Hydraulic Conductivity of Soils Computed from their Soil-Water Characteristics

Soil-water characteristics of the soils from different parts of Orissa were determined by means of sintered funnel connected to water manometer up to —1/10 bar and by means of a pressure plate at —1/3 bar of pressure. Hydraulic conductivity values calculated as a function of soil-water content using modified Marshall, and Millington and Quirk methods in five out of the ten soils showed that the values from the latter method are invariably less compared to that of the former. The preferability of the Millington and Quirk method for use in case of field water movement studies is discussed.