Author(s): V. K. Haritha; L. Elango
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Abstract: Groundwater recharge is affected by the movement of fluid phases in the unsaturated zone (Nimmo, J. R. 2005; Kim et. al. 2009). During infiltration, the wetting waterfront will displace the pore air present in unsaturated zone downwards and this causes air entrapment (Kuang et. Al. 2013; Bond, W. J. and Collis George, N 1981; Adrian, D. D. and Franzini, J. B. 1966; Dixon, R. M. and Linden, D. R. 1972). This entrapped air reduces the hydraulic conductivity and thereby hampers the groundwater recharge (Wang et. al. 1998; Touma, J., and Vauclin, M 1986). This study aims to improve the infiltration rate (IR) by reducing the impact of entrapped air using soil ventilation. This concept was investigated using ponded infiltration experiments in a laboratory sand column by providing multiple vents. These experiments were carried out over 250 times and results were analysed for its statistical significance.
Year: 2022