scholarly journals Development and testing of a large, transportable rainfall simulator for plot-scale runoff and parameter estimation

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 4169-4183 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Wilson ◽  
C. Cortis ◽  
N. Montaldo ◽  
J. D. Albertson
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Variable Intensity ◽  
Rainfall Simulator

Abstract. There is increased interest in the interplay between vegetation conditions and overland flow generation. The literature is unclear on this relationship, and there is little quantitative guidance for modeling efforts. Therefore, experimental efforts are needed, and these call for a lightweight transportable plot-scale (>10 m2) rainfall simulator that can be deployed quickly and quickly redeployed over various vegetation cover conditions. Accordingly, a variable-intensity rainfall simulator and collection system was designed and tested in the laboratory and in the field. The system was tested with three configurations of common pressure washing nozzles producing rainfall intensities of 62, 43, and 32 mm h-1 with uniformity coefficients of 76, 65, and 62%, respectively, over a plot of 15.12 m2. Field tests were carried out on a grassy field with silt–loam soil in Orroli, Sardinia, in July and August 2010, and rainfall, soil moisture, and runoff data were collected. The two-term Philip infiltration model was used to find optimal values for the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil surface and bulk soil, soil water retention curve slope, and air entry suction head. Optimized hydraulic conductivity values were similar to both the measured final infiltration rate and literature values for saturated hydraulic conductivity. This inexpensive (less than USD 1000) rainfall simulator can therefore be used to identify field parameters needed for hydrologic modeling.

scholarly journals Development and testing of a large, transportable rainfall simulator for plot-scale runoff and parameter estimation

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 4267-4310
Author(s):  
T. G. Wilson ◽  
C. Cortis ◽  
N. Montaldo ◽  
J. D. Albertson
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Variable Intensity ◽  
Rainfall Simulator

Abstract. There is increased interest in the interplay between vegetation conditions and overland flow generation. The literature is unclear on this relationship and there is little quantitative guidance for modeling efforts. Therefore, experimental efforts are needed and these call for a lightweight transportable plot-scale (>10 m2) rainfall simulator that can be deployed quickly and quickly redeployed over various vegetation cover conditions. Accordingly, a variable intensity rainfall simulator and collection system was designed and tested in the laboratory and in the field. The system was tested with three configurations of common pressure washing nozzles producing rainfall intensities of 62, 43, and 32 mm h−1 with uniformity coefficients of 76, 65, and 62, respectively, over a plot of 15.12 m2. Field tests were carried out in on a grassy field with silt-loam soil in Orroli, Sardinia in July and August 2010, and rainfall, soil moisture, and runoff data were collected. The two-term Philip infiltration model was used to find optimal values for the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil surface and bulk soil, soil water retention curve slope, and air entry suction head. Optimized hydraulic conductivity values were comparable to both the measured final infiltration rate and literature values for saturated hydraulic conductivity. This inexpensive rainfall simulator can therefore be used to identify field parameters needed for hydrologic modeling.

Prediction of hydraulic conductivity for some Australian soils

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Paydar ◽  
Anthony J. Ringrose-Voase
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Effective Porosity ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Pedotransfer Functions ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention

Pedotransfer functions and their use in simulation modelling have attracted much attention during recent years. In the absence of measured hydraulic conductivity data, prediction from other soil properties would be most useful. A functional form relating near-saturated hydraulic conductivity to the soil water retention curve based on the Kozeny–Carman equation was investigated on Australian soils. For a dataset comprising a range of soil textures and structural conditions (107 samples with bulk density >1.2 Mg/m3) a power-law relationship between near-saturated hydraulic conductivity, effective porosity, and pore size distribution index was obtained. The function was tested on 2 different datasets for independent evaluation. The results showed poor predictions for most soils in this study. While the reasons for poor predictions might be the difference in the measurement techniques or potentials, it is thought that the proposed function mostly fails predictions on soils with high organic matter and management practices affecting macropores and soil structure (e.g. crust). The proposed function did not show much improvement over the more general form of the Kozeny–Carman equation with empirical coefficients. In the absence of other data, the modified Kozeny–Carman equation (with or without water retention parameters) can be used, with caution, on similar soils and larger scale applications. More data are needed to test the reliabilty of these functions for use in specific locations.

scholarly journals A numerical study on the effect of salinity on stability of an unsaturated railway embankment under rainfall

2020 ◽  
Vol 195 ◽  
pp. 01004
Author(s):  
Ali Kolahdooz ◽  
Hamed Sadeghi ◽  
Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Retention ◽  
Unsaturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
Dispersive Soils

Dispersive soils, as one of the main categories of problematic soils, can be found in some parts of the earth, such as the eastern-south of Iran, nearby the Gulf of Oman. One of the most important factors enhancing the dispersive potential is the existence of dissolved salts in the soil water. The main objective of this study is to explore the influence of water salinity on the instability of a railway embankment due to rainfall infiltration. In order to achieve this goal, the embankment resting on a dispersive stratum is numerically modeled and subjected to transient infiltration flow. The effect of dispersion is simplified through variations in the soil-water retention curve with salinity. The measured water retention curves revealed that by omitting the natural salinity in the soil-water, the retention capability of the soil decreases; therefore, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil stratum will significantly decline. According to the extensive decrease in the hydraulic conductivity of the desalinated materials, the rainfall cannot infiltrate in the embankment and the rainfall mostly runs off. However, in the saline embankment, the infiltration decreases the soil suction; and consequently, the factor of safety of the railway embankment decreases.

scholarly journals Soil Physical Attributes Under Eucalyptus stands With Non-living and Living Plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Nayana Alves Pereira ◽  
João Carlos Medeiros ◽  
Julian Júnio de Jesus Lacerda ◽  
Jaqueline Dalla Rosa ◽  
Bruna Anair Souto Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Tropical Climate ◽  
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity ◽  
Water Retention Curve ◽  
Soil Water Storage ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Soil Water Retention Curve ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Physical Attributes

The conservation of ecosystems has benefited from planted forests which provide reforested wood reducing the pressure on deforestation of natural forests. Soil physical attributes determine soil water storage capacity; therefore, they play an important role on plant roots’ development which may compromise plant’s survival. The study tested the influence of soil physical and water attributes on the survival of Eucalyptus spp. clones under dry tropical climate. Two areas were selected, including one with living plants and a second with non-living plants of Eucalyptus spp. clones. Moreover, five soil profiles were studied in each area and the parameters estimated were soil bulk density, total porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil water retention curve, pores size distribution, available water capacity, and S index. Soil physical and hydric attributes did not differ between the area with living plants and the one with non-living plants. The saturated hydraulic conductivity in the area surface layer was high for both the living plants and non-living palnts; 331 mm h-1 and 294 mm h-1, respectively. The S index (to give the value) indicated that the structure was suitable for the development of Eucalyptus trees. Furthermore, it was possible to affirm that soil physical and water attributes of the studied areas were promising for the cultivation of Eucalyptus spp. in the dry tropical climate.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document