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DIVISION S-1-SOIL PHYSICS

Measuring Hydraulic Properties Using a Line Source

I. Analytical Expressions

^a School of Geography and Geology, McMaster Univ., Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4M1
^b Dep. of Land Resource Science, Univ. of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
^c Graduate Studies and Research, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Rm 50 Murray Bldg, 3 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5A4

gparkin{at}lrs.uoguelph.ca

In situ measurement of soil hydraulic properties remains a challenge. This study presents new analytical expressions for estimation of soil hydraulic properties below a surface line source by means of multi-purpose time domain reflectometry (TDR) probes and existing quasi-analytical, steady-state solutions for infiltration from a surface line source. Inverse procedures are used to estimate the inverse macroscopic capillary length scale, , and the hydraulic conductivity at saturation, K_s, from pressure head (), water storage (W), and conservative ionic tracer travel time (T) measured via multi-purpose TDR probes placed at several depths below a line source with constant flux of water. Soil water content at saturation, _s, can also be estimated if prior information is available. The parameter and spatial sensitivities of each solution were calculated by means of sensitivity coefficients. The uniqueness of possible combinations of measurements to estimate , K_s, and _s was tested by means of two-dimensional response surfaces. Significant correlation exists between K_s and _s, and thus it is not possible to estimate both K_s and _s by globally minimizing the objective function. Combination approaches with W (i.e., and W, T and W, or and W and T) give unique estimates of and K_s if either _s is known or prior information on _s is available.

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