SIMULTANEOUS WATER AND SOLUTE MOVEMENT THROUGH AN UNSATURATED SOIL FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN RECHARGE

We describe the movement of pressure and solute fronts through unsaturated soil profiles as observed in the field. The aim is to show, for the first time, the movement of pressure and solute fronts in response to long-term hydrological changes brought about by modifications in land use. The data presented here are from a semi-arid (370 mm yr-1) site located near Kulkami in the South Australian portion of the Murray Basin. We give data from two holes: one from a site under native vegetation and another from a cleared field nearby. Gravimetric water content, chloride and matric suction profiles at the native vegetation site are shown. Predictions are made regarding the rise in the water table and salinity increase in the aquifer over the next 200 years.