Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190085
Title: MODELLING TRANSIENT VARIABLY SATURATED FLOW IN SILT LOAM SOILS USING HYDRUS-1D

Author
item RUBIO, CARLES - CSIC, BARCELONA, SPAIN
item LLORENS, PILAR - CSIC, BARCELONA, SPAIN
item Van Genuchten, Martinus

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2005
Publication Date: 11/1/2005
Citation: Rubio, C., Llorens, P., Van Genuchten, M.T. 2005. Modelling transient variably saturated flow in silt loam soils using hydrus-1d. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Nov. 6-10, Salt Lake City, UT. CD-ROM. Paper No. 268-5.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Hydrus-1D software package (Simunek et al., 1998), based on the Richards equation, was used to study variably saturated flow and deep drainage in an old abandoned terraced area under grass. The field site was located in the Vallcebre research catchment of the Eastern Pyrenees in North-Eastern Spain. A split test was carried out to calibrate and evaluate the model using observed matric potential and water content profiles. Results obtained with the calibrated soil hydraulic parameters showed good agreement with the field data during wetting cycles at relatively high water contents. However, observed water contents and pressure heads were overestimated during periods of high evaporative demand (low near-surface water contents). Some of the results may have been caused by the presence of shrinkage/swelling processes in the silt loam soil, which were only partially accounted for in the model. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the effects of several soil hydraulic parameters on simulated results for different saturation conditions.