Soils, Infiltration, and On-site Testing

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							    Soils, Infiltration,
   and On-site Testing
           Presented by:

     Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO
           Wilkes University
   GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Environmental Engineering Department
      Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766
            570-408-4619
    http://www.water-research.net
                Soils Defined
• Natural Body that Occurs on the Land
  Surface that are Characterized by One or
  More of the Following:

  – Consists of Distinct Horizons or Layers
  – The ability to support rooted plants in a natural
    environment
  – Upper Limit is Air or Shallow Water
  – Lower Limit is Bedrock or Limit of Biological Activity
  – Classification based on a typical depth of 2 m or
    approximately 6.0 feet
    Another Definition of Soils
• A Natural 3 - Dimensional Body at the
  Earth Surface
• Capable of Supporting Plants
• Properties are the Result of Parent Material,
  Climate, Living Matter, Landscape Position
  and Time.
• Soil Composed of 4 Components (mineral
  matter, organic matter, air, and water)
Five Soil Formation
      Factors
  • Organisms
  • Climate
  • Time
  • Topography and
    Landscape Setting
  • Parent Material

                        R
                 Soil Food Web - Organisms
•   Micro &
    Macroscopic
•   Decomposition of
    Organic Matter
•   Animals Living in
    Soil
•   Vegetation Types
•   Human Activity
•   Redoximorphic
    Feature Formation




    Image Source: The University of Minnesota, 2003
   Climatic Elements
(Energy & Precipitation)
            • Annual and Seasonal
              Rainfall
            • Temperature Range
            • Biologic Production
              and Activity
            • Weathering (Wind,
              Water, and Ice)
            • Translocation of
              Material
       Climate and Soil Development




Image Source: University of Wisconsin, 2002
  Geologic Time




Time
                      Landscape and Relief
                         (Soil Texture)

                                              A- Sandy Texture
                                              and
                                              Loamy Sand

                                              B- Sandy
                                              Textures

                                              C- Clay Loam,
                                              Loam, Silt Loam



Image Source: University of Wisconsin, 2002
           Landscape and Relief
                (Drainage)

                              Water Movement
                              Soil Drainage
                              Landscape
                              Configuration
                              (Convex, Concave)
                              Elevation
                              Water Movement




Image Source: NJ NRCS, 2002
                 Parent Material
• Geological Materials
   – Minerals and Rocks
   – Glacial Materials
   – Loess (wind blown)
   – Alluvial Deposits
                           Glacial Material
   – Marine Deposits
   – Organic Deposits

• Influences
   – Minerals Present
   – Colors
   – Chemical Reactions
   – Water Movement
   – Soil Development
                                         Bedrock
             Describing Soils
•   Soil Texture
•   Structure
•   Consistency
•   Soil Color
•   Coarse Fragment Content
•   Redoximorphic Features
•   other Diagnostic Properties
                       Soil Texture
The way a soil "feels" is called the soil texture.
Soil texture depends on the amount of each size of particle in the soil.
The three soil separates are sand, silt, and clay

Sand are the largest particles and they feel "gritty."

Silt are medium sized, and they feel soft, silky or "floury."

Clay are the smallest sized particles, and they feel "sticky" and
they are hard to squeeze.
Soil Textural Triangle
Soil Structures
Water Movement and Structure
                 Soil Consistency
Soil Consistency the feel of the soil, reflecting relative resistance
to pressure: eg friable, firm, hard, loose, plastic. The term soil
consistency is used to describe the resistance of a soil at various
moisture contents to mechanical stresses or manipulations. It is
commonly measured by feeling and manipulating the soil by hand.
Consistency Terms
      Soil Color Munsell Notations
          In the Munsell system of notation,
        color characteristics are designated by
                      three axes:

             Hue (the name of the color)
     Value (the darkness or lightness of the color)
    Chroma (the intensity, or strength of the color)

                For example, 10YR4/3
          Hue (10YR), Value (4), Chroma (3)
                     Color: brown

In PA - The primary hues are typically 10YR and 7.5YR.
          Soil Color-Munsell Notation
Red- indicates the presence of Fe-oxides (iron oxides).

Grey- indicates the presence of elevated water tables
and reduced Fe (iron).

Black-indicates the presence of organic matter, Mn-oxides (manganese),
or FeS (iron sulfides).

