Soil Crusting Affects Water Conservation and Infiltration

摘要

An infiltration model is developed to include formation of a soil crust under transient conditions. A Soil-Crust Index has been defined and experimentally tested for two Kansas soils. The infiltration model utilizing the Soil-Crust Index was field tested on several tillage practices but for only one soil. The results of the laboratory experiments failed to indicate that the Soil-Crust Index can be applied across soil textures. Additional information is needed, particularly as pertains to high Soil-Crust Index values, before this can be adequately determined.