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Published in Soil Sci Soc Am J 28:153-155 (1964)
© 1964 Soil Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Evaluation of a Radioactive Tracer Method for Measuring Water Intake of Soils1

B. D. Meek, A. J. MacKenzie and K. R. Stockinger2

ABSTRACT

A tracer method of measuring water intake by application of radioactive gold in the irrigation water was evaluated. When irrigation water containing a constant known amount of isotope is applied to the soil, the amount of isotope adsorbed is proportional to the amount of water entering the soil. To calculate water intake the amount of isotope adsorbed is determined by measuring the activity of soil samples taken in the field. Two factors, vertical distribution of the tracer in the soil, and magnitude of adsorption on the soil surface from flowing irrigation water, were studied. The radioactive tracer was not measurably lost by adsorption from the tagged water as it flowed over the soil surface. It was adsorbed near the soil surface and sampling to a depth of 6 cm. recovered 95% of the gold in Holtville clay loam. The method was used to determine water intake variability. Samples within a plot had an average coefficient of variability of 9%. This would require 7 samples to determine the mean water intake within 10% at the 1% level.

NOTES

1 Contribution from the Southwest Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA.

2 Soil Scientist, Chemist, and Soil Scientist, respectively, USDA, Southwestern Irrigation Field Station, Brawley, Calif.

Received for publication March 11, 1963. Accepted for publication December 20, 1963.






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Copyright © 1964 by the Soil Science Society of America.