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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #419513
Research Project: Developing Strategies for Resilient and Sustainable Crop, Water, and Soil Management in Semi-Arid Environments

Location: Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research

Title: Direct measurement of infiltration through a playa basin using automated double ring infiltrometers

Author
item BYARS, CODY - Texas Tech University
item ZARTMAN, RICHARD - Texas Tech University
item WEINBERG, ANDREW - Texas Water Development Board
item Stout, John
item Lascano, Robert
item Gitz, Dennis

Submitted to: Open Journal of Soil Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/11/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Freshwater playa wetlands are the predominate hydro-geomorphic landform in the Southern High Plains (SHP). These shallow ephemeral lakes act as precipitation runoff catchments embedded within closed watersheds. Playas act to focus Ogallala Aquifer recharge. Because of the diminishing Ogallala Aquifer reserves and the importance of playas to aquifer recharge, accurate estimates of infiltration rates through playas are needed. A team of researchers from Texas Tech University, the Texas Water Development Board, and the ARS measured infiltration through a playa bottom with mesoscale double ring infiltrometers installed in the basin of a cropland playa over three days. Results were compared to estimates made in a earlier studies. Steady state infiltration averaged 0.008 centimeters per minute (about 6 inches per day) through double ring infiltrometers. Large single-ring infiltrometers and small double-ring infiltrometers used in earlier studies may have overestimated steady state infiltration rates. The results underscore and quantify an important link between the soil surface and the aquifer.

Technical Abstract: Freshwater playa wetlands are the predominate hydro-geomorphic landform in the Southern High Plains (SHP). These shallow ephemeral lakes act as precipitation runoff catchments embedded within closed watersheds. Playas act to focus Ogallala Aquifer recharge. Because of the diminishing Ogallala Aquifer reserves and the importance of playas to aquifer recharge, accurate estimates of infiltration rates through playas are needed. We measured infiltration through a playa bottom with mesoscale double ring infiltrometers installed in the basin of a cropland playa over three days. Results were compared to estimates made in a earlier studies. Steady state infiltration averaged 0.008 cm/min for the double ring infiltrometers as compared to 0.058 cm/min for the single ring devices. Mesoscale single-ring infiltrometers and small double-ring infiltrometers used in earlier studies considerably overestimate steady state infiltration rates.