Saturated hydraulic conductivity from field measurements compared to pedotransfer functions in a heterogeneous arable landscape

Abstract

A high degree of uncertainty with regard to soil parameterisation limits the significance of physically-based simulation of distributed flood control measures, which affect the runoff generation process, such as land-use changes or differing soil tillage practices. In this study, the soil measurement data from the hillslope scale at the Scheyern research farm were compared to demonstrate this uncertainty. To account for the spatial variability of soils in the investigation area of Scheyern, different approaches were applied to estimate soil hydraulic properties and saturated hydraulic conductivity, and were compared to field measurements. KEY WORDS: hydraulic conductivity, pedotransfer function, hood infiltrometer, uncertainty, distributed flood control measures.