Abstract
ABSTRACT The efficiency and suitability of different models to estimate infiltration rates in Ferralic Arenosols and Rhodic Ferralsols in southern Brazil are evaluated in this paper. The influence of nine types of land use and soil management practices on infiltration modeling is also assessed. Model parameterization was performed fitting 42 experimental infiltration curves obtained by in situ tests with a double-ring infiltrometer. Soil characterization was also performed in laboratory. The results were assessed using basic statistical descriptors and model accuracy indicators (Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient and root mean square error). The investigated models satisfactorily simulated the infiltration rates and the most accurate model was modified Kostiakov, followed by the Horton; Singh and Yu; modified Holtan; Holtan; Philip; Green and Ampt/Mein and Larson and Kostiakov. Different types of land uses and soil management practices significantly affect the infiltration rates, mainly those combination with great presence of macroporosity that resulted in an erratic infiltration behavior and affected the infiltration model accuracy.
Highlights
Obtaining and analyzing information on the process of water infiltration into soil are essential for assessing water dynamics, estimating surface runoff and groundwater recharge and evaluating the occurrence of natural processes, such as erosion and flooding
The modified Kostiakov, Horton and Singh and Yu models can be applied to accurately estimate infiltration rates for the land use and management types used with Ferralic Arenosols and Rhodic Ferralsols
The modified Holtan, Holtan, Philip and Green and Ampt/Mein and Larson models exhibited satisfactory to good performance in estimating the infiltration rates under eight infiltration conditions
Summary
Obtaining and analyzing information on the process of water infiltration into soil are essential for assessing water dynamics, estimating surface runoff and groundwater recharge and evaluating the occurrence of natural processes, such as erosion and flooding. Infiltration models are used to describe and determine the infiltration process from collected data, and have been developed with different objectives, field and boundary conditions and are relatively simple to use and apply. It is challenging to select an appropriate model to accurately estimate the infiltration rate for a given field condition given the large number of available models with different origins, premises and parameters. Several authors have performed a comparative analysis of the performance of models for different regions, soil types and over the past few decades (e.g., Gifford, 1976; Mishra et al, 2003; Machiwal et al, 2006; Mirzaee et al, 2014; Bayabil et al, 2019). Analyses of soils with different textures and origins have shown that the soil texture significant impacts the performance of infiltration models.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
