Effect of Temperature on Hydraulic Conductivity of Soil

Results on hydraulic conductivity of Patharchatta sandy loam at various water contents showed that it increased with temperature at all the water contents. At saturation it was found to be 15.8, 18.6, 23.5, and 25.9, cm day-1 at 10, 20, 30 and 45°C, respectively. Greater variation in hydraulic conductivity at different temperatures occurred above the water content corresponding to l/3 bar suction. Except at higher temperatures, the increase in hydraulic conductivity is mostly explained from the decrease in viscosity of water. The hydraulic conductivity as a function of matric suction does not exhibit any temperature effect.