WATER INFILTRATION OF COVERING SOILS WITH DIFFERENT TEXTURES AND BULK DENSITIES IN GRAVEL MULCHED AREAS

To determine the influence of different bulk densities and texture on soil water infiltration after remediation in gravel-mulched areas, we subjected two different soil types were to a battery of tests to determine their soil infiltration characteristics. The results show that the soil infiltration capacity decreases with increasing soil bulk density. A logarithmic negative correlation was identified between stable infiltration rate and the bulk density of the two soils (R2 > 95%). Moreover, the larger the bulk density, the smaller the cumulative infiltration, and there is a significant linear negative correlation between density and infiltration. The Kostiakov infiltration model better describes the infiltration process of the Lou soil at all stages and the infiltration of Yellow-brown soil before 40 min. Finally, as soil water is redistributed, and its content increases with soil depth, and the greater the bulk density, the greater the water storage capacity of the soil from 0 to 30 cm. Overall, the soil bulk density should be no less than 1.5 g/cm3 when Lou soil is chosen to cover on gravel-mulched land, and not less than 1.4 g/cm3 for Yellow-brown soil.