Tuesday, November 6, 2007
171-1

A Rapid and Precise Method to Measure Infiltration Insitu.

Charles Schmid1, Roch Gaussoin2, George Meyer3, Robert C. Shearman1, and Gary DeBerg3. (1) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 373 PS Hall, Agronomy Dep., Lincoln, NE 68583, (2) 362 Plant Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915, (3) Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 250 L.W. Chase Hall, lincoln, NE 68583-0726

Assessing field infiltration on research plots with a high number of experimental units can be imprecise and time consuming. The objective of this study was to develop a method that rapidly and precisely measures infiltration relative to other commonly used methods.  The method is based on the resistance difference between an electrical current traveling through air vs. water. The leading and tailing edge of the water column signals the computer via stainless steel rods tipped with conductive foam.  The foam is necessary to alleviate bubble formation on the sensing rod because of the DC current passing through the sensor and disassociation of the water molecule.  The method used a single ring infiltrometer in concert with computerized data collection. Up to16 infiltrations can be collected simultaneously. This method was compared to both single and double ring infiltrometers on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) maintained at 0.325 cm.  The data were subjected to correlation analysis. The method was highly correlated with significant time saving and increased or equal precision to conventional methods.

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