| Summary: | Hydraulic conductivity at and near saturation (<i>Ks</i> and <i>K</i>(<i>h</i>)) are among the most important characteristics defining water behavior in soil. Characterization of possibilities, advantages and limitations of the Mini Disk infiltrometer (MDI) for <i>Ks</i> and <i>K</i>(<i>h</i>) determination in comparison with Hood infiltrometer (HI) was the main aim of this study. The MDI device was subjected to testing on a cultivated silty clay loam soil under three different tillage treatments; conventional, reduced and no-tillage plot. The results are based on 72 infiltration experiments carried out during four experimental phases within one year. Steady-state and transient data analysis methods were applied. <i>K</i>(<i>h</i>) values were determined for van Genuchten hydraulic parameters taken from different sources (two versions of User’s manual, Rosetta). The results show suitability of MDI to determine <i>K</i>(<i>h</i>) of tested soil; clear differences have been observed between the <i>K(h</i>) values measured on plots with different tillage treatment. However, these values were significantly lower (ANOVA, <i>α</i> = 0.05) than those measured by HI. MDI based data were reflecting seasonal changes in structure and pore-size distribution with quantification of macropore contribution to the total saturated flux. Application of <i>K</i>(<i>h</i>) MDI data for fine-textured and structural soils evaluated before 2010 should be reconsidered.
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