Water infiltration rate into the soil
The infiltrometer consists of two metal cylinders that are pushed into the soil and filled with water. The inner cylinder water level is measured and as the water infiltrates into the soil, the drop in water level is recorded and the infiltration is calculated. The outer cylinder contains water to stabilize the readings and make sure no water from the central cylinder leaks sideways, which would introduce errors into the measurement.
Ring infiltrometers of different sizes are available (300mm, 600mm) to test different soil types (from sand to clay) and different rates of infiltration. Applications include determining irrigation requirements, water logging, leaching, drainage problems or seepage from underground tanks (e.g. septic tanks)