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Title: EFFECT OF EASTERN GAMAGRASS ON INFILTRATION RATE AND SOIL PHYSICAL AND HYDRAULIC PROPERTIES

Author
item PERRYGO, C - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item SHIRMOHAMMADI, A - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item Ritchie, Jerry
item Rawls, Walter

Submitted to: International Symposium on Preferential Flow
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Infiltration and soil hydraulic properties were measured for a loam soil at the soil surface and at a 30 cm depth beneath eastern gamagrass and tall fescue field plots. The experiment was repeated during February, May, August, and November of 1998. In-situ measurement of infiltration at 0 and -5 cm tension was performed using a tension infiltrometer. Undisturbed soil lsamples were collected and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), soil water characteristic, and bulk density were determined. Results of the laboratory analysis found insignificant differences for Ks and bulk density. Significantly higher infiltration rates were found for eastern gamagrass compared to tall fescue at the surface and 30 cm depth. This may be attributed to the thicker and deeper rooting system in eastern gamagrass and its biological loosening effect, which increases macropore flow. This study concluded that eastern gamagrass increased the infiltration of water and improved soil physical and hydraulic properties.