Double Ring Infiltrometer

Test on infiltration of water through soil
Infiltration rate and infiltration Capacity

INFILTRATION RATE
The infiltration rate is the velocity or speed at which water enters into the soil. It is usually
measured by the depth (in mm) of the water layer that can enter the soil in one hour. An
infiltration rate of 15 mm/hour means that a water layer of 15 mm on the soil surface, will take
one hour to infiltrate.
In dry soil, water infiltrates rapidly. This is called the initial infiltration rate. As more water
replaces the air in the pores, the water from the soil surface infiltrates more slowly and
eventually reaches a steady rate. This is called the basic infiltration rate.
The infiltration rate depends on soil texture (the size of the soil particles) and soil structure
(the arrangement of the soil particles: see Volume 1) and is a useful way of categorizing soils
from an irrigation point of view (Table 3).
The most common method to measure the infiltration rate is by a field test using a cylinder or
ring infiltrometer.
FIELD INFILTRATION TEST
Equipment(s) required
 Shovel/hoe
 Hammer (2 kg)
 Watch or cloc
 5 litre bucket
 Timber (75 x 75 x 400)
 Hessian (300 x 300) or jute cloth
 At least 100 litres of water
Description of Equipment’s
Ring infiltrometer of 30 cm diameter and 60 cm diameter. Instead of the outer cylinder a

bund could be made to prevent lateral water flow.
Measuring rod graduated in mm (e.g. 300 mm ruler)

Steps To be Followed
Step 1: Hammer the 30 cm diameter ring at least 15 cm into the soil. Use the timber to protect the ring
from damage during hammering. Keep the side of the ring vertical and drive the measuring rod
into the soil so that approximately 12 cm is left above the ground.
Step 2: Hammer the 60 cm ring into the soil or construct an earth bund around the 30 cm ring to the
same height as the ring and place the hessian inside the infiltrometer to protect the soil surface
when pouring in the water.
Step 3: Start the test by pouring water into the ring until the depth is approximately 70-100 mm. At the
same time, add water to the space between the two rings or the ring and the bund to the same
depth. Do this quickly.
The water in the bund or within the two rings is to prevent a lateral spread of water from the
infiltrometer.
Step 4: Record the clock time when the test begins and note the water level on the measuring rod.
Step 5: After 1-2 minutes, record the drop in water level in the inner ring on the measuring rod and add
water to bring the level back to approximately the original level at the start of the test. Record
the water level. Maintain the water level outside the ring similar to that inside.
Step 6: Continue the test until the drop in water level is the same over the same time interval. Take
readings frequently (e.g. every 1-2 minutes) at the beginning of the test, but extend the interval
between readings as the time goes on (e.g. every 20-30 minutes).
Table 1 BASIC INFILTRATION RATES FOR VARIOUS SOIL TYPES
Soil type Basic infiltration rate (mm/hour)

sand less than 30
sandy loam 20 - 30
loam 10 - 20
clay loam 5 - 10
clay 1-5
DATA on MEASUREMENTS AND OBSERVATION
- Column 1 indicates the readings on the clock in hours, minutes and seconds.
- Column 2 indicates the difference in time (in minutes) between two readings.
- Column 3 indicates the cumulative time (in minutes); this is the time (in minutes) since the test started.
- Column 4 indicates the water level readings (in mm) on the measuring rod: before and after filling (see
step 5).
- Column 5 indicates the infiltration (in mm) between two readings; this is the difference in the measured
water levels between two readings. How the infiltration is calculated is indicated in brackets.
- Column 6 indicates the infiltration rate (in mm/minute); this is the infiltration (in mm; column 5) divided
by the difference in time (in minutes, column 2).
- Column 7 indicates the infiltration rate (in mm/hour); this is the infiltration rate (in mm/minute, column 6)
multiplied by 60 (60 minutes in 1 hour).
- Column 8 indicates the cumulative infiltration (in mm); this is the infiltration (in mm) since the test
started. How the cumulative infiltration is calculated is
Table-3
COMMENT ON SOIL
REMARKS ON EXPERIMENT
WRITE DOWN THE ADVANTAGES OF DOUBLE RING INFITROMETER
WRITE DOWN THE UTILITY OF THE EXPERIMENT
WRITE DOWN THE LIMITATION(s) OF EXPERIMENT

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Double Ring Infiltrometer

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Test on infiltration of water through soil

Infiltration rate and infiltration Capacity

FIELD INFILTRATION TEST

Ring infiltrometer of 30 cm diameter and 60 cm diameter. Instead of the outer cylinder a

Measuring rod graduated in mm (e.g. 300 mm ruler)

Table 1 BASIC INFILTRATION RATES FOR VARIOUS SOIL TYPES

Soil type Basic infiltration rate (mm/hour)

WRITE DOWN THE ADVANTAGES OF DOUBLE RING INFITROMETER

WRITE DOWN THE UTILITY OF THE EXPERIMENT

WRITE DOWN THE LIMITATION(s) OF EXPERIMENT

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