Abstract
In situ measurement of soil hydraulic properties remains a challenge. This study presents new analytical expressions for estimation of soil hydraulic properties below a surface line source by means of multi‐purpose time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes and existing quasi‐analytical, steady‐state solutions for infiltration from a surface line source. Inverse procedures are used to estimate the inverse macroscopic capillary length scale, α, and the hydraulic conductivity at saturation, Ks, from pressure head (ψ), water storage (W), and conservative ionic tracer travel time (T) measured via multi‐purpose TDR probes placed at several depths below a line source with constant flux of water. Soil water content at saturation, θs, can also be estimated if prior information is available. The parameter and spatial sensitivities of each solution were calculated by means of sensitivity coefficients. The uniqueness of possible combinations of measurements to estimate α, Ks, and θs was tested by means of two‐dimensional response surfaces. Significant correlation exists between Ks and θs, and thus it is not possible to estimate both Ks and θs by globally minimizing the objective function. Combination approaches with W (i.e., ψ and W, T and W, or ψ and W and T) give unique estimates of α and Ks if either θs is known or prior information on θs is available.
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