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Research Project: Towards Resilient Agricultural Systems to Enhance Water Availability, Quality, and Other Ecosystem Services under Changing Climate and Land Use

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Title: Use of a computer model to simulate soil moisture content in irrigated fields

Author
item MEHATA, MUKESH - Oklahoma State University
item TAGHVAEIAN, SALEH - Oklahoma State University
item DATTA, SUMON - Oklahoma State University
item Moriasi, Daniel

Submitted to: Grazinglands Research Laboratory Miscellaneous Publication
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2018
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only

Technical Abstract: Effective irrigation management strategies at field scale can improve producers’ profitability and can play a crucial role in conserving limited freshwater resources and reducing environmental contamination. To implement an efficient water management strategy in irrigated fields, soil moisture status must be carefully monitored throughout the growing season. However, obtaining information about soil moisture can be expensive, time-consuming and labor-intensive. Numerical models (e.g., HYDRUS-1D) can be used to simulate the soil moisture accurately once they are validated. This study used the HYDRUS-1D computer model to simulate soil moisture dynamics at four soil depths (10, 30, 51, and 71 cm) in irrigated fields located in central Oklahoma. The performance of HYDRUS-1D was evaluated by comparing simulated soil water content with the same values obtained by in-situ soil moisture sensors installed in the same fields and depths. The accuracy of the soil moisture sensor was also determined for the specific conditions of the study area. The results will provide valuable information on the performance of the implemented computer model in predicting soil moisture dynamics under variable irrigation applications.