Seasonal Infiltration and Subsurface Water Dynamics Across Benchmark Soil Catenas of Eastern West Virginia.

Two primary land uses--forest and pasture/hay are found in the Trout Run watershed.  This watershed, a trellis drainage system which is typical of watersheds found in the major land resource area (MLRA) 147, Appalachian Ridges and Vally’s, was sampled to a depth of 2 m and profile morphology was described, in detail, by USDA-NRCS Soil Survey Staff. Bulk samples and soil clods were collected for laboratory analysis. Using a tension infiltrometer double ringed infiltrometer, and Amoozemeter, each major genetic horizon was excavated to its upper boundary and analyzed.  Factors that influence surface infiltration and subsurface saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) focusing on the effect of land use and soil type on infiltration and Ksat have been identified.  We identified two benchmark soils common within the watershed to study how land use, landscape position, and soil type influence infiltration and Ksat. All measurements were taken at two different times during the year: early spring (March and/or May 2008), and late summer (June and/or July 2008).  These data are critical for developing an understanding of how water movement occurs in a landscape, especially in relation to soil horizons that may act as aquitards or aquifers. Currently, there is no conceptual model that communicates the dynamic nature of the soil resource to planners, politicians, and citizens who lack formal training in soil science.