PROVIDING THE PARAMETERS OF UNSATURATED SOIL HYDRAULIC FUNCTIONS ON THE BASIS OF SOIL TEXTURE, BULK-DENSITY AND TYPE OF HORIZON

The hydraulic conductivity function can be described by the van Genuchten equation, whereby its parameters are estimated from typical water retention data of soil types and textural classes. The value of saturated hydraulic conductivity can be derived from tables (e.g. Kartieranleitung, 1982) in case measured data are lacking. Especially in well structured or sandy soils saturated conductivity may differ by 1...2 orders of magnitude. This will lead to a shift of the conductivity function. But nevertheless for the first approximation of fluxes in soils such parameters can be used. Thus, soil dependent values of groundwater recharge and pollution can be roughly quantified.