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Water Balance Estimation Model: Field Test and Sensitivity Analysis
Author(s) -
Chopart J. L.,
Vauclin M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400050029x
Subject(s) - lysimeter , evapotranspiration , water balance , environmental science , soil science , soil water , sensitivity (control systems) , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , geotechnical engineering , ecology , electronic engineering , engineering , biology
A simplified, capacity‐based simulation model has been developed to predict components of the field water balance. This requires only daily information such as the atmosphere evaporative demand and soil‐wetting events, maximum available soil water storage, and root growth characteristics, as well as crop and soil parameters. Actual evapotranspiration was modeled using Eagleman's parameterization. The model was tested for upland rice grown on a 3500‐m 2 field plot, and on an undisturbed lysimeter. The predicted actual evapotranspiration (AET) and drainage ( D ) at the bottom of the soil profile matched the lysimeter data. Also, the model predicted reasonably well the field soil water content data, which were obtained at 15 sites. In the latter case, the root mean square error was about 16% for the seasonal AET, and 19% for D . Errors were within the limits of experimental uncertainties expected when such measurements are analyzed by Darcy's law. The results of a sensitivity analysis with respect to changes in parameter inputs show that the model is physically realistic. However, the sensitivity depends strongly on the supply of water in the soil. This clearly justifies the need to simulate the root‐zone water balance as a time‐dependent process, especially if there is a practical interest in accurate prediction during drought periods.