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Improvements to Estimating Unsaturated Soil Properties from Horizontal Infiltration
Author(s) -
Tyner John S.,
Brown G. O.
Publication year - 2004
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/sssaj2004.1000
Subject(s) - water content , pedotransfer function , infiltration (hvac) , loam , soil science , sorptivity , hydraulic conductivity , environmental science , vadose zone , water retention curve , soil water , thermal diffusivity , residual , geotechnical engineering , hydrology (agriculture) , porosity , computer science , geology , materials science , physics , algorithm , quantum mechanics , composite material
Current methods to determine unsaturated soil properties are expensive, difficult, and time‐consuming. A procedure is presented that quickly estimates the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, diffusivity, water retention, and sorptivity functions from a Bruce–Klute test in conjunction with a semi‐analytic analysis. Data collection was performed using a computer controlled γ‐ray attenuation system to measure moisture content. A computer controlled syringe pump maintained the inlet boundary conditions. Improvements to existing analytical procedures include the independent optimization of van Genuchten soil hydraulic parameters n and α, and a method to optimize the residual moisture content from a single measurement of water potential versus water content. The method was applied to a sandy loam and its strengths and weaknesses are discussed.