Organic matter suggest the soil is nutrient rich and fertile.
Iron sulfides occur in wetlands and associated with
rotten egg odor.

White- indicates the presence of carbonate or soluble
salts.
                  Soil Horizons
                                • Layer of Soil Parallel
                                  to Surface
                                • Properties a function
                                  of climate, landscape
                                  setting, parent
                                  material, biological
                                  activity, and other soil
                                  forming processes.
                                • Horizons (A, E, B, C,
                                  R, etc)
Image Source: University of Texas, 2002
               Soil Horizons
            O- Organic Horizons
                             • Organic Layers of
                O Horizon      Decaying Plant and
                               Animal Tissue
                             • Aids Soil Structural
                               Development
                             • Helps to Retain Moisture
                             • Enriches Soil with
                               Nutrients
                             • Infiltration Capacity
Dark in Color Because of       function of Organic
Humus Material - 1,000,000     Decomposition
bacteria per cm3
   Soil Horizons
A Horizons: “ Topsoil”
               • Mineral Horizon Near
   A Horizon     Surface
               • Accumulation of Organic
                 Material
               • Eluviation Process Moves
                 Humic and Minerals form O
                 Horizon into A horizon

               • Ap - Plowed A Horizon
               • Ab - Buried Horizon
               • Soil dark in color, coarser in
                 texture, and high porosity
 Soil Horizons: E Horizons
Albic Horizon (Latin - White)
                  • Mineral Horizon Near
      E Horizon     Surface

                  • Movement of Silicate Clay,
                    Iron, and Aluminum from the A
                    Horizon through Eluviation

                  • Horizon does not mean a water
                    table is present, but the horizon
                    can be associated with high
                    water table , use Symbol Eg
                    (gleyed modifier)

                  • Underlain by a B (illuvial)
                    horizon
  Soil Horizons: B Horizons
Zone of Maximum Accumulation
                       •   Mineral Horizon
         Bhs Horizon   •   Illuviation is Occurring -
                           Movement into the Horizon
                       •   B Horizon Receives Organic and
                           Inorganic Materials from Upper
                           Horizons.
                       •   Color Influence by Organic, Iron,
                           Aluminum, and Carbonates
                       •   Bw - Weakly Colored or Structured
        Bs Horizon
                       •   Bhs- Accumulation of illuvial
                           organic material and sesquioxides
    Bw Horizon         •   Bs- Accumulation of sesquioxides
                       •   Bt- Translocation of silicate clay
                       •   Bx- Fragipan Horizon, brittle
            Soil Horizons: Bx and Bt Horizons
                    Horizons Indicate Reduced Infiltration
                         Capacity and Permeability

Bx: B horizon with fragipan, a compact,
slowly permeable subsurface horizon that
is brittle when moist and hard when dry.
Prismatic soil structure, mineral coatings
and high bulk density
     Area of Highest
     Permeability
     along Prism
     Contact

                                             Bt: Clay accumulation is indicated by
                                             finer soil textures and by clay
                                             coating peds and lining pores
     C- Horizons
 Distinguished by Color,
Structure, and Deposition
             • Mineral Horizon or Layer,
               excluding Rock
             • Little or No Soil-Forming
             • May be Similar to
               Overlying Formation
             • May be Called Parent
               Material
             • Layer can be Gleyed
             • Developed in Place or
               Deposited
     R- Horizons

            • Hard, Consolidated
              Bedrock

            • Typically Underlies a
              C Horizon, but could
              be directly below an A
              or B Horizon.
R Horizon
Soil Structure and Horizon
           Source of Soils Data




                      Soil Surveys in GIS Format

Soil Survey Maps
                Soil Hydrologic Cycle




Source: Vepraskas, M.J, et. Al. “ Wetland Soils”, 2001.
        Soil Drainage Class
          and Soil Group
•Soil Drainage Class - Refers to Frequency
and Duration of Periods of Saturation or Partial
Saturation During Soil Formation. There are 7
Natural Soil Drainage Classes.

•Hydrologic Soil Group-Refers to Soils
Runoff Producing Characteristics as used in the
NRCS Curve Number Method. There area 4
Hydrologic Soil Groups (A, B, C, D).
                    Group A and B
Group A is sand, loamy sand or sandy loam types of
soils. It has low runoff potential and high
infiltration rates even when thoroughly wetted.

