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Estimating Soil Water Characteristics from Simpler Properties or Limited Data¹

ABSTRACT

Broad-based regression equations of Rawls and associates were investigated for estimating the spatially variable soil water content-matric potential relationships in a 1.6-ha watershed (Udertic Paleustolls) from soil textural and structural properties, with and without one or two known values of the relationships. Also examined were a simple log-log line based on two known values and estimates obtained from one known value for each relationship and a complete relationship for one case using the similar-media scaling concept. The results were compared with measurements on 189 soil cores representing different sites and horizons. With the equations based on soil texture, bulk density and organic matter content, the soil water contents calculated at different matric potentials were generally larger than the measured values. The mean relative error ranged from 8 to 29%, with the standard deviation of errors ranging from 17 to 36%. The model which incorporated one measured soil water content (at –1500 kPa potential) as an additional independent variable, did not improve the results much. The model which incorporated two measured soil water contents (at –33 and –1500 kPa potentials) as additional variables reduced the errors in calculated values considerably. A simple log-log line drawn through the two known points gave nearly the same accuracy. The estimates from the method of scaling were better than those from the model based on textural and structural variables alone; the mean relative error in the calculated water contents ranged from –0.96 to 9.10%, and the standard deviation of errors was also reduced.

¹ Contribution of the Water Quality and Watershed Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Durant, OK 74702.

² Soil Scientist, Geologist and Plant Physiologist, respectively.

Received for publication November 19, 1984. Accepted for publication February 25, 1985.

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