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SATURO
Field Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity
We think you should spend less time on complex processes and more time being productive. That’s why we automated almost everything in the new SATURO dual-head infiltrometer.
- Measures field saturated hydraulic conductivity
- Fully automated and portable infiltrometer
- Capable of unattended measurement
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Overview / Features
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Get more out of every field visit
Saturated hydraulic conductivity is a pain to measure in the field. And that’s only the beginning. When you get back to the office, you still have to convert the raw data into hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rates. We think you should spend less time on complexity and more time being productive. That’s why we automated almost everything in the new SATURO.
Set it up, and leave
The SATURO dual-head infiltrometer does almost everything for you. It’s fully automated and doesn’t require post-processing of data. Install the ring, connect the hoses, and push start. It’s that simple.
The infiltrometer automatically measures infiltration rates, and the control unit calculates field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) on the fly. That means if you need a value right away, it’s there. If you want to dig deeper, you can always download the raw data.
With this infiltrometer, one person can do everything
Unlike double ring systems, the SATURO infiltrometer is designed for one person to carry and set up. Plus, it requires way less water, saving you a ton of time and effort. How? The SATURO ponds water on top of the soil and uses air pressure to create two different pressure heads. It uses a pump to automatically maintain the correct water levels.
No more constant measuring and adjusting
SATURO operates unattended, which means you can get other field work done instead of having to babysit the instrument. And, you can run multiple instruments simultaneously, allowing you to further maximize the efficiency of your time in the field.
Eliminate guessing
Single and double ring infiltrometers require you to know—or guess—the “alpha factor” (soil macroscopic capillary length) to manually correct for three-dimensional flow. The SATURO infiltrometer changes everything. It automates the well-established dual head method which measures infiltration at two different pressure heads to estimate sorptivity. This simplifies the three-dimensional flow analysis, allowing you to determine field saturated hydraulic conductivity without making any dubious assumptions. And the best part is—it does all the calculations for you, saving you hours of tedium.
A simple, precise solution
The SATURO infiltrometer combines automation and simplified data analysis together in one system. It even computes infiltration rates and field saturated hydraulic conductivity on the fly. And the SATURO is recommended by the Soil Health Institute as a standard method for measuring Kfs: a Tier 1 soil health indicator. The SATURO makes life a little easier for those who need a faster, more accurate way to measure Kfs in the field.
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Feature summary
- Fully automated infiltrometer
- Capable of unattended measurement
- The Soil Health Institute recommends SATURO as a standard method for measuring Kfs: a Tier 1 soil health indicator
- Kfs values calculated and graphed in real time, no data post-processing is necessary
- Portable
- Includes self-contained water reservoir
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Specifications
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Measurement Specifications
Pressure Head Ranges0 to 40 cmWater LevelMaintained at 5 cmKfsThe range of Kfs values that can be effectively measured by the SATURO infiltrometer are limited by the minimum and maximum infiltration rates listed above. These depend on the pressure heads applied to the water during infiltration and to the three-dimensional flow characteristics of the soil, so the measurement range of Kfs cannot be specified explicitly. SATURO will generally be able to make measurements on poorly to moderately structured soils as coarse as medium sand, but the maximum infiltration rate can be exceeded by soils with excessive structure and especially by soils with significant macropores.Infiltration RateRange: 0.0038 cm/hr to 115 cm/hrResolution: 0.0038 cm/hrAccuracy: ±5 % of readingPhysical Specifications
Charging Adapter18 V 2.2 Amps; Range 18 to 24 V DC Output: USBOperating Temperature Range0 to 50 °COther
GSAOther Compatible SoftwareDownload the measurement data stored in the SATURO to your Windows computer with the free downloader software linked below in the support section.
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Support / FAQ
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SATURO ManualManualPDF, 0.0021MBSATURO Quick StartQuickstart GuidePDF, 1.782MBSATURO Firmware UpdaterFirmwareEXE, 1.6MBSATURO Software DownloaderInstallerEXE, 17MBVideo: SATURO Gasket Installation InstructionsInstructionsURL, 0MBVideo: How to Set Up the SATURO InfiltrometerInstructionsURL, 0MBVideo: How to Run a SATURO TestInstructionsURL, 0MBHow to I Interpret SATURO DataInstructionsPDF, 1MBSATURO Water Level Sensor ReplacementInstructionsPDF, 876 KBVIDEO: How to calibrate the SATURO water pumpInstructionsURL, 0.0 kb
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SATURO FAQs
- How do I install and run the SATURO?
- See the SATURO how-to videos here.
- How do I install the SATURO gasket?
- See the gasket instruction video here.
- How does soil structure affect K values? How are they related?
- Soil structure and aggregate stability will have a large impact on the hydraulic conductivity values. Depending on the type of soil structure that is formed and the strength of that structure you will see a larger development of macropores within the soil which will have the ability to transmit more water than if the soil had poor structure or no structure. Learn more about this here.
- How would you measure horizontal hydraulic conductivity in field conditions? How would you disaggregate the horizontal component of hydraulic conductivity from the vertical one?
