graph: 1.6 observed Infiltration rate and calculated

infiltration rate verses time for sandy soil.
Graph:1.1 observed Infiltration rate and calculated
infiltration rate verses time for unploughed clay soil.

Graph 1.2: observed Infiltration rate and calculated

infiltration rate verses time for ploughed clay soil.

Graph 1.3: observed Infiltration rate and calculated

infiltration rate verses time for black cotton compact
soil.

Also the graphs of measured infiltration rate and

calculated infiltration rate by different infiltration
models against time were drawn for different soils
under different soil conditions and it was observed
that initially infiltration rates were higher and
decreased with time up to steady infiltration rate.
CONCLUSIONS:
From the research work it was found that constant
infiltration rate of clay unploughed and clay ploughed
soil was 1.2cm/hr and 1.6cm/hr. respectively. For
black cotton compact soil 1.2cm/hr, black cotton
ploughed soil 1.6cm/hr, black cotton harrowed soil
1.46cm/hr, and for sandy soil 8.53cm/hr in the
selected region.
From the results after analysis it was found that the
values of parameters of infiltration models varies
from soil to soil and soil type. From the correlation
coefficient and standard error calculations it was
found that for all type of soils and their conditions
Hortons model is best fitting with high degree of
correlation coefficient and minimum standard error
except for ploughed clay soil to which Green Ampt
model is best fitting. So from the study it is
concluded that Hortons model is best fitting with
measured values of infiltration rates for all types of
soils and soil conditions except for ploughed clay soil
in the region.
From the research work it is found that the soil
condition affects the infiltration rate. From the graphs
of infiltration rates against time it is found that
initially infiltration rates were high and decreased
with time up to constant infiltration rate.
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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

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E-ISSN 0976-3945