The objective of this study was to investigate the use of Philip's equation coefficients (which have, in theory, direct physical meaning) to characterize infiltration on rangelands. It was found that a least squares regression approach to estimating Philip equation parameters (S and A) essentially reduces A, and perhaps S, to empirical coefficients. However, the Philip equation does provide a model that fits infiltrometer data reasonably well and reflects significant differences between infiltration curves. The effects of land management and temporal variables (e.g., soil moisture, season) may be associated with changes in S and A for particular sites. Indexing of infiltration curves by model coefficients allows for infiltrometer data from different researchers to be pooled and provides a basis for simulation modeling of infiltration and runoff on small watersheds. Coefficients are tabulated for a variety of rangeland plant communities for easy reference by practicing rangeland hydrologists. Researchers who present infiltration data in the future are urged to represent their data, at least in part, in the form of S and A coefficients to expand results tabulated from this study. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.