- This depends on whether you are measuring saturated or unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. It can be difficult to try and do this for saturated hydraulic conductivity in the field. In theory, if you took a sample from the field and measured this in the lab, horizontal vs. vertical should be the same in terms of hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity is independent of whether the flows are vertical or horizontal because these components are corrected for. If you want to measure unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in the field and look at how it changes in the horizontal vs. vertical position, this could potentially be done with tensiometers and water content sensors positioned in a grid to look at the movement of water and change in water potential. Find more information on how to measure hydraulic conductivity here.
- Lab Ks measurements move from the bottom to the top. Is Ks similar if water goes from the top to the bottom of a sample?
- As long as the calculations are done correctly there shouldn’t be a difference if water is percolated from the bottom or the top of the sample.
- Soil with rock fragments is a common soil type but difficult to measure with traditional methods. What do you suggest?
- Rock fragments can make things difficult when trying to measure hydraulic conductivity. If it is possible to avoid the rocks, that is the best approach. This will depend on the size of the rock fragments. If you are measuring in a gravelly site, you can still use traditional methods, but you will likely need to repair the ring edges more regularly as they will get bent and dinged frequently. If you have very large fragments, avoid the large rocks by measuring in a smaller area or by trying to encompass the large rocks within the infiltrometer. In some cases, a borehole approach might work better for these situations.
- In preparing for an infiltrometer test, I'm thinking of statistical significance so would like multiple sites. How far apart should my test holes be?
- Some of this depends on the soil variability at the site. Typically, we take measurements in triplicate at a single site. We then try to cover the expected variability at the site. This could mean somewhere around 3 to 12 measurement sites within a location. One way to approach this is to start with three sites and see what the variability looks like.
- How could one determine the change in hydraulic conductivity at a soil spoil interface?
- There are two approaches you could take. You could measure the two materials independently and see which one is going to be most limiting. Typically, hydraulic conductivity is governed by the most limiting layer. You could also just make the measurement in the field and see the interaction between the two layers. Again this rate will be governed by the most limiting layer.
- When do we need a 10 cm ring?
- As a rule, the 5 cm ring should work in most soils. The 10 cm ring is useful for disturbed or structureless soils. Use the 10 cm insertion ring in soils with high infiltration rates or if the 5 cm ring appears to be leaking to the surface.
- How long will the SATURO last?
- The lifetime of the SATURO depends on its components. The insertion ring will wear over time, depending on soil conditions. It will need to be filed down to keep the inside of it smooth. Eventually, it may need to be replaced. The pumps typically need to be serviced at 500 hours of run time. This is tracked in the diagnostics screen of the SATURO. The lead-acid battery will likely need to be replaced every couple of years, depending on how many charge cycles it goes through. This would be apparent when the battery will no longer fully charge. All other components should last for many years with proper use.
- What might cause a water level error?
- There are a few things that can cause a water level error. Check that there is no debris on the black seal before clamping the chamber to the insertion ring and that the seal isn’t damaged. When clamping the chamber down, make sure it isn’t too tight as this can cause leaks around the ring. If the ring is installed on a slope, make sure the water level sensor is in the middle of the slope to get the average water level. For soils with very high infiltration rates, higher than the water pump is able to keep up (>115 cm/hr), a water level error will occur. In this case, try to soak the soil longer, or use a 10 cm insertion ring.
- How does the SATURO measurement compare to a double-ring infiltrometer measurement?
- The SATURO and double-ring infiltrometer are both ring infiltrometers that measure the infiltration of water into the soil. The main difference is how the model corrects for three-dimensional flow. With the double-ring infiltrometer you have to make corrections in post-processing that require an estimation of the soil type. The SATURO uses a multiple pressure head analysis approach to directly estimate the effect of sorptivity, and this allows for the automation of the three-dimensional flow correction and more accurate Kfsestimation. For more details, read the full app note.
- What is the maximum measurable infiltration rate of the DualHead Infiltrometer (SATURO)?
- The SATURO can measure a maximum field saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) of 115 cm/hr.
- Can I measure directly into an area with grasses, or do I have to remove the grass and then do the calculations?
- Short grasses are not a problem. You should be able to place the pressure chamber over the grass and run the sensor with no problems. The issues arise when the grasses are long enough to get in between the infiltrometer head seal and the insertion ring. If this happens, there is a high likelihood of leaking between that seal and the insertion ring. When grasses get longer (more than 2-3 inches), we recommend trimming the grass around the ring to prevent leaks.
- Can measurements after a rain event be done? Are their issues due to soil pores being filled with water?
- Running the SATURO right after a rain event is not a problem at all. The SATURO measures saturated hydraulic conductivity, so the first step in the measurement process is to completely saturate the soil in the insertion ring, which is the measurement area. If the area recently had a large rain event, or is near saturation already, then you can shorten the initial soak time of the test during setup.
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Resources / Publications
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Resource links
- How do SATURO readings compare to double-ring infiltrometer readings?
- Field saturated hydraulic conductivity: Why is it so difficult?
- How to measure hydraulic conductivity: Which method is right for you?
