Pedosphere 19(1): 104--110, 2009
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2009 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| An analytical solution for one-dimensional water infiltration and redistribution in unsaturated soil |
WANG Quan-Jiu1,2 , R. HORTON3 and FAN Jun2 |
1 Institute of Water Resources Research, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048 (China). E-mail: wquanjiu@163.com
2 State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100 (China)
3 Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (USA) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Soil infiltration and redistribution are important processes in field water cycle, and it is necessary to develop a simple model to describe the processes. In this study, an algebraic solution for one-dimensional water infiltration and redistribution without evaporation in unsaturated soil was developed based on Richards equation. The algebraic solution had three parameters, namely, the saturated water conductivity, the comprehensive shape coefflcient of the soil water content distribution, and the soil suction allocation coefficient. To analyze the physical features of these parameters, a relationship between the Green-Ampt model and the algebraic solution was established. The three parameters were estimated based on experimental observations, whereas the soil water content and the water infiltration duration were calculated using the algebraic solution. The calculated soil water content and infiltration duration were compared with the experimental observations, and the results indicated that the algebraic solution accurately described the unsaturated soil water flow processes. |
| Key Words: algebraic solution, Green-Ampt model, soil water infiltration and redistribution, unsaturated soil |
| Citation: Wang, Q. J., Horton, R. and Fan, J. 2009. An analytical solution for one-dimensional water infiltration and redistribution in unsaturated soil. Pedosphere. 19(1): 104-110. |
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