Choice of Pedotransfer Functions Matters when Simulating Soil Water Balance Fluxes

Modeling of the land surface water-, energy-, and carbon balance provides insight into behavior Earth System, under current future conditions. Currently, there exists a substantial variability between model outputs, for range types, whereby differences input parameters could be an important reason. For large-scale surface, hydrological, crop models, soil hydraulic properties (SHP) are required as inputs, which estimated from pedotransfer functions (PTFs). To analyze functional sensitivity widely used PTFs, water fluxes different scenarios using HYDRUS-1D were simulated predictions compared. The results showed that PTFs causes in predicted fluxes. In addition, in-depth analysis SHPs derived characteristics was performed to why cause behave differently. obtained provide guidelines selection large scale models. performance terms numerical stability, time-integrated cumulative fluxes, well instantaneous evaluated, order compare suitability PTFs. Based on this, Rosetta, Wösten, Tóth PTF seem most robust Mualem van Genuchten Cosby Brooks Corey functions. our findings, we strongly recommend harmonize inter-comparison studies avoid artifacts originating choice rather structures.