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Water infiltration control at the soil surface: Theory and practice

Robert M. Dixon
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation September 1995, 50 (5) 450-453;
Robert M. Dixon
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ABSTRACT:

This paper traces the course of research conducted by the author and several coworkers beginning in 1960 and continuing to the present time. A review of water infiltration literature and some early infiltrometer trials led to the formulation of the Air-Earth Interface (AEI) concept for water infiltration into initially dry soils. This concept states that the microroughness and macroporosity of the AEI regulate the exchange of surface water and displaced soil air across the AEI with the rough-open interface having very high exchange rates and with the smooth-closed interface having very low rates. This concept was supported and ver;Jed by a series of sprinkling infiltrometer studies, wherein manipulation of surface microroughness and macroporosity (roughness and openness) provided an order of magnitude control over water infiltration. The infiltration role of displaced soil air was elucidated by inventing and using devices referred to as border-irrigation and closed-top infiltrometers. Results obtained with these devices showed that very small soil air pressures can greatly affect infiltration by blocking downward water flow in macropores. The next step was to apply the AEI Infiltration Concept to reversing global land desertification (degradation) by restoring high infiltration rates to barren soils. What was needed was a device or machine that would economically restore stabile roughness and openness to the smooth-sealed desertified AEI which, in turn, would restore the high rates of rainwater infiltration requiredfor successful revegetation. This led to the invention and development of a series of land imprinting devices. By efficiently controlling rainwater infiltration at the soil surface, these devices have already restored perennial grasses to 20,000 hectares of desertified rangeland in southern Arizona, alone. With the successful development of land imprinting, the AEI concept evolved into the AEI model for reversing desertification through infiltration control. This diagrammaticlverbal model of four AEI processes helps guide revegetation projects to successfil completion. However, progress toward reversing global desertification will require at least a three-order-of-magnitude increase in finding from the developed countries.

Footnotes

  • Robert M. Dixon is chair of The Imprinting Foundation, Tucson, Arizona 85718.

  • Copyright 1995 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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Journal of Soil and Water Conservation: 50 (5)
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Vol. 50, Issue 5
September/October 1995
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Water infiltration control at the soil surface: Theory and practice
Robert M. Dixon
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Sep 1995, 50 (5) 450-453;

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Water infiltration control at the soil surface: Theory and practice
Robert M. Dixon
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Sep 1995, 50 (5) 450-453;
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