Estimating the Permeability of Naturally Structured Soil From Percolation Theory and Pore Space Characteristics Imaged by X-Ray

Abstract

The saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil, K-s, is a critical parameter in hydrological models that remains notoriously difficult to predict. In this study, we test the capability of a model based on percolation theory and critical path analysis to estimate K-s measured on 95 undisturbed soil cores collected from contrasting soil types. One parameter (the pore geometry factor) was derived by model fitting, while the remaining two parameters (the critical pore diameter, d(c), and the effective porosity) were derived from X-ray computed tomography measurements. The model gave a highly significant fit to the K-s measurements (p

Keywords

permeability; saturated hydraulic conductivity; soil; critical path analysis; percolation; model

Published in

Water Resources Research
2018, volume: 54, number: 11, pages: 9255-9263
Publisher: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

SLU Authors

• Ahmad, Arslan

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Babko, Maryia

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Jarvis, Nicholas

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Soil Science
Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2018WR023609

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/97658