TITLE:
Use of Kostiakov’s Infiltration Model on Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike Soils, Southeastern, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Magnus U. Igboekwe, Ruth U. Adindu
KEYWORDS:
Kostiakov, Model Parameters, Infiltration, Soil, Water, Irrigation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.6 No.10,
July
30,
2014
ABSTRACT: The main
purpose of this study is to obtain the water infiltration parameters of the
soils of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. This could be used
in simulating infiltration for these soils when designing irrigation projects,
thereby saving time and cost of field measurement. Field measurements of
infiltration were first made using a double ring infiltrometer. The test lasted
for 180 mins in each location. Infiltration values ranged from 0.03 cm/min to
0.1 cm/min. The highest value was obtained in the Forest Block. Kostiakov’s
infiltration model was then applied on the field data in order to determine the
soils’ infiltration parameters and equations. The model empirical constants or
parameters obtained were “m” and “n”. For “m” the values were: 0.53 for the
soil of Forest Block, 0.42 for Poultry block, 0.50 for P.G. block, 0.41 for the
soils of Staff School and Guest House. The corresponding “n” values were: 1.37,
1.12, 0.37, 1.79, and 1.38. Infiltration equations: 0.4It1.38, 0.4lt1.79,
0.42t1.12, and 0.53t1.37 were determined for the
locations. These were used to simulate data which were evaluated by comparing
them with the field data. The two data sets showed closed relationships. This
implied that the model could be used to simulate water infiltration during
irrigation projects in the farms of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture,
Umudike.