FLUX-CONTROLLED SORPTIVITY MEASUREMENTS TO DETERMINE SOIL HYDRAULIC PROPERTY FUNCTIONS

Using a new method, the hydraulic diffusivity and conductivity functions can be determined over most of their range in about 4 hours. This method uses a series of fast simple, 1-D adsorption measurements for which the cumulative volumes of absorption are controlled proportional to the square root of time with syringes driven by cams. Pressure heads can be recorded during the absorption runs, and at the end a soil sample for gravimetric water content determination can be obtained in about 15 sec. -from Author