Parâmetros físicos e hídricos relacionados com o avanço da frente de molhamento

Abstract

The present study aimed to contribute, in the methodological way, to the field of Soil Science and Irrigation, more specifically Micro-Irrigation (Targeted Irrigation), by in situ to obtain physical and hydric parameters, specially the hydrodynamic functions of a Paleudalf soil. A multi-drip system, whose application is linked to the Drip Method principles, was designed to obtain hydraulic conductivity K(h) and soil-water retention curve θ(h). The system applied flow rates of 2, 4 and 8 L h-1 and, their respective areas of wetting and saturation in the dynamic balance moment were measured and worked as basis for the adjustment of a regression function, so as the saturated flow was estimated in dynamic balance. With the pairs of values to the advances in wetting and time fronts, the declivity of the respective regression line was determined considering the three flow rates tested in the study. The average value of sorptivity calculated was 2.68 cm h-0,5, with values of η = 2.22, β = 0.44 e hw = −2.29 cm H2O. By using these values of soil parameters, the soil-water retention characteristic curve (SWRCC) and the hydraulic conductivity function as function of the water content in the soil were estimated and graphically represented. The retention curve obtained through field experimental data does not match to the one obtained in laboratory according to standard methodology, but it was possible to build an exponential function which allows the correction of the volumetric soil moisture values.