Estimating the van Genuchten retention curve parameters of undisturbed soil from a single upward infiltration measurement
D. Moret-Fernández A C , C. Peña-Sancho A , B. Latorre A , Y. Pueyo B and M. V. López AA Departamento de Suelo y Agua, Estación Experimental de Aula Dei, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), PO Box 13034, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain.
B Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Av. Montañana 1005, PO Box 13.034, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain.
C Corresponding author. Email: david@eead.csic.es
Soil Research 55(7) 682-691 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR16333
Submitted: 29 November 2016 Accepted: 7 March 2017 Published: 3 April 2017
Abstract
Estimation of the soil–water retention curve, θ(h), on undisturbed soil samples is of paramount importance to characterise the hydraulic behaviour of soils. Although a method of determining parameters of the water retention curve (α, a scale parameter inversely proportional to mean pore diameter and n, a measure of pore size distribution) from saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), sorptivity (S) and the β parameter, using S and β calculated from the inverse analysis of upward infiltration (UI) has been satisfactorily applied to sieved soil samples, its applicability to undisturbed soils has not been tested. The aim of the present study was to show that the method can be applied to undisturbed soil cores representing a range of textures and structures. Undisturbed soil cores were collected using stainless steel cylinders (5 cm internal diameter × 5 cm high) from structured soils located in two different places: (1) an agricultural loam soil under conventional, reduced and no tillage systems; and (2) a loam soil under grazed and ungrazed natural shrubland. The α and n values estimated for the different soils using the UI method were compared with those calculated using time domain reflectometry (TDR) pressure cells (PC) for pressure heads of –0.5, –1.5, –3, –5, –10 and –50 kPa. To compare the two methods, α values measured with UI were calculated to the drying branch of θ(h). For each treatment, three replicates of UI and PC calculations were performed. The results showed that the 5-cm high cylinders used in all experiments provided accurate estimates of S and β. Overall, the α and n values estimated with UI were larger than those measured with PC. These differences could be attributed, in part, to limitations of the PC method. On average, the n values calculated from the optimised S and β data were 5% larger than those obtained with PC. A relationship with a slope close to 1 fitted the n values estimated using both methods (nPC = 0.73 nUI + 0.49; R2 = 0.78, P < 0.05). The results show that the UI method is a promising technique to estimate the hydraulic properties of undisturbed soil samples.
Additional keywords: hydraulic conductivity, soil tillage, sorptivity.
References
Ahuja LR, Fiedler F, Dunn GH, Benjamin JG, Garrison A (1998) Changes in soil water retention curves due to tillage and natural reconsolidation. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 1228–1233.| Changes in soil water retention curves due to tillage and natural reconsolidation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmvVOqt7g%3D&md5=444888edd39c0578fdaaa28fdc24db04CAS |
Arya LM (2002). Wind and hot-air methods. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 4’. SSSA Book Series No. 5. (Eds JH Dane, GC Topp) pp. 916–926. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)
Blanco-Moure N, Angurel LA, Moret-Fernández D, López MV (2012) Tensile strength and organic carbon of soil aggregates under long-term no tillage in semiarid Aragon (NE Spain). Geoderma 189–190, 423–430.
| Tensile strength and organic carbon of soil aggregates under long-term no tillage in semiarid Aragon (NE Spain).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Braun-Blanquet J, Bolòs O (1957) Les groupements végétaux du Bassin Moyen de l’Ebre et leur dynamisme. Anales de la Estación Experimental de Aula Dei 5, 1–266. [In French]
Casey FXM, Derby NE (2002) Improved design for an automated tension infiltrometer. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 64–67.
| Improved design for an automated tension infiltrometer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlslOqt7g%3D&md5=7d0cf9759e6535ecb210f68f021bf19aCAS |
Gardner WR, Miklich FJ (1962) Unsaturated conductivity and diffusivity measurements by a constant flux method. Soil Science 93, 271–274.
| Unsaturated conductivity and diffusivity measurements by a constant flux method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gebrenegus T, Ghezzehei TA (2011) An index for degree of hysteresis in water retention. Soil Science Society of America Journal 75, 2122–2127.
| An index for degree of hysteresis in water retention.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsVKjs73L&md5=89a4780b0a4ae6876d2c6c406c4aa13eCAS |
Han XW, Shao M, Horton R (2010) Estimating van Genuchten model parameters of undisturbed soils using an integral method. Pedosphere 20, 55–62.
| Estimating van Genuchten model parameters of undisturbed soils using an integral method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haverkamp R, Ross PJ, Smettem KRJ, Parlange JY (1994) Three dimensional analysis of infiltration from the disc infiltrometer. Part 2. Physically based infiltration equation. Water Resources Research 30, 2931–2935.
| Three dimensional analysis of infiltration from the disc infiltrometer. Part 2. Physically based infiltration equation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Herrero J, Artieda O, Hudnall WH (2009) Gypsum, a tricky material. Soil Science Society of America Journal 73, 1757–1763.
| Gypsum, a tricky material.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXhsVSku73I&md5=8b51327494c155986529de4927ca28efCAS |
Hudson DB, Wierenga PJ, Hills RG (1996) Unsaturated hydraulic properties from upward flow into soil cores. Soil Science Society of America Journal 60, 388–396.
| Unsaturated hydraulic properties from upward flow into soil cores.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28Xitleqsrs%3D&md5=b8f8fe0be28e8bcf4f9620351049c330CAS |
Klute AJ (1952) Some theoretical aspects of the flow of water in unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 16, 144–148.
