Measurement of Infiltration Rate in Some of the Soils of the Tungabhadra Project Area

Infiltration tests on the soils of the Regional Research Station, Raichur (Mysore State) were made by means of the double ring infiltrometer under variable head and followed by constant head after the intake rate was almost stabilised in the former. The various types of soiis differing in texture and other conditions at the surface were found to affect markedly the infiltration rate. The deep black clayey soils showed low intake of water in the first one hour of the test and its final rate was 6.1 cm per hour under constant head. The deep black transported clayey type of soil showed 10.0 cm of water intake per hour. In the case of red sandy loam soil which had received ploughing during summer, the infiltration rate was 9.9 cm per hour. The land having plant cover exhibited the maximum infiltration rate of 18.1 cm per hour. However, the saline-alkali soil showed the minimum intake rate of only 1.9 cm per hour.