Deep, well to excessively drained sands or gravels
and have a high rate of water transmission. Root
Limiting / Impermeable layers over 100 cm or 40
inches
              *****************
Group B is silt loam or loam. It has a moderate
infiltration rate when thoroughly wetted.

 Moderately deep to deep, moderately well to well
drained soils with moderately fine to moderately     Group A- Well Drained
coarse textures. Root Limiting / Impermeable e
layers over 50 to 100 cm or 20 to 40 inches
                       Group C and D
Group C soils are sandy clay loam. They have
low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted
and consist chiefly of soils with a layer that
impedes downward movement of water and
soils with moderately fine to fine structure.
Perched water table 100 to 150 cm or 40 to 60
inches; root limiting 20 to 40 inches.

           *****************
Group D soils are clay loam, silty clay loam,
sandy clay, silty clay or clay. They have very
low infiltration rates when thoroughly wetted
and consist chiefly of clay soils with a high
swelling potential, soils with a permanent high
water table, soils with a claypan or clay layer at
or near the surface and shallow soils
over nearly impervious material ( < 20 inches).

                                                     Group D - Poorly Drained
                                                     Highest Runoff Potential
                        Definitions
Infiltration - The downward entry of water into the immediate
surface of soil or other materials.

Infiltration Capacity- The maximum rate at which water can
infiltrate into a soil under a given set of conditions.

Infiltration Rate- The rate at which water penetrates the surface of
the soil and expressed in cm/hr, mm/hr, or inches/hr. The rate of
infiltration is limited by the capacity of the soil and rate at which
water is applied to the surface. This is a volume flux of water
flowing into the profile per unit of soil surface area (expressed as
velocity).

Percolation -Vertical and Lateral Movement of water through the
soil by gravity.
         Infiltration Rate and Capacity
Soil Factors that Control Infiltration Rate:

       - Vegetative Cover, Root Development and Organic Content
       - Moisture Content
       - Soil Texture and Structure
       - Porosity and Permeability
       - Soil Bulk Density and Compaction
       - Slope, Landscape Position, Topography
     Infiltration Rate (Time Dependent)

           Decreasing Infiltration

                                                     Steady Gravity
                                                     Induced Rate



Infiltration with Time Rate is Initially   Final Infiltration Capacity
High Because of a Combination of           (Equilibrium)- Infiltration
Capillary and Gravity Forces                 Approaches Saturated
                                                  Permeability
      Infiltration Rate (Moisture)
Infiltration Decreases with Time

1) Changes in Surface and Subsurface Conditions

2) Change in Matrix Potential

3) Overtime - Matrix Potential Decreases and Gravity Forces
Dominate - Causing a Reduction in the Infiltration Rate
     Measuring Infiltration Rate
• Flooding (ring) Infiltrometers
  – Single ring
  – Double ring
• Flooded Infiltrometers
• Tension Infiltrometers
• Rainfall-Runoff Plot Infiltrometers
Measuring Infiltration Rate
     Single Rings Infiltrometers



Cylinder - 30 cm in Diameter

Drive 5 cm or more into Soil Surface or Horizon

Water is Ponded Above the Surface

Record Volume of Water Added with Time to Maintain a
Constant Head

Measures a Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Flow
        Double Rings Infiltrometers




Outer Rings are 6 to 24 inches in Diameter (ASTM - 12 to 24 inches)

Mariotte Bottles Can be Used to Maintain Constant Head

Rings Driven - 5 cm to 6 inches in the Soil and if necessary sealed
         Other Infiltrometers




Ponded Infiltrometers
                        Tension Infiltrometer
                        Unsaturated Flow Of Water
                    Infiltration Rate by
                    Soil Group/ Texture




Source: Texas Council of Governments, 2003.
            Infiltration Rate
      Function of Slope & Texture




Source: Rainbird Corporation, derived from USDA Data
               Infiltration Rate
            Function of Vegetation




Source: Gray, D., “Principles of Hydrology”, 1973.
                            Comparison Infiltration to
                              Percolation Testing
               4.5
                4        Infiltraton Test
                                                                       Percolation
               3.5
                                                                         Testing
                3
                         Percolation Test                                 Over
Rate (in/hr)




