Construction and evaluation of alternative tension infiltrometer in Oxisol under wood ash management

Abstract

The tension infiltrometer has the potential to evaluate the effects of applying soil amendments, such as wood ash, on the process of water infiltration into soil. In this context, the aim of this study was to construct and verify the effectiveness of the alternative tension infiltrometer and evaluate water infiltration in Oxisol under pasture cultivation fertilized with incorporated and unincorporated wood ash. To quantify water infiltration in Oxisol under Urochloa brizantha grass cultivation, infiltration assessments using the alternative tension infiltrometer were performed under field conditions in triplicate, for a total of 60 measurements. The treatments in the experimental field consisted of two factors: two wood ash application regimes (incorporated and unincorporated) and five wood ash doses (0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 g dm-3). Cumulative infiltration varied with the different application methods and doses of wood ash. The rate of water infiltration was higher in the treatments with unincorporated wood ash application. The proposed tension infiltrometer proved to be effective in quantifying water infiltration in soils under different management conditions.