Spatial Variability of Infiltration Rate in Inceptisol and Entisol Soils of Sahyadri Foothills of Western India

Abstract

Aim: To characterize the spatial variability of infiltration in both Inceptisol and Entisol soils of irrigated farms of College of Agriculture, Pune.
 Study Design: Ten GPS based locations each from Inceptisol and Entisol were selected randomly and infiltration rates were computed using double ring infiltrometer.
 Place and Duration of Study: The research was conducted at irrigated farms of College of Agriculture, Pune, between January 2019- May 2019.
 Methods: Soil samples collected from these spots were analysed in lab for its physical and chemical properties and thus to arrives a correlation between infiltration rates and soil physico-chemical properties.
 Results: Porosity (r =0.44*), per cent silt (0.58 **), per cent sand (0.57**) and hydraulic conductivity (0.53**) showed positive correlation with the cumulative infiltration rate, while the bulk density (r = -0.44*) and electrical conductivity (-0.84**) gave a negative correlation with the cumulative infiltration rate. Infiltration rates of soil varies with the spatial variability.