Macroporosity and infiltration in blanket peat: the implications of tension disc infiltrometer measurements

摘要: Little is known about the processes of infiltration and water movement in upper layers blanket peat. A tension infiltrometer was used to measure hydraulic conductivity a peat North Pennines, England. Measurements were taken from surface down 20 cm depth for under four different vegetation covers. It found that macropore flow significant pathway this soil type. also cover associated with macroporosity saturated conductivity. The proportion be greater at 5 than 0, 10 depth. Peat beneath Sphagnum tends more permeable can occur Functional matrix near-surface bare appear have been affected by weathering processes. Comparision results rainfall records demonstrates infiltration-excess overland unlikely common runoff-generating mechanism on peat; rather, saturation-excess combined percolation-excess above much less dominates runoff response. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.