               2.5                                                      Estimated
                2                                                      Infiltration
                                                                       Rate by 40
               1.5
                                                                         to over
                1
                                                                          400%
               0.5
                0
                     1      2     3     4   5     6   7   8   9   10
                                             Trail
               20
               18                       Infiltration Rock Content < 20 %

               16                       Infiltration Rock Content > 60 %
               14
Rate (in/hr)




               12
               10
                8
                6
                4
                2
                0
                    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9 10 11 12 13 14
        Infiltration
(Compaction/ Moisture Level)
             Case 1 :Myers Proposed Development
             Worcester Township, Pennsylvania
                                       Abbottstown Silt Loam,
                          Deep to Moderately Deep, Somewhat Poorly Drained

                        •Some Areas Shallow Depth to Firm Bedrock
                        •Signs of Erosion
                        • Low Surface and Near Surface Infiltration Rates
                        Associated with Surface Smearing, Btx, Bx Horizons
                        •BC/ C /R Horizons Higher Infiltration Rate.


       Readington Silt Loam
    Deep Moderately Well Drained

• Low Infiltration Surface, Bd, and Btx
• High Infiltration in C and R Horizons
                     Infiltration Rate
         Function of Horizon A, B, Btx, Bt, C, R
          C/R Testing - Areas Fractured Rock




Source: On-site Infiltration Testing - Mr. Brian Oram (Wilkes University)
             Evaluation Infiltration
Step 1: Desktop Assessment - GIS
Review Published Data Related to Soils, Geology, Hydrology

Step 2: Characterize the Hydrological Setting
Where are the Discharge and Recharge Zones?
What forms of Natural Infiltration or Depression Storage Occurs?

Step 3: On-Site Assessment
•Deep Soil Testing Throughout Site Based on Soils and Geological Data
•Double Ring Infiltration Testing
•How will water move through the site ?

Step 4: Engineering Review and Evaluation

Step 5: Additional Infiltration or On-site Testing

Step 6: Final Design
       Soils, Infiltration,
      and On-site Testing
           Presented by:

     Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO
           Wilkes University
   GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Environmental Engineering Department
      Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766
            570-408-4619
    http://www.water-research.net
              Horton Equation (1939)
          Infiltration is a Function of Time as defined by:

                       f(t) = fc + (fo – fc)e^-kt

f(t) = infiltration rate for any time “t” from beginning of infiltration
                      fc = infiltration capacity
                 fo = initial infiltration rate at (t=0)
                    e = 2.71 =base of natural log
      k is a measure of the rate of decrease in infiltration rate
                (constant that depends on soil type)
Large Watershed Application - Replaced by Philip and Green-Ampt
 Horton Method Used in EPA Storm Water Management Model
               Green-Ampt Equation
•   Green-Ampt model was the first physically-based model/equation describing
    the infiltration of water into soil. The model yields cumulative infiltration and
    the infiltration rate as an implicit function of time. The volume of infiltration
    was a function of:
     – Soil pores are saturated behind wetting front;
     – Wetting front moves in response to capillary forces; and
     – Darcy’s flow governs that headloss in the saturated zone.
     – Approx. Equation: f = (A/F)+B; f = infiltration rate, F -
       accumulative infiltration, and A and B are fitted parameters
• The Green-Ampt Model has been modified to calculate water
  infiltration into non-uniform soils by several researchers . In 1989,
  GALAYER was developed for heterogenous soils
• Models Available at:
  http://www.epa.gov/ada/csmos/ninflmod.html
  http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/soil_water/drainmod/dmversions.htm
               Philip Equation (1960)


where:
F = total depth of infiltrated water in mm.
t = time in seconds K = hydraulic conductivity in mm/sec
m = the average moisture content of the soil to the depth of the wetting front
m--0 = initial soil moisture content - based on API calculation or input
Pot = capillary potential at the wetting front in mm
Pot = 250 log (K) + 100
D1 = depth of water on the soil surface
Takes into account the “Ponding Head”

Models Available at:
http://www.epa.gov/ada/csmos/ninflmod.html
    Soils, Infiltration,
   and On-site Testing
           Presented by:

     Mr. Brian Oram, PG, PASEO
           Wilkes University
   GeoEnvironmental Sciences and
Environmental Engineering Department
      Wilkes - Barre, PA 18766
    http://www.water-research.net

						
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