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A modification to the van Genuchten model for improved prediction of relative hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils
Author(s) -
Kuang Xingxing,
Jiao Jiu Jimmy,
Shan Jipeng,
Yang Zhenlei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 1351-0754
DOI - 10.1111/ejss.13034
Subject(s) - hydraulic conductivity , soil water , soil science , water retention , saturation (graph theory) , water retention curve , conductivity , pedotransfer function , environmental science , chemistry , mathematics , combinatorics
Modelling of flow and transport in unsaturated soils requires information on two fundamental hydraulic properties: the soil water retention curve and relative hydraulic conductivity. A soil's relative hydraulic conductivity is frequently predicted from the soil water retention curve. The most widely used combination is the van Genuchten model for the soil water retention curve and the Mualem model for relative hydraulic conductivity (VGM). Previous studies show that the VGM model underestimates measured relative hydraulic conductivity for soils with fine textures; a sharp drop in relative hydraulic conductivity can be seen near saturation. A new modification of the van Genuchten soil water retention model is proposed with the aim of improving the agreement between predicted and measured relative hydraulic conductivity. The Brooks and Corey‐Burdine model is used to predict relative hydraulic conductivity from the modified van Genuchten soil water retention curve (MVG‐BCB). The modified model assumes independent m and n in the van Genuchten model but with constraints n > 2 and 0 < m < 1 . The MVG‐BCB model is evaluated by comparing calculated and measured data for 59 soils that have widely varying soil textures, ranging from sandstone to clay. The MVG‐BCB model improves the agreement between calculated and measured data for both the soil water retention curve and relative hydraulic conductivity. The MVG‐BCB model is closer to measured relative hydraulic conductivity data for most of the selected soils and the sharp drop near saturation is eliminated. Both the modified soil water retention curve and relative hydraulic conductivity functions are smooth curves and can easily be incorporated into vadose zone flow and transport modellings. Highlights A new modification to the van Genuchten soil water retention model. The model improves the fit to measured soil water retention data. The chosen model improves the prediction of relative hydraulic conductivity.