Ugt Hood-Soil Infiltrometer

The Hood-Infiltrometer by Umwelt‑Geräte‑Technik GmbH (UGT) is a field-grade instrument designed to measure near-saturated and unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity and infiltration under natural conditions. It consists of:

·         a sealed hood placed directly on the soil surface (open at the bottom) that is filled with water, forming a defined circular infiltration source area;

·         a Mariotte water supply system – an infiltration vessel, bubble tower and aeration tube to maintain a constant pressure head;

·         a U-tube manometer (and optionally pressure sensors) to precisely record the hydraulic pressure head at the soil surface;

One of its key advantages is that no contact layer (such as sand or filter cloth) is required between the hood and the soil surface, enabling infiltration tests with minimal disturbance and more realistic boundary conditions.

In its standard configuration the device measures infiltration under pressure heads ranging from zero to the air-penetration (bubble) point of the soil; with an optional tension chamber it can also perform infiltration under negative pressure (up to 60 hPa) for unsaturated conductivity measurements.

This instrument is well-suited for soil science, hydrology, irrigation research, environmental monitoring and field investigations where accurate infiltration and hydraulic conductivity data are needed.