Simulations of Soil Moisture Distribution Patterns Between Two Simultaneously-Working Surface Drippers Using Hydrus-2D/3D Model

Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the effect of different application scheme of irrigation of two simultaneously-working surface drippers, 50 cm apart on the dynamics of the spatial distribution of water in the root zone. The irrigation treatments involve different water application rates and different irrigation frequency. To achieve this goal, we used HYDRUS model to simulate the water distribution pattern in the unsaturated zone with sandy-loam texture in order to predict the components of the wetting front along both bare and cultivated soil profile. All simulations emulate 90 days, which is the typical period for tomatoes. The results indicate that the soil moisture was more uniform under a discharge of 3 Lh-1 with 3 days frequency, the same treatment responds well to the distribution of water directly in the root zone and allows a maximum humidification of this zone, a decrease of the losses by evapotranspiration and deep percolation, and an increase of the efficiency of use of irrigation water.. Keyword-Simulation, Two simultaneously-working surface drippers, Water movement, Soil moisture distribution, HYDRUS2D/3D model.