Estimation of Soil Hydraulic Conductivity using DRAINMOD Model and Comparison with the other Conventional Method (Case Study; Khuzestan Province, Shavoor Plain)

In order to design irrigation and drainage networks, it is necessary to determine soil hydraulic conductivity. There are several methods for measurement hydraulic conductivity, which the types of methods are depending on the situation of land. Existing methods are often time-consuming and expensive, so it is recommended the use of simulation models. According to the importance of the determination hydraulic conductivity, in this study using data of Shavoor plain water table depth and discharge were simulated with DRAINMOD model. Then, by simulated values ​​of the discharge and water table depth was estimated the amount of hydraulic conductivity with inverse method. Finally, the results were compared with ​​Ernest method. Results showed that according to the statistical indexes hydraulic conductivity is 2 and 2.5 (m/day) for study area. Comparison between these amount and average of hydraulic conductivity, that were measured with ​​Ernest method (2.3 m/day) represented acceptable estimate of hydraulic conductivity with DRAINMOD model.