Skip to main content
Log in

Evaluation of pedotransfer functions for estimating the soil water retention points

  • Soil Physics
  • Published:
Eurasian Soil Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Direct measurement of soil moisture has been often expensive and time-consuming. The aim of this study was determining the best method to estimate the soil moisture using the pedotransfer functions in the soil par2 model. Soil samples selected from the database UNSODA in three textures include sandy loam, silty loam and clay. In clay soil, the Campbell model indicated better results at field capacity (FC) and wilting point (WP) with RMSE = (0.06, 0.09) and d = (0.65, 0.55) respectively. In silty loam soil, the Epic model had accurate estimation with MBE = 0.00 at FC and Campbell model had the acceptable result of WP with RMSE = 0.03 and d = 0.77. In sandy loam, Hutson and Campbell models had a better result to estimation the FC and WP than others. Also Hutson model had an acceptable result to estimation the TAW (Total Available Water) with RMSE = (0.03, 0.04, 0.04) and MBE = (0.02, 0.01, 0.01) for clay, sandy loam and silty loam, respectively. These models demonstrate the moisture points had the internal linkage with the soil textures. Results indicated that the PTFs models simulate the agreement results with the experimental observations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Y. Abbasi, B. Ghanbarian-Alavijeh, A. M. Liaghat, and M. Shorafa, “Evaluation of pedotransfer functions for estimating soil water retention curve of saline and saline-alkali soils of Iran,” Pedosphere 21 (2), 230–237 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Acutis and M. Donatelli, “SOILPAR 2.00: software to estimate soil hydrological parameters and functions,” Eur. J. Agron., No. 18, 373–377 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. V. V. Alekseev and I. I. Maksimov, “Aerodynamic method for obtaining the soil water retention curve,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 46 (7), 751–757 (2013). doi 10.1134/S1064229313070028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Y.-D. Botula, W. M. Cornelis, G. Baert, and E. van Ranst, “Evaluation of pedotransfer functions for predicting water retention of soils in Lower Congo (D.R. Congo),” Agric. Water Manage. 111, 1–12 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. R. H. Brooks and A. T. Corey, Hydraulic Properties of Porous Media (Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 1964), p. 27.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Development of Pedotransfer Functions in Soil Hydrology, Eds. by Y. Pachepsky and W. J. Rawls (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2004).

    Google Scholar 

  7. EPIC/ASW Utility in EPIC Utile Source Code (Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Temple, TX, 2006).

  8. G. Fila, G. Bellocchi, M. Acutis, and M. Donatelli, “IRENE: a software to evaluate model performance,” Eur. J. Agron. 18, 369–372 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. W. Gaigai, Z. A. Yulong, and Y. Na, “Prediction of soil water retention and available water of sandy soils using pedotransfer functions,” Proc. Eng. 37, 49–53 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. J. Givi, S. O. Prasher, and R. M. Patel, “Evaluation of pedotransfer functions in predicting the soil water contents at field capacity and wilting point,” Agric. Water Manage. 70, 83–96 (2004).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. X. W. Han, M. A. Shao, and R. Horton, “Estimating van Genuchten model parameters of undisturbed soils using an integral method,” Pedosphere 20 (1), 55–62 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. A. Hezarjaribi and H. Sourell, “Feasibility study of monitoring the total available water content using noninvasive electromagnetic induction-based and electrode-based soil electrical conductivity measurements,” Irrig. Drain. 56, 53–65 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. L. Hutson and R. J. Wagenet, LEACHM: Leaching Estimation and Chemistry Model—a Process-Based Model of Water and Solute Movement, Transformations, Plant Uptake and Chemical Reactions in the Unsaturated Zone, Version 3 (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1992).

    Google Scholar 

  14. C. Manyame, C. L. Morgan, J. L. Heilman, D. Fatondji, B. Gerard, and W. A. Payne, “Modeling hydraulic properties of sandy soils of Niger using pedotransfer functions,” Geoderma 141, 407–415 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H. Medina, M. Tarawally, A. Del Valle, and M. E. Ruiz, “Estimating soil water retention curve in rhodic Ferralsols from basic soil data,” Geoderma 108, 277–285 (2002).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. H. Merdun, “Alternative methods in the development of pedotransfer functions for soil hydraulic characteristics,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 43 (1), 62–71 (2010). doi 10.1134/S1064229310010084

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. K. E. Saxton and P. H. Willey, The SPAW Model for Agricultural Field and Pond Hydrologic Simulation Watershed Models, Ed. by V. P. Singh and D. K. Frevert (CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2006), pp. 401–435.

  18. E. V. Shein and T. A. Arkhangel’skaya, “Pedotransfer functions: sate of the art, problems, and outlooks,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 39 (10), 1089–1099 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. E. V. Shein, A. V. Dembovetsky, and S. S. Panina, “Modeling soil water movement under low head ponding and gravity infiltration using data determined with different methods,” Proc. Environ. Sci. 19, 553–557 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. E. V. Shein, A. M. Rusanov, E. Yu. Milanovskii, D. D. Khaidapova, and E. I. Nikolaeva, “Mathematical models of some soil characteristics: substantiation, analysis, and using features of model parameters,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 46 (5), 541–547 (2013). doi 10.1134/S1064229313050128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. A. V. Smagin, “Column centrifugation method for determining water retention curves of soils and disperse sediments,” Eurasian Soil Sci. 44 (4), 416–422 (2012). doi 10.1134/S1064229312040126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. M. Th. van Genuchten, “Predicting the hydraulic conductivity of unsaturated soil,” Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 44, 892–898 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Omid Bahmani.

Additional information

Published in Russian in Pochvovedenie, 2016, No. 6, pp. 711–719.

The article is published in the original.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bahmani, O., Palangi, S. Evaluation of pedotransfer functions for estimating the soil water retention points. Eurasian Soil Sc. 49, 652–660 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229316060028

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229316060028

Keywords

Navigation