Interpretation of ponded infiltration data using numerical experiments

Dohnal, Michal; Vogel, Tomáš; Dušek, Jaromír; Votrubová, Jana; Tesař, Miroslav

doi:10.1515/johh-2016-0020

Cited by 20 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The r , d , and H values for the first two scenarios were consistent with those considered by Wu and Pan (1997) for checking their infiltration model (60 ≤ r ≤ 200 mm, 20 ≤ d ≤ 100 mm, and 0 ≤ H ≤ 200 mm). The null insertion depth of the ring considered for the third scenario was close to the lowest considered value of d (Wu and Pan, 1997) and was included in this check due to the implications for the infiltration process (Dohnal et al, 2016). More clearly, infiltration is initially confined and then unconfined with d > 0, but it is always unconfined with d = 0.…”

Section: Calculations and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy of Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Estimated from Numerically Simulated Single‐Ring Infiltrations

Bagarello

Iovino

Lai

2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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Core Ideas The accuracy of the PI method in estimating soil Ks was tested by numerical simulations. Estimated Ks using two‐ponding‐depth and multiple‐ponding‐depth infiltration were compared. Transient and steady‐state infiltration data for six soils were used to estimate Ks. The PI should yield more accurate Ks estimates in coarse‐ than fine‐textured soils. The transient method does not solve the Ks inaccuracy problems in fine‐textured soils. The single‐ring pressure infiltrometer (PI) method is widely used to determine saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks, directly in the field. The original and still most common way to analyze the data makes use of the steady‐state model developed by the Canadian School in the 90s and two (two‐ponding‐depth, TPD, approach) or more (multiple‐ponding‐depth, MPD, approach) depths of ponding. The so‐called Wu method based on a generalized infiltration equation allows analysis of the transient infiltration data collected by establishing a single ponding depth of water on the infiltration surface. This investigation, making use of simulated infiltration runs for initially unsaturated sand to silty clay loam soils, showed that, with a run duration of practical interest (e.g., 2 h), the PI can be expected to yield more accurate estimates of Ks in coarse‐textured soils than in fine‐textured soils even if the transient method is used instead of the steady‐state method. Performing a three‐level experiment and analyzing the estimated steady‐state infiltration rates with both the TPD and MPD approaches is a way to predict the reliability of the estimated Ks value. The Ks accuracy should be acceptable if the two approaches yield similar results. Otherwise, the MPD approach should be expected to yield more accurate Ks estimates than the TPD approach. The transient method does not solve the Ks inaccuracy problems in fine‐textured soils because obtaining accurate Ks data requires that the portion of total infiltration varying linearly with time represent a high percentage of total infiltration, but this percentage is small in fine‐textured soils when the run does not exceed a few hours. This investigation opens some new perspective on the use of infiltration data to make predictions on the expected reliability of the Ks calculations with reference to both steady‐state and transient data analysis procedures.

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Section: Calculations and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy of Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Estimated from Numerically Simulated Single‐Ring Infiltrations

Bagarello

Iovino

Lai

2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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“…Calculation of FIR and d was also made considering the first half (i.e., first 15 water volumes) of the L runs with the aim to establish a comparison with the results of the L1 runs, applied water volumes being equal. Working with final rates implies that all possible disturbance effects due to water application have occurred, and it represents a rather common choice in the investigations dealing with recurrent water applications (e.g., Dohnal et al, ; Le Bissonnais & Singer, ; Levy et al, ). Run duration was also considered since it was a good indicator of soil disturbance phenomena in previous investigations (Alagna, Bagarello, Di Prima, Giordano, & Iovino, ; Bagarello et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A test of water pouring height and run intermittence effects on single‐ring infiltration rates

Alagna

Bagarello

Cecere

et al. 2018

Hydrological Processes

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Assessing how the infiltration process depends on the water impact energy improves interpretation of hydrological processes. Impact energies vary with the height of water pouring; that is, the distance between the water delivery point and the soil surface. The effects of the height of water pouring on infiltration in an initially near saturated soil can be tested in the field by two repeated Beerkan infiltration runs separated by a short pause (30 min) and using both low (non‐perturbing) and high (perturbing) heights of water application. The double two‐stage Beerkan run methodology was applied in two soils. The infiltration rate at the end of the perturbing stage of the experiment was 0.2–0.3 (sandy‐loam soil) and 0.15 (loam soil) times that obtained with the initial, nonperturbing stage whereas, without any perturbing effect, infiltration rates at the end of the second run were 0.5 times those at the end of the first run. Therefore, the methodology distinguished between a decrease in infiltration rate due to water redistribution during the pause and that attributable to soil surface perturbation. Maintaining a small depth of water (10 mm) on the infiltration surface was not an alternative to the classical Beerkan run for the non‐perturbing stage of the experiment since two times higher infiltration rates were measured with a greater hydrostatic pressure. In conclusion, the relationship between infiltration into an initially near saturated soil and the energy of the applied water can be determined directly in the field at any time with a simple and parsimonious experiment. This circumstance could improve soil hydraulic characterization for interpreting and simulating hydrological processes.

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“…In these cases, the initial data points were omitted from fitting. The phenomenon is also assumed to be related to soil layering (Dohnal et al, 2016); it is probably caused by contrasting hydraulic properties of the upper-most organic layer compared to the main mineral soil profile (the former being more conductive with higher porosity).…”

Section: Data Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The character of the detected temporal changes was a subject of a simulation study using a Richards-equation based dualcontinuum model (Dohnal et al, 2016). Various scenarios of possible changes of the soil profile were tested.…”

Section: Possible Sources Of Detected Infiltration Instabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The choice of the more experimentally demanding double-ring configuration is usually justified by the assumption of nearly one-dimensional character of water flow below the inner ring, which, however, has been many times questioned (e.g., Dohnal et al, 2016;Dusek et al, 2009;Šimůnek, 1988). The single-ring configuration is experimentally simpler with considerably easier installation and lower water consumption; fully developed threedimensional water flow can be assumed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Ponded infiltration in a grid of permanent single-ring infiltrometers: Spatial versus temporal variability

Votrubová

Dohnal

Vogel

et al. 2017

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Temporal variability of the soil hydraulic properties is still an open issue. The present study deals with results of ponded infiltration experiments performed annually in a grid of permanent measurement points (18 spatial and 14 temporal replicates). Single ring infiltrometers were installed in 2003 at a meadow site in the Bohemian Forest highlands, the Czech Republic. The soil at the plot is coarse sandy loam classified as oligotrophic Eutric Cambisol. Soil water flow below infiltration rings has distinctly preferential character.The results are marked with substantial interannual changes of observed infiltration rates. Considering just the results from the initial four years of the study, the temporal variability did not exceed the spatial variability detected in individual years. In later years, a shift to extremely high infiltration rates was observed. We hypothesize that it is related to structural changes of the soil profile possibly related to combined effect of soil biota activity, climatic conditions and experimental procedure. Interestingly, the temporal changes can partly be described as fluctuations between seemingly stable infiltration modes. This phenomenon was detected in the majority of rings and was found independent of the initial soil moisture conditions.

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Interpretation of ponded infiltration data using numerical experiments

Cited by 20 publications

References 30 publications

Accuracy of Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Estimated from Numerically Simulated Single‐Ring Infiltrations

Accuracy of Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Estimated from Numerically Simulated Single‐Ring Infiltrations

A test of water pouring height and run intermittence effects on single‐ring infiltration rates

Ponded infiltration in a grid of permanent single-ring infiltrometers: Spatial versus temporal variability

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