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Showing posts with the label Soil Physics

Vadose Zone Hydrology: Unsaturated Flow and the Richards Equation

 Water movement through unsaturated soil above the water table (the vadose zone) involves air and water phases where hydraulic conductivity depends non-linearly on soil moisture content. Richards’ Equation governs 3D transient flow in unsaturated porous media by combining Darcy's Law with the continuity equation: $\frac{\partial \theta}{\partial t} = \nabla \cdot \left[ K(\psi) \cdot \nabla (\psi + z) \right]$ ​Where $\theta$ is volumetric soil moisture content, $t$ is time, $\psi$ is soil matric suction head $(\psi < 0),$ $z$ is vertical elevation, and $K(\psi)$ is unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. ​Soil water retention curves $(K(\psi)$ and $\theta(\psi))$ are mathematically described using Van Genuchten’s Model: $\Theta = \left[ 1 + (\alpha \cdot |\psi|)^n \right]^{-m}$ ​Where $\Theta = \frac{\theta - \theta_r}{\theta_s - \theta_r}$ is effective saturation, and $\alpha$, $n,$ $m$ are empirical soil pore-structure parameters $(m = 1 - 1/n).$ ​Accurate estimation of aquifer r...

Irrigation Water Management: Soil-Water Potential and Crop Water Stress Index

 Plant-available water $(\theta_{PAW})$ in soil lies between Field Capacity $(\theta_{FC})$ (suction pressure $\approx 0.33\text{ bar}$) and Permanent Wilting Point $(\theta_{PWP})$ (suction pressure $\approx 15\text{ bar}$): $\theta_{PAW} = \theta_{FC} - \theta_{PWP}$ ​To prevent yield reduction, irrigation is applied when soil moisture reaches the Management Allowed Depletion (MAD) level, typically set at $50\%$ of available water. The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) quantifies plant moisture deficit using canopy-to-air temperature differences $(T_c - T_a):$ $CWSI = \frac{(T_c - T_a) - (T_c - T_a)_{lower}}{(T_c - T_a)_{upper} - (T_c - T_a)_{lower}}$ ​Where subscript lower represents a non-water-stressed baseline (transpiring at potential rate) and upper represents a fully stressed non-transpiring canopy. ​In water-scarce agricultural belts across Western India, conventional scheduled rotational canal irrigation frequently causes either root-zone waterlogging or severe crop stress....