Impact of Compaction State and Initial Moisture on Infiltration Characteristic of Soil

Infiltration is the flow of water through the soil surface into a porous medium under gravity action and pressure effects. First the water moist soil grains and subsequently the surplus water moves down due to resulting gravitational force. The present study deals with the effect of compaction state and water content on infiltration property, in particular the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Two soil types have been selected and results have been determined. It is concluded that there is marginal reduction of infiltration rate with increasing the dry density in case of sandy soil and successively reduction of infiltration for Red (Loam) soil. It is found that infiltration rate variation is approximately constant with water content for higher dry density state.