Modeling Soil Moisture Profiles in Irrigated Fields by the Principle of Maximum Entropy

Entropy

Vikalp Mishra³  Walter L. Ellenburg³  Osama Z. Al-Hamdan¹  Josh Bruce²  James F. Cruise³ 

[1] Northwest Watershed Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 800 E. Park Blvd, Plaza IV, Suite 105, Boise, ID 83712, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 301 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, AL 35899, USA; E-Mail:;Earth System Science Center, National Space Science and Technology Center, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 320 Sparkman Drive, Huntsville, Al 35805, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: maximum entropy;    soil moisture;    irrigation efficiency;   

DOI  :  10.3390/e17064454

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Vertical soil moisture profiles based on the principle of maximum entropy (POME) were validated using field and model data and applied to guide an irrigation cycle over a maize field in north central Alabama (USA). The results demonstrate that a simple two-constraint entropy model under the assumption of a uniform initial soil moisture distribution can simulate most soil moisture profiles that occur in the particular soil and climate regime that prevails in the study area. The results of the irrigation simulation demonstrated that the POME model produced a very efficient irrigation strategy with minimal losses (about 1.9% of total applied water). However, the results for finely-textured (silty clay) soils were problematic in that some plant stress did develop due to insufficient applied water. Soil moisture states in these soils fell to around 31% of available moisture content, but only on the last day of the drying side of the irrigation cycle. Overall, the POME approach showed promise as a general strategy to guide irrigation in humid environments, such as the Southeastern United States.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland