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Numerical model for the simulation of soil water flow under root-absorption conditions. Application to tomato plant crop

Abstract:

An explicit finite differences routine was developed to simulate three-dimensional water flow from trickle irrigation under unsaturated conditions; the code was validated by comparison with analytical solutions, other existing numerical models and laboratory experiments. Recently, the model was improved to reproduce flow root absorption via a time-dependent macroscopic approach using the same function as a capacitor charging system in a DC circuit. This paper presents the root-absorption model characteristics and some simulation results, which are some of them compared to experimental data obtained from a tomato plant crop cultivated in a greenhouse at the site of Natabuela (Ecuador). From the simulations performed it is concluded that evolution of the wetting front advances as the water content patterns are acceptable from a physical point of view, and they agree with experimental observed data for some of the irrigation conditions that were tested. On the other hand, the model has been used to evaluate the irrigation practices of tomato farmers at Imbabura province (Ecuador); in this way, some advices about suitable irrigation doses, frequency and emitter`s spacing selection, are provided at the end of this work.