Modeling of soil water infiltration with rainfall simulator in different agricultural systems

Thais E M Dos Santos,Abelardo A A Montenegro,Edivan R De Souza

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v20n6p513-518

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare models for predicting soil water infiltration rate and erosive rates using a rainfall simulator in different systems of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation. The evaluated mathematical models were: Kostiakov, Kostiakov-Lewis, Green-Ampt and Horton. Infiltration tests were carried out considering six treatments: bean cultivated on contour with rock barriers spaced at 0.5 m between crop rows (BC1); bean cultivated on contour with rock barriers spaced at 1.0 m between crop rows (BC2); bean cultivated downslope (BDS); bean cultivated on contour with mulch (BCM); bare soil (BS) and soil under natural cover (NC). Four replicates were considered, totaling 24 field tests. Kostiakov-Lewis's equation showed the lowest values of standard error. Soil water infiltration rate was equal to 53.3 mm h-1 in the natural vegetation treatment and to 9.49 mm h-1 in the downslope treatment. Surface roughness and the time of beginning of surface runoff were significantly higher for the conditions with mulch cover.

Highlights

The knowledge on the rate of entry of water into the soil, commonly known as infiltration, is of fundamental importance to define soil conservation techniques, plan and project of irrigation and drainage systems and help in the composition of a more real image of water retention and aeration in the soil (Paixão et al, 2009; Cecílio et al, 2013; Wang et al, 2014)
Empirical models have the advantage of allowing relating model parameters to soil characteristics, without requiring them to have a physical meaning, and encompass, in the determination of their constants, factors that are difficult to be considered in theoretical models (Brandão et al, 2006; Mirzaee et al, 2014)
This study aimed to compare empirical and physical models for the prediction of soil water infiltration rate with the data obtained at the field, using a rainfall simulator in different common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivation systems and compare the erosion rates produced by these treatments

Summary

Introduction

The knowledge on the rate of entry of water into the soil, commonly known as infiltration, is of fundamental importance to define soil conservation techniques, plan and project of irrigation and drainage systems and help in the composition of a more real image of water retention and aeration in the soil (Paixão et al, 2009; Cecílio et al, 2013; Wang et al, 2014). According to Barros et al (2014), the triggering of hydrological processes, such as surface runoff, erosion and the transport of solutes, is controlled by the variability of soil water infiltration, which is influenced by the spatial heterogeneity of the relief and the soil and by spatial and temporal alterations in soil use and climatic variation. Conditions of soil surface and of the organization of its porosity along the profile are among the factors that affect the dynamics of the water infiltration process (Santos et al, 2014). Gonçalves & Moraes (2012) analyzed soil water infiltration, influenced by alterations in porosity due to management practices, and observed higher values in notillage management systems. The water infiltration in to the soil can be measured at the field or estimated by mathematical models, which can be empirical or theoretical physically based. Empirical models have the advantage of allowing relating model parameters to soil characteristics, without requiring them to have a physical meaning, and encompass, in the determination of their constants, factors that are difficult to be considered in theoretical models (Brandão et al, 2006; Mirzaee et al, 2014)

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