Soil Water Retention Modeling Using Pedotransfer Functions. (10th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jaiswal, R. K.; Thomas, T.; Galkate, R. V.; Tyagi, Jaivir
• Other Names: Mohammadi J. Academic Editor.; Zeng D. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: ISRN civil engineering. Volume 2013(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-12-10
• Subjects: Civil engineering -- Periodicals; Civil engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 624
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/208327
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-5106

Abstract

Abstract : The unsaturated hydraulic functions are key input data in numerical models of vadose zone processes. The direct measurement of soil moisture at different suction heads requires detailed analysis of soil samples with sophisticated instruments which can be replaced with the help of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) which are empirical relationships between the soil hydraulic properties and the more easily obtainable basic soil properties. The CalcPTF software has been used to compute the parameters of the most commonly used models of Brooks and Corey (BC) and Van Genuchten (VG) from PTFs for determination of soil water retention curves on seventeen sites in the commands of Benisagar and Rangawan reservoirs in Chhatarpur district (MP), India. The parameters of sixteen PTFs have been estimated and results have been compared with observed data using root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination ( R 2 ), R adj 2, and graphical representation. The PTF of BC model suggested by Rawls and Brakensiek, 1985 (BC-RB), has been found to be the best-fit PTF for sites 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 17, where BC model by Saxton et al., 1986 (BC-SEL), can be used for modeling the soil moisture for sites 3, 4, 9, 12, and 16. It may be concluded that the PTF suggested by Rawls and Brakensiek, 1985 (BC-RB), or Saxton et al., 1986 (BC-SEL), can be used for computation of soil moisture retention curves in the region.