Sequential infiltration analysis of infiltration curves measured with disc infiltrometer in layered soils

The soil sorptivity, S, and saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks, can be estimated from the inverse analysis of a cumulative infiltration curve using quasi-exact implicit (QEI) formulation or its corresponding 4-Terms (4T) approximation. Although these models consider as homogeneous media, there is no information about how heterogeneous profiles affect inferred properties. This work analyzes influence layered soils on Ks S estimates QEI 4T models, designs new procedure for treating curves measured profiles. Sequential Infiltration Analysis (SIA) method considers sequence increasing time series data to estimate RMSE function number samples used. A thickness upper uniform layer wetting front advance (WFA) also reported. SIA was applied on: (i) synthetic loam six involving 1, 2 3 cm over silty sandy soils, respectively, (ii) stratified laboratory columns, (iii) 20 experimental infiltrations performed in semiarid region North-Eastern Spain. Similar results were found between all cases. Erroneous observed when total considered analysis, regardless presence layering. In opposite, improved systems. exploits fact that increases reaches interface layers. Such increase allows: detection heterogeneity, determination time, to, required reach lower layer, and, accurate along with thickness. Laboratory experiments field measurements demonstrated could satisfactorily different contrasting shapes magnitudes. layering encountered most samplings restricted treatment short-medium times, allowed robust S. These indicate proposed promising tool characterizing properties