Applicability of hydrus _2D model for flow from point sources of drip irrigation

One of the main characteristics of drip irrigation system is that water leaving an emitter enters the soil and moves both laterally and vertically. There has been much speculation on the shape and moisture distribution within the wetted soil volume. This knowledge is important in the design, operation and management of a drip irrigation system. A simulation study of soil water distribution under a prairie field in Tripoli Libya, using the two dimensional model Hydrus 20 model, was carried out. Sandy soil was irrigated using surface point source with application rates of 1.5, 2, 2.7, 3, 3.5, 4.5, 4.8 and 6 l/h. The surface wetted radius, vertical advance of wetting front and the distribution of moisture content in the soil profile were determined. Considering the difficulties in estimating the dynamic water conditions in the field there was generally good agreement (especially in the lateral direction) between the measured and simulated values. In the deeper downward direction the simulated moisture content distributions were less than the measured. On the other hand, the Hydrus_2D model described the water content distribution quite well at relatively high levels of moisture contents; however, it did not do as well at lower moisture content. The discrepancies between the simulated and measured values may be due to variation in the size of the surface source of water during infiltration and to the natural variation of soil properties. However, due to the complex mechanisms of water movement under the complicated boundary and initial conditions from a surface point source the results support the use of Hydrus 2D as a tool for investigating and designing point source drip irrigation system.