Evaluation of some infiltration models and hydraulic parameters

Abstract

The evaluation of infiltration characteristics and some parameters of infiltration models such as sorptivity and final steady infiltration rate in soils are important in agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the most common models used to estimate final soil infiltration rate. The equality of final infiltration rate with saturated hydraulic conductivity (K s ) was also tested. Moreover, values of the estimated sorptivity from the Philip's model were compared to estimates by selected pedotransfer functions (PTFs). The infiltration experiments used the doublering method on soils with two different land uses in the Taleghan watershed of Tehran province, Iran, from September to October, 2007. The infiltration models of Kostiakov-Lewis, Philip two-term and Horton were fitted to observed infiltration data. Some parameters of the models and the coefficient of determination goodness of fit were estimated using MATLAB software. The results showed that, based on comparing measured and model-estimated infiltration rate using root mean squared error (RMSE), Horton's model gave the best prediction of final infiltration rate in the experimental area. Laboratory measured K s values gave significant differences and higher values than estimated final infiltration rates from the selected models. The estimated final infiltration rate was not equal to laboratory measured K s values in the study area. Moreover, the estimated sorptivity factor by Philip's model was significantly different to those estimated by selected PTFs. It is suggested that the applicability of PTFs is limited to specific, similar conditions. Additional key words: final infiltration rate, saturated hydraulic conductivity, sorptivity. Resumen Evaluación de algunos modelos de infiltración y de algunos parámetros hidráulicosEn la agricultura es importante evaluar las características de la infiltración y de algunos parámetros de los modelos de infiltración, como sortividad y tasa de infiltración constante final de los suelos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar algunos de los modelos utilizados más frecuentemente para estimar la tasa de infiltración final del agua en el suelo, así como estudiar la relación de la tasa de infiltración final con la conductividad hidráulica saturada (K s ) y comparar los valores estimados de la sortividad según el modelo de Philip con los estimados según funciones seleccionadas de edafotransferencia (PTFs). Se realizaron unos experimentos de infiltración en la cuenca de drenaje Taleghan, Teherán, Iran, desde septiembre a octubre de 2007, mediante el método del doble anillo, en suelos con dos diferentes usos. Se ajustaron los modelos de infiltración de Kostiakov-Lewis, el de dos términos de Philip y el de Horton a los datos de infiltración observados. Se estimó la bondad del ajuste de algunos parámetros de los modelos y el coeficiente de determinación mediante el software MATLAB. Al comparar la tasa de infiltración medida y estimada según los modelos, utilizando la raíz del cuadrado medio del error (RMSE)...

Effect of land use on infiltration characteristics of soils in Northern Akwa Ibom State, South-eastern Nigeria

“…Also, Osuji et al (2010) reported significant relationships between steady infiltration rates and soil organic matter, bulk density, and total porosity. Shukla et al (2003), Bormann and Klassen (2008) and Haghighi et al (2010) attributed changes in infiltration rates to soil hydraulic properties, porosity, soil organic matter and bulk density and different land use practices.…”

Assessment of Dimensionless Form of Kostiakov Model

“…Deep and Das (2008) used various optimization techniques to estimate infiltration model parameters that included Software Language of Interactive General Optimization (LINGO), Binary Genetic algorithm (BGA), Random Search Technique (RST), Hybrid Binary Genetic Algorithm (HBGA), Real coded Genetic Algorithm using Laplace crossover and Power Mutation (LX-PM), and its hybrid version (H-LX-PM) thereby reporting HBGA as best suited optimization technique for estimation of infiltration rates. Haghighi et al (2010) used MATLAB for estimation of final infiltration and sorptivity factor for Taleghan watershed in Iran and concluded that use of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) is limited to specific similar sites for which they are calibrated. GENSTAT a statistical software was employed by Ogbe et al (2011) to fit infiltration equations to Nigerian soils.…”

Spatial Analysis of Infiltration in an Oxisol of the Eastern Plains of Colombia

“…In turn, these attributes showed an inverse correlation with Bd, which indicates that the water flow in the soil is restricted by the high values of Bd. It can be observed that the process of infiltration is weakly influenced by the sand and clay contents (Haghighi et al, 2010), as is confirmed by the low values of coefficients of correlation between those attributes with respect to Ci, Bi, S 1 , and Ks, possibly explained by the native savannah condition of the soil and the lower variability that sand and clay content. In the same way, a direct relationship between clay and Sm can be observed, and an inverse one between sand and Sm, which indicates that a high clay content, greater soil moisture, and thus the greater capacity for water storage.…”