Modeling macropore seepage fluxes from soil water content time series by inversion of a dual permeability model

Abstract. Dual permeability models are widely used to simulate water fluxes and solute transport in structured soils. However, so far obtaining necessary data for model calibration is a problem due to the large set of unconstrained parameters. Therefore, this study presents a simplified 1D dual permeability model whose structure is similar to the MACRO model together with a calibration scheme that allows constraining the parameters using time series of soil water content. The inversion scheme consists of four consecutive steps: First, the parameters of three different water retention functions were assessed using vertical soil water content profiles assuming hydraulic equilibrium. Second, the soil sorptivity and diffusivity functions were estimated from Boltzmann-transformed soil water content data of a drying period. Third, the parameters governing macropore flow were determined using the most dynamic part of the soil water content time series during the first 12 h after a precipitation event.

The model was calibrated using data of artificial, homogeneous and shallow soils from mesocosms. The resulting retention functions predicted similar values as pedotransfer functions apart from for very dry conditions. The predicted soil water content time series were in good agreement with measurements at 5 and 12 cm soil depth. Predicted macropore seepage fluxes exhibited high uncertainty and differed between water retention functions, but average predictions were close to measurements for two of the three water retention functions.

The study demonstrates the feasibility of calibrating a 1D dual permeability model with soil water content time series.