Relative Importance of Component Soil Properties on Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Soils

Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was measured on undisturbed soil cores collected from 72 horizons of 21 profiles comprising six soil Subgroups, viz., Typic Chromusterts, Typic Ustropept, Udic Haplustalf, Typic Haplustalf, Vertic Haplustalf and Typic Ustorthents. Relationships were established with effective porosity (Ø_e), percentage of aggregate stability (AS), dispersion coefficient of silt and clay (DCSC), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), clay and organic carbon (OC). Path coefficient analysis confirmed that the direct influence on the Ks was strongest through Ø_e, DCSC, AS and ESP. Though clay and OC influenced Ks, their role was minimal as a directfactor. The major influence of clay and organic carbon was indirect through AS and Ø_e.