- Lab vs. Field instruments: Why you should use both
- Webinar: Hydrology 101 and the Science behind the SATURO
- Webinar: Hydraulic Conductivity: How Many Measurements Do You Need?
- Soil Moisture 301: Hydraulic Conductivity—Why You Need It. How to Measure It.
- Soil moisture master class
Support links
- SATURO how-to videos
- Manuals and software
- SATURO gasket installation video
- How do I interpret SATURO data?
Case studies
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Selected Publications
The Dual Head Infiltrometer was renamed SATURO in 2015, but they are the same instrument. Listed below are examples of cited publications for the SATURO dual head infiltrometer. This list is not exhaustive.
2022
- Tecca, Nicholas P., John Nieber, and John Gulliver. “Bias of stormwater infiltration measurement methods evaluated using numerical experiments.” Vadose Zone Journal 21, no. 5 (2022): e20210. (Article link).
- Ficklin, Darren L., Christa Kelleher, Ellen V. Bergan, Daniel T. Myers, Seth Adelsperger, and Erin Hardman. “Influence of the 2021 Brood X cicada emergence on near surface hydrology in forested and urban landscapes.” Hydrological Processes: e14822. (Article link).
2020
- Faé, Giovani Stefani, Armen R. Kemanian, Gregory W. Roth, Charles White, and John E. Watson. “Soybean yield in relation to environmental and soil properties.” European Journal of Agronomy 118 (2020): 126070. (Article link).
- Jahanzad, Emad, Brent A. Holtz, Cameron A. Zuber, David Doll, Kelsey M. Brewer, Sean Hogan, and Amélie CM Gaudin. “Orchard recycling improves climate change adaptation and mitigation potential of almond production systems.” PloS one 15, no. 3 (2020): e0229588. (Article link).
- Norris, Charlotte E., G. Mac Bean, Shannon B. Cappellazzi, Michael Cope, Kelsey LH Greub, Daniel Liptzin, Elizabeth L. Rieke, Paul W. Tracy, Cristine LS Morgan, and C. Wayne Honeycutt. “Introducing the North American project to evaluate soil health measurements.” Agronomy Journal, 2020. (Article link).
2019
- Ebrahimian, Ali, Kristin Sample‐Lord, Bridget Wadzuk, and Robert Traver. “Temporal and spatial variation of infiltration in urban green infrastructure.” Hydrological Processes, 2019. (Article link).
- Johnson, William C., Randy L. Stotler, Mark W. Bowen, Jude H. Kastens, Daniel R. Hirmas, Dakota J. Burt, and Kaitlin A. Salley. “Assessing playas as point sources for recharge of the High Plains aquifer, western Kansas.” Prepared for US Environmental Protection Agency and Kansas Water Office. Kansas Geological Survey Open‐File Report 2 (2019). (Article link).
- Radinja, Matej, Ines Vidmar, Nataša Atanasova, Matjaž Mikoš, and Mojca Šraj. “Determination of Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Hydraulic Conductivity for Urban Runoff Modelling.” Water 11, no. 5 (2019): 941. (Article link).
- Qin, Yu, Shuhua Yi, Yongjian Ding, Wei Zhang, Yan Qin, Jianjun Chen, and Zhiwei Wang. “Effect of plateau pika disturbance and patchiness on ecosystem carbon emissions in alpine meadow in the northeastern part of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau.” Biogeosciences 16 (2019): 1097-1109. (Article link).
- Ryan, Michael J. “Dynamic Green Infrastructure: Monitoring Long-term Changes and Improving Performance with Real-time Control and Machine Learning.” PhD diss., Villanova University, 2019. (Article link).
- Whitman, Spencer K., and Ronald J. Breitmeyer. “Sensitivity of Percolation Estimates to Modeling Methodology: A Case Study at an Unlined Tailings Facility with Limited Monitoring Data.” Mine Water and the Environment 38, no. 2 (2019): 294-309. (Article link).
- Zhang, Si-Yi, Isaac Hopkins, Li Guo, and Henry Lin. “Dynamics of Infiltration Rate and Field-Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity in a Wastewater-Irrigated Cropland.” Water 11, no. 8 (2019): 1632. (Article link).
2018
- Thomas, Matthew A., Benjamin B. Mirus, Brian D. Collins, Ning Lu, and Jonathan W. Godt. “Variability in soil-water retention properties and implications for physics-based simulation of landslide early warning criteria.” Landslides 15, no. 7 (2018): 1265-1277. (Article link).
2017
- Demirtas, Iskender. “Effects of Post-Fire Salvage Logging on Compaction, Infiltration, Water Repellency, and Sediment Yield and the Effectiveness of Subsoiling on Skid Trails.” PhD diss., Michigan Technological University, 2017. (Article link).
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Accessories
"The SATURO allowed us to do many tests in a short amount of time to establish a threshold of where good infiltrating soils and poor infiltrating soils were located. This enabled us to change the design on the fly. The double ring infiltrometer takes significantly more time to do a test, and time is of the essence when the contractor wants to backfill the area and get things moving. It was nice to have a tool that got us the information we needed more rapidly."
Jason Borne, geotechnical engineering consultant, Earthspan, LLC
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