Hydraulic Gradients Across Simulated Rain‐Formed Soil Surface Seals

Hydraulic potentials across surface seals on packed soil columns were measured with a tensiometer‐transducer‐data logger system. Matric potential drops during steady‐state infiltration across seals formed by simulated rainfall on 12 different soils ranged from 6.4 to 14.2 cm of water. The matric potential that developed just below the seal during steady‐state infiltration was nearly constant for a considerable depth range in the soil column. Cultural factors determining aggregate stability were found to be more significant than textural factors in influencing hydraulic properties of surface seals.