Evaluation of infiltration models in clay loam and laterite soils under field conditions

Abstract

The purpose of the investigation is to calculate soil infiltration rates with the help of infiltration models. The infiltration model helps to design and evaluate surface irrigation systems. The study calculated constant infiltration for two types of soils (clay loam soil and laterite soil) under field conditions (Unploughed and Ploughed). The double-ring infiltrometer has been implemented to experiment. The value of various constants of the models was calculated using the approach of averages counselled through a graphical technique. Fitting infiltration test data to prominent infiltration models such as Philip’s, Horton's and Kostiakov’s and The Nash- Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) statistics are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. The results indicate that Philip's model is the most reliable, with R2, NSE, and RMSE values ranging from 0.9044-0.9677, 0.294-0.957 and 1.2647-5.7129, respectively. Therefore, under identical circumstances and without any kind of infiltration information, the above model can be employed to artificially produce infiltration information.