Description:
Irrigation experiments on 12 instrumented field plots were used to assess the impact of dynamic soil crack networks on
infiltration and run-off. During applications of intensity similar to a heavy rainstorm, water was seen being preferentially
delivered within the soil profile. However, run-off was not observed until soil water content of the profile reached field capacity,
and the apertures of surface-connected cracks had closed > 60%. Electrical resistivity measurements suggested that subsurface
cracks persisted and enhanced lateral transport, even in wet conditions. Likewise, single-ring infiltration measurements taken
before and after irrigation indicated that infiltration remained an important component of the water budget at high soil water
content values, despite apparent surface sealing. Overall, although the wetting and sealing of the soil profile showed considerable
complexity, an emergent property at the hillslope scale was observed: all of the plots demonstrated a strikingly similar threshold
run-off response to the cumulative precipitation amount.
Raw Url:
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu?metadataPrefix=&verb=GetRecord&identifier=ir.library.oregonstate.edu:d791sh86m
Repository Record Id:
ir.library.oregonstate.edu:d791sh86m
Record Title:
Hillslope run-off thresholds with shrink-swell clay soils
http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/d791sh86m