A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone

Abstract Ponding at the soil surface exerts profound impacts on infiltration. However, the effects of ponding depth on infiltration, especially the development of a saturated zone below the soil surface, have yet to be considered in present infiltration models. A new general Green‐Ampt model solutio...

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Main Authors: DongHao Ma, SiCong Wu, ZhiPeng Liu, JiaBao Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-10-01
Series:Water Resources Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034228
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author DongHao Ma
SiCong Wu
ZhiPeng Liu
JiaBao Zhang
author_facet DongHao Ma
SiCong Wu
ZhiPeng Liu
JiaBao Zhang
author_sort DongHao Ma
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Ponding at the soil surface exerts profound impacts on infiltration. However, the effects of ponding depth on infiltration, especially the development of a saturated zone below the soil surface, have yet to be considered in present infiltration models. A new general Green‐Ampt model solution (GAMS) was derived for a one‐dimensional vertical infiltration problem under a uniform initial moisture distribution with ponding on its surface. An expression was included in the new solution for simulating the saturated layer developed below the soil surface as long as the pressure head at the surface is sufficiently high to saturate the soil. The GAMS simulates the infiltration processes closer to the numerical solution by HYDRUS‐1D than the traditional and the recently improved Green‐Ampt model. Moreover, an inversion method to improve the estimates of soil hydraulic parameters from one‐dimensional vertical infiltration experiments that is based on the GAMS was suggested. The effect of ponding depth (hp), initial soil moisture content, soil texture, and hydraulic soil properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks, water‐entry suction hd and shape coefficient n of soil water retention curve) in the saturated zone was also evaluated. The results indicate that the saturated zone length increased at a comparable rate with the unsaturated wetted zone length during infiltration. Generally, a larger saturated zone was found for soils with higher initial soil moisture contents, coarser texture, higher Ks values, greater n, and lower −hd. Our findings reveal that including the saturated zone in the infiltration model yields a better estimate of the soil hydraulic parameters. The proposed GAMS model can improve irrigation design and rainfall‐runoff simulations.
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spelling doaj-art-50a3eec0d8fa496e9d7d915e669a114d2025-08-20T02:35:08ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732023-10-015910n/an/a10.1029/2022WR034228A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated ZoneDongHao Ma0SiCong Wu1ZhiPeng Liu2JiaBao Zhang3State Experimental Station of Agro‐Ecosystem in Fengqiu State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing ChinaState Experimental Station of Agro‐Ecosystem in Fengqiu State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing ChinaCollege of Resources and Environmental Sciences Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing ChinaState Experimental Station of Agro‐Ecosystem in Fengqiu State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture Institute of Soil Science Chinese Academy of Sciences Nanjing ChinaAbstract Ponding at the soil surface exerts profound impacts on infiltration. However, the effects of ponding depth on infiltration, especially the development of a saturated zone below the soil surface, have yet to be considered in present infiltration models. A new general Green‐Ampt model solution (GAMS) was derived for a one‐dimensional vertical infiltration problem under a uniform initial moisture distribution with ponding on its surface. An expression was included in the new solution for simulating the saturated layer developed below the soil surface as long as the pressure head at the surface is sufficiently high to saturate the soil. The GAMS simulates the infiltration processes closer to the numerical solution by HYDRUS‐1D than the traditional and the recently improved Green‐Ampt model. Moreover, an inversion method to improve the estimates of soil hydraulic parameters from one‐dimensional vertical infiltration experiments that is based on the GAMS was suggested. The effect of ponding depth (hp), initial soil moisture content, soil texture, and hydraulic soil properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks, water‐entry suction hd and shape coefficient n of soil water retention curve) in the saturated zone was also evaluated. The results indicate that the saturated zone length increased at a comparable rate with the unsaturated wetted zone length during infiltration. Generally, a larger saturated zone was found for soils with higher initial soil moisture contents, coarser texture, higher Ks values, greater n, and lower −hd. Our findings reveal that including the saturated zone in the infiltration model yields a better estimate of the soil hydraulic parameters. The proposed GAMS model can improve irrigation design and rainfall‐runoff simulations.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034228infiltrationsoil water movementGreen‐Ampt modelRichards equationBrooks‐Corey modelirrigation
spellingShingle DongHao Ma
SiCong Wu
ZhiPeng Liu
JiaBao Zhang
A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
Water Resources Research
infiltration
soil water movement
Green‐Ampt model
Richards equation
Brooks‐Corey model
irrigation
title A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
title_full A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
title_fullStr A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
title_full_unstemmed A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
title_short A Novel Analytical Solution for Ponded Infiltration With Consideration of a Developing Saturated Zone
title_sort novel analytical solution for ponded infiltration with consideration of a developing saturated zone
topic infiltration
soil water movement
Green‐Ampt model
Richards equation
Brooks‐Corey model
irrigation
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2022WR034228
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