Evaluating and optimizing the parameters of soil infiltration models in Lighvan watershed, Northwest of Iran

The current investigation was carried out at the Lighavn watershed area, located in East Azerbaijan, North West of Iran, regarding optimizing of the different infiltration models parameters and their evaluations for cumulative infiltration prediction. Applied infiltration models were including Green and Ampt, Kostyakov, modified Kostyakov, Philip, Horton, and Kutilic and Kreja models. To this end, soil sampling and ground based measurements were done at late spring of 2012. Comulative infiltration were also measured at 135 points of the study area using disk infiltrometer. Results, models comparison based on ER criteria, showed that Kutılek and Krejca (ER=4%), Kostyakov (ER=8%), modified Kostyakov (ER=10%), Horton (ER=13%), Green and Ampt (ER=36%), and Philip (ER=37%) models, respectively, were the most to least precise models in cumulative infiltration or infiltration rate prediction. The results also depicted that the Kostyakov and modified Kostyakov models are suitable more models for future uses regarding cumulative infiltration and infiltration rates prediction.