Predicting unsaturated hydraulic conductivity using pedotransfer functions of calcareous soils in Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Unsa tura ted hydraulic conductivity [K (8)] was calculated using moisture retention curve data and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) for different textures of the calcareous soils. The rate of change in K (8) values differ according to the moisture content and / or the capillary pressure. The total and the active content of CaCO] associated by the soil texture affect the pore size distribution and pore continuity which in turn govern the rate of water movement. Pedotransfer functions were used to correlate the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity values with the basic soil properties including active carbonate content. The unsaturated K (0) values obtained were affected mainly by the total CaC03%, the active CaC03 % and the quickly drainable pore % (QDP). It could be used in solving the dynamic model for water management of the calcareous soils.

Summary in Arabic.

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