Steady-state water flow in homogeneous media

The rate of water flow and the distribution of water potentials in a one-dimensional soil column under steady-state conditions can be obtained by solving the Darcy equation. When soils are saturated and homogeneous, the calculation is easy. The problem becomes more difficult when the soil is not homogeneous or when it is unsaturated. This program uses numerical methods to evaluate water flow rate, equivalent conductivity, and soil water potentials in the column. The flow rate, equivalent conductivity, and graphs of total potential, matric potential, gravitational potential, conductivity, driving force, or water content are then displayed as a function of position along the soil column.

Send email to david.nofziger@okstate.edu

Last Modified: January 16, 2008.