Klute AJ (1986) Water retention laboratory methods. In ‘Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. Physical and mineralogical methods’. SSSA Book Series No. 9. (Ed. A Klute) pp. 635–662. (SSSA and ASA: Madison, WI)
Lassabatere L, Angulo-Jaramillo R, Soria-Ugalde JM, Simunek J, Haverkamp R (2009) Numerical evaluation of a set of analytical infiltration equations. Water Resources Research 45, WR12415.
| Numerical evaluation of a set of analytical infiltration equations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lichtner PC, Steefel CI, Oelkers EH (1996) ‘Reactive transport in porous media. Reviews in Mineralogy, Vol. 34.’ (Mineralogical Society of America: Concorde, VA)
Likos WJ, Lu N, Gogt JW (2014) Hysteresis and uncertainty in soil water-retention curve parameters. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering 140,
| Hysteresis and uncertainty in soil water-retention curve parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación (MAPA) (1987) Caracterización agroclimática de la provincia de Zaragoza. MAPA, Madrid.
Moret-Fernández D, Latorre B (2017) Estimate of the soil water retention curve from the sorptivity and β parameter calculated from an upward infiltration experiment. Journal of Hydrology 544, 352–362.
| Estimate of the soil water retention curve from the sorptivity and β parameter calculated from an upward infiltration experiment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moret-Fernández D, Pueyo Y, Bueno CG, Alados CL (2011) Hydro-physical responses of gypseous and non-gypseous soils to livestock grazing in a semiarid region of NE Spain. Agricultural Water Management 98, 1822–1827.
| Hydro-physical responses of gypseous and non-gypseous soils to livestock grazing in a semiarid region of NE Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moret-Fernández D, Vicente J, Latorre B, Herrero J, Castañeda C, López MV (2012) A TDR pressure cell for monitoring water content retention curves on undisturbed soil samples. Hydrological Processes 26, 246–254.
| A TDR pressure cell for monitoring water content retention curves on undisturbed soil samples.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moret-Fernández D, Blanco N, Martínez-Chueca V, Bielsa A (2013) Malleable disc base for direct infiltration measurements using the tension infiltrometry technique. Hydrological Processes 27, 275–283.
| Malleable disc base for direct infiltration measurements using the tension infiltrometry technique.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moret-Fernández D, Peña-Sancho C, López MV (2016a) Influence of the wetting process on estimation of the water-retention curve of tilled soils. Soil Research 54, 840–846.
| Influence of the wetting process on estimation of the water-retention curve of tilled soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moret-Fernández D, Latorre B, Peña-Sancho C, Ghezzehei TA (2016b) A modified multiple tension upward infiltration method to estimate the soil hydraulic properties. Hydrological Processes 30, 2991–3003.
| A modified multiple tension upward infiltration method to estimate the soil hydraulic properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Munkholm LJ, Kay BD (2002) Effect of water regime on aggregate-tensile strength, rupture energy, and friability. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 702–709.
| Effect of water regime on aggregate-tensile strength, rupture energy, and friability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlslOrtLY%3D&md5=eadda22a14747f8d20ed579cd8fef7c4CAS |
Pardalos PM, Romeijn HE (Eds) (2002) ‘Handbook of global optimization, Vol. 2.’ (Springer: Berlin)
Parlange JY (1975) On solving the flow equation in unsaturated flow by optimization: horizontal infiltration. Soil Science Society of America Journal 39, 415–418.
| On solving the flow equation in unsaturated flow by optimization: horizontal infiltration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parlange JY, Lisle I, Bradock RD (1982) The three-parameter infiltration equation. Soil Science 133, 337–341.
Peña-Sancho C, Ghezzehei TA, Latorrea B, Moret-Fernández D (2017) Water absorption–evaporation method to estimate the soil hydraulic properties. Hydrological Sciences Journal , in press.
Pueyo Y, Moret-Fernández D, Saiz H, Bueno CG, Alados CL (2013) Relationships between plant spatial patterns, water infiltration capacity, and plant community composition in semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems along stress gradients. Ecosystems 16, 452–466.
| Relationships between plant spatial patterns, water infiltration capacity, and plant community composition in semi-arid Mediterranean ecosystems along stress gradients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXmt1SitrY%3D&md5=7a1e41430e449ea4ae6703b375aa583bCAS |
Quirantes J (1978) ‘Estudio sedimentológico y estratigráfico del Terciario continental de los Monegros. [Sedimentalogical and statigruphic study of the Tertiary continental of the Monegros].’ (Institución Fernando el Católico: Zaragoza)
Shao M, Horton R (1998) Integral method for estimating soil hydraulic properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 585–592.
| Integral method for estimating soil hydraulic properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXks1eqs7g%3D&md5=dcf82f44a928eca26af9611217733dc7CAS |
Šimůnek J, Wendroth O, van Genuchten MT (1998) Parameter estimation analysis of the evaporation method for determining soil hydraulic properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62, 894–895.
| Parameter estimation analysis of the evaporation method for determining soil hydraulic properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soil Survey Staff (1975) ‘Soil taxonomy: a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys.’ USDA-SCS Agriculture Handbook No. 436. (US Government Printing Office: Washington, DC)
Soil Survey Staff (2010) ‘Keys to oil taxonomy.’ 11th edn. (USDA, NRCS).
Solone R, Bittelli M, Tomei F, Morari F (2012) Errors in water retention curves determined with pressure plates: effects on the soil water balance. Journal of Hydrology 470–471, 65–74.
| Errors in water retention curves determined with pressure plates: effects on the soil water balance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van Genuchten MT (1980) A closed form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 44, 892–898.
| A closed form equation for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young MH, Karagunduz A, Siumunek J, Pennell KD (2002) A modified upward infiltration method for characterizing soil hydraulic properties. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 57–64.
| A modified upward infiltration method for characterizing soil hydraulic properties.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlslOqt7s%3D&md5=e9f0d818b2fa2a73231823bfea272b6aCAS |
