Response of biochar-amended clayey soils to water infiltration

Abstract

Biochar is an effective clayey raw soils improver. The difference of the amount of biochar added will cause the difference of soil water infiltration. The effects of mass addition ratios of five types of biochar (B0, B5, B10, B15 and B20) on the migration distance of soil wet front, cumulative infiltration and water holding capacity were studied through laboratory soil column simulation experiments. The soil water infiltration process was simulated as well with R2of 0.992, using Philip model, Horton model and Kostiakov model, respectively. The results demonstrate that the initial infiltration rate, stable infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration volume decrease with the increase of biochar addition and provide a reference of biochar utilization to improve soil hydraulic properties and moisture infiltration performance of clayey raw soils.