Soil Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Reclaimed Agricultural Land at Messolonghi's Polder

The purpose of this study is to investigate the soil hydrodynamic characteristics, i.e. water retention curve and field saturated hydraulic conductivity, at reclaimed agricultural land of Messolonghi polder in Greece (38o 21’ 58” N; 21o 28’ 41” E). The reclaimed Dutch type pilot-polder of Messolonghi was chosen as study area, because of its characteristics. The area is most likely dedicated to agriculture and was reclaimed from the sea during the decade of 1960-1969. In this context, samples were taken from different locations and depths in an experimental field located in the campus of TEI of Western Greece. The results of the soil texture analysis showed that the selected field's soil is clay loamy - loamy. In order to investigate the water retention curves, undisturbed samples were taken at 30 cm and 60 cm from three points of the field and the analysis was performed with pressure plate apparatus from 0.33 to 6 bar. The field saturated hydraulic conductivity was estimated by Guelph permeameter at 21 points placed in a regular grid for three different depths, i.e. 15-30-60 cm. The results for both parameters were typical but extensive heterogeneity was observed across the field, mainly due to the polder construction procedure.