Field determination of sorptivity as a function of water content using a tension infiltrometer

Abstract

SUMMARY Sorptivity for tension wetting in the field was determined and weighted‐mean diffusivity calculated. Both tension sorptivity and weighted‐mean diffusivity could be described by an exponential function of the form a exp(bθ) where θ is either mean water content or dimensionless water content and a and b are parameters. This relation was valid for an initial water content between 0.016 and 0.047 m 3 m −3 and a final water content between 0.154 and 0.316 m 3 m −3 . Tension sorptivity was more strongly correlated with average water content than dimensionless water content. However, in the case of weighted‐mean diffusivity, the correlations with both dimensionless water content and average water content were almost the same.