Effects on seal properties of changes in drops energy and water salinity during a continuous rainstorm

Abstract

The effect of changes in rainfall energy and water salinity, during a continuous simulated rainstorm, on seal properties was tested in a silty loam soil (Calcic Haploxeralfl with medium (9.0) and low (2.5) exchangeable sodium percent (ESP) values. Saline water (EC = 5 -6 dS m-1) and distilled water were rained at two energy levels: high energy with kinetic energy of 22.9 J mm-1 m2, and low energy with kinetic energy of <0.01 J mm-1 m-2. A seal may be fully or partially developed. The seal formed by a distilled water rain of high energy and sufficient duration is fully developed. A seal formed by rain with low energy, or by high-energy rain of short duration, or by saline rainwater of high energy and long duration, is a partially developed seal. A fully developed seal is stable and its permeability responds only to simultaneous changes in electrolyte concentration and rain energy. Conversely, a partially developed seal is not stable and its permeability responds to changes in electrolyte concentration only.