Performance Evaluation of Infiltration Equations with an Emphasis on the Effect of Reclamation Measures in Paired Watersheds of Gonbad
Subject Areas : Watershed management and water extractionSaeedreza Moazeni Noghondar 1 , Ali Salajegheh 2 , Shahram Khalighi Sigaroudi 3 , Ali Golkarian 4
1 - Ph.D. student, Department of reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Region, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran.
2 - Professor of the Department of reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Region, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran.
3 - Associate Professor, Department of reclamation of Arid and Mountainous Region, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran.
Keywords: Cumulative infiltration, Instantaneous infiltration rate, Infiltration models, Water resource management, Paired watersheds,
Abstract :
Background and Objectives: Modeling cumulative infiltration and instantaneous infiltration rate of water into the soil is a critical tool for water resource management and watershed project planning, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. These regions face significant challenges such as limited water resources and soil erosion, which hinder sustainable natural resource management. This study aims to evaluate the performance of Horton, Kostiakov, Kostiakov-Lewis, Philip, and SCS infiltration models in simulating cumulative infiltration and instantaneous infiltration rate in two paired watersheds (restored and control) in the Gonbad area of Hamedan Province, Iran.
Methods: Experimental data were collected using the double-ring infiltrometer method from the northern and southern slopes of the restored and control watersheds. Sampling was conducted more than 10 days after the last rainfall to eliminate the effect of antecedent soil moisture. Statistical criteria, including the coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), were employed to evaluate model performance. Simulations were carried out for a 120-minute timeframe, and the obtained data were compared with infiltration models for each slope.
Results: The results indicated that Horton and SCS models outperformed other models due to their flexibility and high accuracy in matching observed data. The highest cumulative infiltration was recorded in the northern slope of the restored watershed, with an observed value of 108.55 mm. The Horton (108.73 mm) and SCS (107.58 mm) models demonstrated excellent agreement with observed data. In the southern slope of the restored watershed, cumulative infiltration was observed to be 65.33 mm, with Horton and SCS models showing the closest predictions. For the northern slope of the control watershed, cumulative infiltration was observed at 50.66 mm, with Horton (50.97 mm) and SCS (52.35 mm) models providing the most accurate estimates. The lowest cumulative infiltration was recorded on the southern slope of the control watershed (33.11 mm).
Analysis of instantaneous infiltration rates yielded similar results. In the northern slope of the restored watershed, the infiltration rate decreased from 293.33 mm/h in the first minute to 35.33 mm/h in the 120th minute. Horton and SCS models showed the best performance in this slope. Southern slopes of both watersheds exhibited lower instantaneous infiltration rates compared to northern slopes, attributed to differences in microclimatic conditions and soil moisture retention capacity.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that restoration efforts, such as improving vegetation cover and managing grazing, significantly enhance soil infiltration capacity. The restored watershed, particularly its northern slope, exhibited higher cumulative infiltration and instantaneous infiltration rates compared to the control watershed. Furthermore, Horton and SCS models were identified as the most suitable models for these conditions due to their accuracy and flexibility in simulating infiltration processes. Future studies are recommended to investigate the effects of seasonal variations, soil physical and chemical properties, and climatic influences on infiltration model performance.
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