Double-ring infiltration tests

According to the work assignments in WP 4 (Field infiltrations), the area that was selected for infiltration needs to be characterised in terms of geology, stratigraphy, and hydrogeology. Some of the first tests aimed at the estimation of soil hydraulic parameters such as, for example, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks value). For this, we started this week our first double-ring infiltration tests in order to estimate the soil permeability under natural, undisturbed conditions. Later on, core samples will be collected and Ks values will be determined based on grain size analysis curves.

So the first two infiltration tests revealed values of soil hydraulic conductivity in the range of 10^-5 m/s, which was corresponding to the silty layer that starts at a depth of 1.5 m below soil surface. Since our planed infiltration trench is also 1.5 m deep, this layer might pose some difficulties but further investigations are needed such as detailed stratigraphical characterisation of the whole study area.