Hydrodynamic-analytical modeling for irrigation analysis

Abstract EN

The presented hydrodynamic-analytical subsurface flow model is intended to fill the gap between cumbersome numerical modeling of the infiltration process and the application of inadequate empirical infiltration models.

It is based on both the Richards equation together with the Laplace equation, which are mathematically developed and integrated in order to obtain an analytical solution.

The new model is especially designed for predicting infiltration and soil moisture distribution due to varying combinations of irrigation parameters.

This is achieved, amongst other things, by a comprehensive consideration of the hydraulic soil characteristics.

The field of model application encompasses the simulation of the infiltration process and soil water flow during the wetting phase, providing the option of both saturated or unsaturated soil surfaces as upper boundary conditions.

The prognostic computation of the transient infiltration process by the proposed model is shown to be highly accurate and is, last but not least, relatively easy to apply.