Interflow in claypan soils

Abstract

Storm runoff amounts from drainage areas of several square miles have often been estimated by direct application of runoff data from small plots and single‐cover water‐sheds. Data presented here attest to the existence of gains from interflow or quick‐return flow on midwest claypan soils under conditions of high antecedent soil moisture. Lesser storm periods with low antecedent moisture conditions show transmission losses on these same areas. For these reasons, weighted plot runoff cannot be accepted as a true representation of watershed runoff. Further evidence of interflow and its evaluation was obtained in 1963 on small irrigated plots at the University of Missouri Experiment Station Farm near McCredie, Missouri. These studies will be continued for another year or two.