Green-Ampt Infiltration Parameter Estimates

USDA Soil Texture Classification

Suction  Head

Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity

Initial Moisture Deficit

(in)

(mm)

(in/hr)

(mm/hr)

Moist Soil Climates (Eastern US)

Dry Soil Climates (Western US)

Sand

1.95

49.5

9.27

235.6

0.346

0.404

Loamy Sand

2.41

61.3

2.35

59.8

0.312

0.382

Sandy Loam

4.33

110.1

0.86

21.8

0.246

0.358

Loam

3.50

88.9

0.52

13.2

0.193

0.346

Silt Loam

6.57

166.8

0.27

6.8

0.171

0.368

Sandy Clay Loam

8.60

218.5

0.12

3.0

0.143

0.250

Clay Loam

8.22

208.8

0.08

2.0

0.146

0.267

Silty Clay Loam

10.75

273.0

0.08

2.0

0.105

0.263

Sandy Clay

9.41

239.0

0.05

1.2

0.091

0.191

Silty Clay

11.50

292.2

0.04

1.0

0.092

0.229

Clay

12.45

316.3

0.02

0.6

0.079

0.203

Notes:

1.                  These values are estimates for SWMM applications where more detailed soils information is not available. There is significant variance in these values; laboratory and field testing, sensitivity analysis, and calibration may be employed to improve upon these estimates.

2.                  Typically use USDA SCS (now NRCS) Soil Survey to determine Soil Texture. In these surveys, Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity is reported as Permeability . Use the values reported in the soil survey for permeability for HYDCON, rather than the HYDCON values listed in the table above. In the absence of a soil survey or more reliable information, the values listed above may be used.

3.                  Synthesized from Handbook of Hydrology, D.R. Maidment, Editor in Chief, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1993, pp 5.1-5.39.