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In-situ soil permeability assessment using a Guelph permeameter

In-situ soil permeability assessment using a Guelph permeameter

Specifications

  • Scope:

    Soil permeability assessment to characterise infiltration capacity and irrigation rate applications and potential surface water impacts using:

    • Falling head ring permeameter for the A horizon
    • Guelph permeameter for the B&C horizons
  • Challenge:

    Reliable prediction of in-situ soil permeability is important in the design of irrigation projects to avoid overland flow, offsite movement of irrigation water, erosion and impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Reliable assessment of in-situ permeability is problematic and rarely undertaken.

     
  • Solution:

     Verterra identified a combination of permeability assessment approaches, incorporating use of ring permeameters for surface soils and the Guelph permeameter for sub-soils, as an efficient means to rapidly obtain replicant measurements to provide a statistically defined level of confidence in permeability values.

  • Benefit to Client:

    This project extended the outcomes of prior Threshold Electrolyte Conductivity (TEC) assessment to provide absolute estimates of infiltration rates and inform unsustainable irrigation design rates.

  • Market Sector: Oil and Gas
  • Capabilities:
    • Irrigated forest & fodder crops for beneficial use of waste water
    • Groundwater and salinity management
    • Soil surveying and land capability assessment
  • Location: Queensland
  • Year: 2012